Parks and Open Space Preservation and Dedication. January 26, 2016 Fort Worth City Council Pre-Council Meeting Randle Harwood and Richard Zavala

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1 Parks and Open Space Preservation and Dedication January 26, 2016 Fort Worth City Council Pre-Council Meeting Randle Harwood and Richard Zavala

2 Purpose How does the City of Fort Worth preserve and protect open space for future generations? What are the best practices for the preservation of open space as potential parkland? 2

3 Outline Evolution of the Park System History of Park and Open Space Dedication Park Classifications and Inventory Tools: Planning, Partnerships & Policy Future Growth 3

4 Evolution of the Park System Donation Capital Funding Neighborhood & Community Park Dedication Policy To wait any longer will make it exceedingly difficult and costly to accomplish these public improvements which will make the city comfortable to its population and attractive to those not yet a part of your citizenship. George Kessler, Fort Worth s First Park and City Master Plan,

5 History of Park and Open Space Dedication George Kessler Plan 1930 & Comprehensive Parks System for Fort Worth - Hare and Hare Capital Plans with Bond Referendums Strategic Plan 1998/2004/ Park, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan In the competition of cities for new and desirable population, no other element of advertisement is worth so much as an ample and attractive park system, making a pleasant city in which to live comfortably. George Kessler, Fort Worth s First Park and City Master Plan,

6 Evolution of the Park System The Early Years and the Kessler Plan Hyde Park 1873 Botanic Garden & Trinity Park (Rock Springs Park) Marine Park 1894 Forest Park 1910 Botanic Garden Fort Worth Zoo, Forest Park 6

7 Evolution of the Park System Hare and Hare Years: s Foster Park Cobb Park Buck Sansom Park Z. Boaz Parks Marion Sansom Park Carter Park Harmon Field Park Overton Park Overton Park 7

8 Evolution of the Park System 1960s Chisholm Trail Recreation Center Pecan Valley Park Sandy Lane Park Rolling Hills Park Heritage Park Gateway Park Oakmont Park Arcadia Park System s Chisholm Trail Arcadia Park System 8

9 Evolution of the Park System 2000 Present 2000 to present, 58 new parks taken in with an overall total of 1,286 acres of land added to the park system 761 acres through Developer dedication 409 acres through direct purchase 116 acres through donations West Park Mallard Cove Marine Creek Ranch Northwest Oak Grove Park System Map 9

10 Park Classifications City Goal = 6.25 acres per 1,000 persons Neighborhood Based Parks Urban, Pocket, Neighborhood Goal acres per 1,000 persons acres per 1,000 persons (underserved) Community Based Parks Community and Metropolitan Goal acres per 1,000 persons acres per 1,000 persons (overserved) Special Use & Nature Based Parks Special Use, Greenbelts, Conservancy Facility and acreage vary substantially depending on the specific special use 10

11 Park Inventory Classification Number Acreage Neighborhood Based Parks Urban Pocket Neighborhood 102 1,328 Community Based Parks Community 61 4,410 Metropolitan Special Use & Nature Based Parks Special Use 11 1,319 Greenbelt Conservancy 8 3,819 Total* ,854 11

12 Tools - Plans City Comprehensive Plan Components Park Recreation and Open Space Master Plan Individual Park Master Plans Botanic Garden Master Plan Gateway Park Master Plan Nature Center and Refuge Master Plan Fort Worth Zoo Master Plan Neighborhood Recreation Enhancement Plan 12

13 Tools - Partnerships Tarrant Regional Water District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Streams and Valley, Inc. Texas Parks & Wildlife Department General Services Administration Texas Department of Transportation Local County Jurisdictions Independent School Districts Crowley ISD Eagle Mountain Saginaw ISD Fort Worth ISD Keller ISD Northwest ISD 13

14 Tools - Partnerships and Repurposing 14

15 Tools Repurposing Outdated Facilities North Z. Boaz Park 15

16 Tools - Park Dedication History of Subdivision Ordinance - Park Dedication Policy 1977 City Council Approves Policy Adopted April 18, 2000 (M&C G-12893) Revised January 27, 2004 (M&C G-14225) Revised June 9, 2009 (M&C G-16592) Review of current Neighborhood and Community Park Dedication Policy in

17 Tools - Park Dedication Current Park Dedication Policy Pros Functional mechanism for adding parks in new large subdivisions Cons Does not always capture most strategically important land for parks, greenways, or trails Central City fees do not always account for higher land values in the Central City core Process to Update Park Dedication Policy 17

18 Northwest Community Park Acquired in acres $7M 18

19 Alliance Community Based Park Alliance Park acres 19

20 Walsh Ranch 20

21 Future Growth 2040 Population Estimate 1,377,000 (NCTCOG) Maintain Goal at: 6.25 acres per 1,000 persons Neighborhood Based Parks acres per 1,000 persons Need: 3,442 acres Increase of: 1,926 acres Community Based Parks acres per 1,000 persons Need: 5,164 acres Increase of: 119 acres 21

22 Tools - Plans City Comprehensive Plan Components (cont.) Cultural District Master Plan/Cultural Plan Lake Worth Vision Plan Lake Worth Watershed Greenprint Lake Arlington Master Plan Trinity River Vision Master Plan 22

23 Tools - Plans City Comprehensive Plan Components (cont.) Bike Fort Worth Plan Walk Fort Worth Plan Central City Commercial Corridors Revitalization Citywide Historic Preservation Plan Urban Village Master Plans 23

24 Tools- From Other Communities Conservation Easements Conserve open space on private land Protect High Priority Water Quality Zones (i.e. Lake Worth Watershed Greenprint) 24

25 Tools- From Other Communities Open Space Acquisition Expand use of innovative financing tools to acquire open space for hike/bike trail alignments and stream buffers that protect water quality Develop network of open spaces that connect neighborhoods to schools and other destinations 25

26 Tools- From Other Communities Open Space Acquisition Early acquisition can preserve open spaces that provide a healthier framework for development Innovative financing tools to consider can include: Future bond programs Oil and gas lease revenue Expanded parkland dedication/in-lieu fees Other fees (impact fees, user fees, utility fees, etc.) TIF or PID funds State and federal funding 26

27 Voter Support of Conservation Purposes Drinking Water Water Quality/Rivers/Streams Natural Lands/Areas Wildlife 89% 87% 84% 84% Purpose Preserve Historic Lands Public Access (w ater) Farms/Ranchland Park Improvement (General) Scenic View s Open Space 78% 75% 75% 74% 72% 71% Acquisition of Specifically Named Parcel/Area Bike, hike, w alk, ride trails 69% 69% Land for Parks/Brow nfield Redevelopment 61% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Percent Support 27

28 28

29 Tools- From Other Communities Development Incentives Density bonuses (i.e. accommodate growth in pods of denser development connected to an open space network) Conservation subdivision opportunities (i.e. encourage integration of open space in new neighborhoods) 29

30 Tools- From Other Communities Development Controls for Community Benefit Develop zoning tools (i.e. stream buffer zones) Green infrastructure for water quality Transfer of development rights (to areas that can better accommodate development) 30

31 Tools- From Other Communities US Department of Defense REPI Program (Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration) Funding for military base buffers Protects bases from development encroachment Can also protect land for water quality or habitat 31

32 Urban Streetscapes as Public Open Space Urban Village Plans 32

33 Urban Streetscapes as Public Open Space Urban Village Streetscapes Create higher value places for people Maintenance is essential to retaining value as public open space 33

34 Questions? Comments? 34