Status Report for Parks and Recreation Capital Projects

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1 Attachment #2 Town of Chapel Hill Status Report for Parks and Recreation Capital Projects Prepared by Bill Webster, Assistant Director Chapel Hill Parks & Recreation Department March 19, Athletic Light Replacement Project 2. Battle Branch Trail Renovation 3. Bolin Creek Trail Art Renovation Project 4. Bolin Creek Trail Renovation (Phases I & II) 5. Bolin Creek Trail (Phase III) 6. Community Center Park Retaining Wall Replacement/Public Art Project 7. Greenways Art Project 8. Morgan Creek Trail 9. Pritchard Park and Art Garden 10. Southern Community Park Post Construction Improvements Dear Citizen: You have received this communication because your address is on one of the Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Department s distribution lists for various capital and planning projects. We have combined all of the reports related to progress on long-range planning and capital construction into this one communication. If you do not wish to receive this update (about once every 30 days) please let me know. You can reply to the or call me at (919) Also, if you desire additional information please do not hesitate to contact me. Communications: We are adding interested people to our distribution list for these projects. If you know anyone who would like to be kept informed please have them contact me. To reach me with questions or comments please , call, or write at: Review of Plans: Plans for some projects can be reviewed in my office. To review plans, please make an appointment (919) or at bwebster@townofchapelhill.org. Bill Webster, Assistant Director of Parks & Recreation 200 Plant Road Chapel Hill, NC (919) bwebster@townofchapelhill.org Terms that are used in these reports and often seen throughout capital project documents: 1

2 CIP Capital Improvement Program: Larger construction and renovation projects are budgeted through separate fund mechanisms. The CIP is distinct from the operating Town s operating budget. SUP Special Use Permit: Required permit that must be issued prior to most major construction projects. Involves many public forums and concludes with a public hearing. Usually takes about months. ZCP- Zoning Compliance Permit: An important permit that is issued after the SUP and prior to construction. This permit usually takes about 3-4 months to acquire and does not involve public comment. 1. ATHLETIC LIGHT REPLACEMENT PROJECT Current Status: Contract Execution Design Consultant: Gary Sunderland Construction Firm: Walter Holmes Electric Contract Price: $501,675 Anticipated Completion: summer 2009 We are working to modernize our athletic lights in all parks in order to accomplish several goals including: Replace all aging wood light poles with modern steel or concrete poles. Replace aging high energy use light fixtures with modern energy efficient fixtures. Upgrade all baseball/softball field lighting to modern standards for illumination. This project will include the following: Install new poles and lights at Cedar Falls ballfields #2, 3, and 4. Poles were removed in Remove existing poles at the ballfield in Hargraves Park and replace with new poles and lights. Remove poles from Ephesus Park tennis courts and replace with new poles and lights. Replace the lights at the two Homestead Park ballfields. Keep the existing concrete poles. All systems will have remote monitoring. The following steps have taken place, or are anticipated, to move the project forward: We started with the assessment of all Town wood pole athletic field and tennis court lights and supporting electrical equipment. Most of this equipment was installed in the mid-1970s. A sampling of wood poles at tennis courts and athletic fields were taken. A lumens test of the light poles at baseball/softball fields was taken. Overall, 27% of poles sampled at ballfields were found to be in poor enough condition that they should be replaced. The highest concentration of sub-standard poles was found at Cedar Falls Park. Lumen testing was performed on all of our baseball/ softball fields including the newer fields at Homestead Park. All of our fields failed the lumens test based on newer standards adopted by major sports organizations. As a result of this study we have removed all of the athletic light poles at Cedar Falls Park. We anticipate removing the athletic light poles at Hargraves Park and all wood tennis court poles at some time in the future. The Council approved bids on February 23, A contractor has been selected. Contractor is preparing sealed engineering drawings. 2

3 2. BATTLE BRANCH TRAIL RENOVATION Current Status: Design and Permitting Design Firm: Baker Engineering This project will involve the replacement of all wood bridges and boardwalks on the Town owned section of the Battle Branch Trail. The existing wood structures are about 20 years old and have reached the end of their expected use. The first phase will be to design replacement structures and secure permits. Replacement of the bridges and boardwalks will occur as funds become available. The following steps have taken place, or are anticipated, to move the project forward: Temporary repairs have been made. Surveying of the site is complete. Design and flood modeling is complete. Permitting is underway. 3. BOLIN CREEK TRAIL MURAL ART RENOVATION PROJECT Current Status: Assessment Former Town Council and Greenways Commission member Joe Herzenberg passed away in In his will he made a significant contribution to be used for the Bolin Creek Trail. The funds were willed to the non-profit organization Friends of Chapel Hill, Parks, Recreation, and Greenways. The Friends has agreed to provide $6,500 to be used for renovation of the leaf murals on the OWASA manholes along the existing Bolin Creek Trail. Work is likely to be completed in late summer early fall BOLIN CREEK TRAIL RENOVATION (PHASES I & II) Current Status: Selection of design firm Former Town Council and Greenways Commission member Joe Herzenberg passed away in In his will he made a significant contribution to be used for the Bolin Creek Trail. The funds were willed to the non-profit organization Friends of Chapel Hill, Parks, Recreation, and Greenways. The Friends has agreed to provide an initial $15,000 to be used for an assessment of the trail. Once that assessment is finished a renovation plan can be established. 5. BOLIN CREEK TRAIL (PHASE III) Current Status: Detailed design and land acquisition Design Firm: Lappas & Havener This project will involve the extension of the existing 10 foot wide Bolin Creek Trail upstream from the end of the current trail at Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The project will focus on construction of a portion of the trail from Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. to Umstead Park. The trail will likely be concrete due to the proximity of the trail to the creek and the high probability of inundation during flood events. The trail will use the existing culvert to cross under Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. It will then bridge over to the south bank of Bolin Creek. From there it will continue westward to the park. We plan on demolishing the two old bridges in the park and replace them with a single modern pedestrian/bicycle bridge. Future phases would continue the trail to the future Carolina North campus, Carrboro, and into Orange County. A future spur trail along Tanyard Branch could provide access to the Northside neighborhood and Carrboro. The following steps have taken place, or are anticipated, to move the project forward: The Council adopted a concept plan on May 21, A contract for detailed design of the first segment has been signed. 3

4 Property owners have granted permission for the Town to enter onto their properties for design purposes. These rights of entry do not contain rights for public access. A.51 acre parcel along Bolin Creek has been purchased. Survey work is complete. Design work is underway. 6. COMMUNITY CENTER PARK RETAINING WALL REPLACEMENT/PUBLIC ART PROJECT Selected Artist: David Finn Current Status: Design Anticipated Completion: summer 2009 Total Budget: $47,600 This project will involve the replacement of a wood retaining wall adjacent to the play area. The wood wall will be replaced by a new wall that will also be a piece of public art and function as seating. This project will use funding from both the CIP and from the Community Center Renovation Project s percent for art allocation. We will use Town forces to assist with the installation process. The following is ongoing: The artist is constructing the component parts of the art installation. We are currently reviewing plans and preparing for installation in the summer of GREENWAYS PERCENT FOR ART PROJECT Selected Artist: Al Frega Current Status: Design Anticipated Completion: summer 2009 Total Budget: $50,000 SPECIAL NOTE: Al Frega will be at the Greenways Commission meeting Wednesday, March 25, 7:00 pm, at the Chapel Hill Public Library. Anyone interested in art along the Town s greenways are urged to attend. This project will involve the development of a prototype(s) art object that can be easily and inexpensively replicated throughout the Town s greenways system. The following is ongoing: The artist is currently soliciting public input. 8. MORGAN CREEK TRAIL AND MERRITT PASTURE ACCESS Current Status: Detailed design Design Firm: Coulter Jewell Thames The Morgan Creek Trail will be an extension of the existing Fan Branch Trail that currently serves Southern Village. The trail will continue from the intersection of Culbreth Road and Highway to Smith Level Road at the Carrboro Town line near Frank Porter Graham School. This trail will likely require several bridges and underpasses. The project will also include access to the Merritt Pasture. 4

5 The Council has agreed to move forward on a first phase that would involve about 4,200 linear feet of trail, on the north side of Morgan Creek, from the Merritt Pasture to a new parking lot just east of Kingswood Apartments. The project could possibly include a bridge over Morgan Creek to access the Southbridge neighborhood. We are proceeding with final revisions to phase one plans and aim to bid in the spring of The following has occurred or is ongoing: The Council adopted a concept plan on October 9, A.2 acre parcel of property was purchased from Duke Energy in September This will allow us to build a bridge for access to Merritt Pasture. Work on detailed design is complete. A ZCP was submitted in late April. We are completing plans for a first phase of the project. 9. PRITCHARD PARK AND ART GARDEN Current Status: Preliminary Design Design Firm (overall): Corley Redfoot Zack Design Firm (subcontractor for park component): OBS Landscape Architects Schedule: Dependent on the Library Expansion project This is the existing 30 acre tract that currently surrounds the Chapel Hill Public Library. The park currently has a 1 mile loop trail. A concept plan for the park has been approved by the Council. We intend to design a park that contains the following elements: Play area Gazebo/belvedere Trails Sitting/gathering area Art garden As currently envisioned every element of the park will have some art component. Due to funding limitations the park will likely be built over a number of years in phases. The following has occurred or is ongoing: The park design, including the Art Garden, will become part of the overall design process for the new library expansion. You can see updated information at SOUTHERN COMMUNITY PARK POST CONSTRUCTION IMPROVEMENTS Current Status: Underway Construction of the park, with the exception of some punch list items, was completed on January 13, SPECIAL NOTE: The Southern Community Park dog park will be temporarily closed during portions of the week of March 23. We will pour fresh concrete to widen the access path and to provide concrete pads under the doors at the park s entrance. The park will be closed temporarily during these times. As a reminder Chapel Hill has a dog park in Homestead Park. The Town of 5

6 Carrboro has a dog park in Anderson Park. We will notify people on our Southern Community Park distribution list as soon as we have firm dates for the closure. The following work is planned or underway: Dog Park. Widen concrete walk and pour pads at swinging gates. Scheduled for the week of March 23. Athletic Fields. Rip rap work completed. One small area of turf will be replaced in the summer of Natural Surface Trail. The trail along the western property line will have to be re-routed. We will sponsor a work day and ask volunteers to assist in re-locating the trail. The timing of the volunteer work day is dependent on resolving issues with the disk golf course as well as removal of dangerous dead and damaged trees. Tree planting. Completed. Disk Golf Course. The course is being built primarily with volunteer help. The front 9 holes are now open. Tree removal work is still needed. We ll install signs as soon as possible. We are currently working on a sign plan for the park. Please contact me if you have any further questions about these projects. We will add other projects in future reports. Completed Projects (Projects that appeared on the monthly updates, but were completed and removed) Athletic Light Assessment and Removal (2008) Booker Creek Linear Park (2007) Cedar Falls Cell Tower Removal (2009) Cedar Falls Play Area (2007) Community Center Park Walkways Replacement (2008) Community Center Renovations (2007) Dry Creek Greenway Trail Concept Plan (2008) Dry Creek Natural Surface Trail (2008) Hargraves Park Site Improvements and Playground Replacement (2007) Hargraves Park Playground Surface Replacement (2008) Homestead Park Aquatics Center (2008) Homestead Park Restrooms Renovation (2007) Homestead Park Skate Park Improvements (2007) Homestead Water Line Replacement (2007) Meadowmont Park Drainage Improvements (2007) Park and Facility Assessment (2008) Southern Community Park (2009) Sport Art Gymnastics Connection to OWASA water and renovation of septic field (2008) Tanyard Branch Trail Renovations (2007) Tennis Court Resurfacing: Oakwood and Cedar Falls Parks (2008) Umstead Park Restrooms Renovation (2007) 6