PARKS AND OPEN SPACE MASTER PLAN

Transcription

1 PARKS AND OPEN SPACE MASTER PLAN AUGUST 2017

2 PARKS AND OPEN SPACE MASTER PLAN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Parks and Open Space Master Plan establishes goals, objectives, recommendations and implementation strategies for the planning and development of new parks, recreation facilities/programs, trails, and open space in the city of Thornton. The Master Plan serves as a detailed supplement to the Thornton Comprehensive Plan, responds to the goals and policies related to parks, recreation, trails and open space stated in the plan. The Plan, and serves as a guide for continued improvements and expansion resulting in a safe, high quality, citywide system of parks, recreation facilities/programs, trails and open space that will meet the needs of Thornton citizens now and in the future. In the spring of 1998, the Thornton City Council formed the Parks and Open Space Advisory Commission (POSAC) in response to the passage of a November 1997 ballot initiative allowing for a.25% sales and use tax increase. The proceeds of this tax increase are divided into thirds; one third for parks, one third for open space and one third to be determined by city council based on recommendations of an open space and parks advisory commission appointed by the city council. POSAC worked diligently to develop a vision, goals and objectives for the city s parks, trails and open space system, to identify and evaluate parks, trails and open space opportunities, and to develop recommendations on park, trail and open space acquisition and development. In November, 2000, Thornton voters also approved a $22.4 million bond issue, to finance the costs of acquiring 116 acres of open space, 5.5 miles of trails, and 53 acres of parkland. The bond issue also provided for development of various facilities, including the Gravel Lakes Fishing Facility, Thornton Sports Complex, Croke Lake Park north of Thornton Civic Center, and other projects. In November, 2013, Thornton voters approved the extension of the existing.25% sales and use tax for open space and parks purposes from its current termination date of December 31, 2018 to December 31, Voters also approved allocation of no more than 20% of the total annual revenues from the tax to be spent on or reserved for maintenance costs. The vision established by the Parks and Open Space Master Plan is one in which parks, recreation facilities and open space are linked by a citywide trail system to form a string of pearls. The pearls include opportunities for both active and passive forms of recreation. The plan gives considerable attention to protecting and utilizing the city s environmental and historical assets as part of the parks and open space system, including existing wildlife habitat, vegetation, historical buildings, the South Platte River, Niver Creek and Big Dry Creek and their tributaries, and existing irrigation ditches and reservoirs that were built when the Thornton area was a farming community. In order to implement this string of pearls concept, the Parks and Open Space Master Plan includes the following goals and objectives for developing the system: Goal 1: Plan and develop an interconnected citywide system of parks, recreation facilities, trails, parkways, boulevards, and open space that provides for a diversity of recreational opportunities within the community. The park and open space system, where appropriate, should be integrated with other community facilities, including schools. i

3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Goal 2: Goal 3: Goal 4: Goal 5: Goal 6: Goal 7: Goal 8: Goal 9: Goal 10: Goal 11: Goal 12: Goal 13: Goal 14: Goal 15: Goal 16: Goal 17: Goal 18: Goal 19: Goal 20: Goal 21: Goal 22: Goal 23: Goal 24: Goal 25: Goal 26: Distribute park, recreation and open space resources, to the extent possible, on an equitable basis. Develop the parks and open space system as a major component of Thornton s community image and identity, and promote an overall design theme that is unified, consistent and committed to quality. Recognize the recreational needs of all Thornton s citizens in providing parks, recreation facilities, and recreation programs in the community. As the city of Thornton grows, apply a consistent, fair, and rigorous set of park planning and design standards to all development. These standards shall cover pocket parks, neighborhood parks, community parks and trails. Develop parks and recreation facilities to preserve and emphasize significant features of the city of Thornton s natural environment. Recognize and respond to passive, as well as active, recreational needs in the design of the park and recreation system. Create and connect recreational opportunities through a well connected trail system. Provide long open space trail corridors. Provide trail connection to other modes of transportation. Incorporate Complete Street projects into the trails network. Promote the city of Thornton s unique environmental, cultural, and historical resources. Support a variety of trail users. Raise awareness and educate trail users. Preserve the city of Thornton s unique environmental and visual resources in a natural condition. Provide recreation opportunities in natural areas for the enjoyment residents and visitors in Thornton. Open space acquisition, either by purchase or land dedication, shall contain resources that warrant protection. Protect/preserve open space in the most cost-effective manner possible. Use open space lands in a manner that allows for reasonable use by the public while protecting environmental resources. Incorporate lands that have development or geologic constraints as part of the city s open space system, if appropriate, and in the interest of public health, safety, and welfare. Coordinate and cooperate with surrounding jurisdictions so that the open space system is allowed to follow natural systems across jurisdictional boundaries. Preserve historical and cultural sites in their traditional condition for the benefit of future generations. Prepare and regularly update the Parks and Open Space Master Plan to guide the development of the parks, trails, open space system, and recreation for the city of Thornton. Provide for the funding of the proposed parks, recreation, trails and open space system by using a variety of funding sources. Acquire and preserve park and/or open space lands using available mechanisms. Assure that the park and open space system is realistic and affordable, and that the costs required for long term, quality management and maintenance are recognized. ii

4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Goal 27: Assure that parks, open space, recreation, and trails are managed and maintained in an environmentally responsible and cost-effective manner that preserves the underlying resources while being attentive to public enjoyment and safety concerns. This fifth update to the Parks and Open Space Master Plan (preceding plans were approved in 2000, 2004, 2009 and 2012) retains the over-arching vision, goals, and policies summarized above, but also responds to changes that have taken place or issues that have emerged since the original plan was drafted. Among these are population growth and demographics, ward redistricting, the distribution of facilities throughout the city, public sentiment regarding completion of major trail corridors, suggestions for specialized facilities, public safety on open lands and the unique challenges associated with installing vehicular and pedestrian lighting at parks, trailheads and along trails adjacent to both residential development and open space. This plan update presents an assessment of needs and specific plan proposals for parks, trails, and open space, with an emphasis on short-term actions that can be implemented within the next five years. The plan update also describes actions that may be undertaken over a longer term planning horizon, although these actions are developed with much less specificity. The plan update has again benefited from the active participation of city staff from a variety of departments, POSAC, and city of Thornton residents. Recommendations carried forward from prior Parks and Open Space Master Plans include: Review annually the action plan for connecting existing trail segments into continuous routes and incorporate plan proposals into the capital budget. Continue to require dedication of trail easements in all developments affected by the trail system shown in the Parks and Open Space Master Plan Map (Exhibit 4.1). In park-deficient areas of the city, identify specific park development opportunities with other partners. Continue to explore the opportunities for joint development with landowners. Continue to implement specific maintenance and management guidelines to achieve effective stewardship of the city s open lands. Provide staffing necessary to carry out responsibilities relative to these guidelines. The Master Plan also addresses recreation programming and facilities, the use of parkways and boulevards to create linkages between parks and open spaces, and the value of the parks, open space and trails system for enhancing community identity and quality of life for Thornton citizens. Thornton Youth Programming Cherrywood Park iii

5 PARKS AND OPEN SPACE MASTER PLAN ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS THORNTON CITY COUNCIL Heidi Williams, Mayor Jacque Phillips, Ward I Mack Goodman, Ward I Eric Montoya, Ward II Val Vigil, Ward II Josh Zygielbaum, Ward III Sam Nizam, Ward III Adam Matkowsky, Ward IV Janifer Kulmann, Ward IV THORNTON PARKS AND OPEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMISSION Merylee Appel Aaron Bergman Paul Darrah Curry Houck Jane Meador Brian Ocepek Janet Sherba Linda Weitzel CITY MANAGER Jack Ethredge THORNTON STAFF TEAM Mike Soderberg, Executive Director for Community Services Diane Van Fossen, Capital Projects and Planning Manager Paula Schulte, Parks & Open Space Project Manager Paul Burkholder, Parks and Golf Manager Jan Kiehl, Recreation Manager Bonnie Allen, Administrative Assistant Glenda Lainis, Policy Planning Manager Heidi Feigal, Senior Landscape Architect Darrell Alston, Traffic Engineer Jim Kaiser, Senior Civil Engineer Jason O Shea, Development Director Valorie Plesha, GIS Analyst II Marta Benavente, Senior Civil Engineer - Traffic Rob Larsen, Senior Planner Kent Moorman, Regional Transportation Engineer Suzann Cox, Parks & Open Space Project Manager CONSULTANT TEAM StudioCPG - Heather Gregg, Abigail Griffith v

6 PARKS AND OPEN SPACE MASTER PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 1-1 INTRODUCTION 1-1 Purpose of the Plan 1-1 Plan Update 1-1 Relationship to Thornton Comprehensive Plan 1-2 PLANNING PROCESS 1-2 Parks, Recreation and Open Space Committee (PROS) 1-2 Passage of the 1997 Parks and Open Space Tax 1-2 Passage of the 2000 Parks and Open Space Bond Issue 1-3 Parks and Open Space Advisory Commission (POSAC) 1-3 Research and Analysis 1-4 Public Input Parks and Open Space Master Plan Update Process 1-5 Adoption 1-5 PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES: HISTORICAL OVERVIEW 1-5 RECREATION AND TOURISM USES ELEMENT 1-5 PLAN ORGANIZATION 2. EXISTING CONDITIONS 2-1 LOCAL AND REGIONAL CONTEXT 2-1 Community Character 2-2 Regional Setting 2-5 PARKS AND OPEN SPACE INVENTORY OVERVIEW 2-5 EXISTING PARK LAND 2-8 COMMUNITY-WIDE PARKS & RECREATION FACILITIES 2-12 RECREATION CENTERS & POOLS 2-12 City of Thornton Recreation Centers and Pools 2-12 Joint Use Aquatic Center 2-14 OTHER CITY OF THORNTON COMMUNITY CENTERS, PROGRAMS AND SERVICES 2-14 Thornton Senior Center 2-14 Thornton Arts & Culture Center (TACC) 2-14 Community Gardens 2-15 CITY OF THORNTON RECREATION PROGRAMS 2-15 Preschool Program 2-15 Dance Program 2-15 Youth Programming 2-17 Youth Sports 2-17 Adult Programming 2-18 Programming for Senior Citizens 2-18 Special Events and Festivals 2-19 PRIVATELY OWNED AND MAINTAINED RECREATION FACILITIES 2-27 HYLAND HILLS RECREATION DISTRICT 2-28 DESIGNATED OPEN SPACE AND OPEN LAND 2-30 WARD 1: City-Owned Designated Open Space and Open Land 2-30 WARD 2: City-Owned Designated Open Space and Open Land 2-31 WARD 3: City-Owned Designated Open Space and Open Land 2-32 WARD 4: City-Owned Designated Open Space and Open Land 2-33 TRAILS 2-34 Heritage Trail System vii

7 TABLE OF CONTENTS 3. VISION, GOALS AND POLICIES 3-1 OVERALL VISION: A STRING OF PEARLS 3-1 VISION FOR PARKS, RECREATION FACILITIES, AND TRAILS 3-2 VISION FOR OPEN SPACE 3-3 GOALS AND POLICIES 3-3 Goals and Policies: Overall System and Community Image 3-5 Goals and Policies: Parks, Recreation Facilities, and Recreation Programs 3-7 Goals and Policies: Trails 3-10 Goals and Policies: Open Space 3-13 Goals and Policies: Historical and Cultural Resources 3-14 Goals and Policies: Planning 3-14 Acquisition, Funding, Management, and Maintenance 4. PLAN OVERVIEW: CITYWIDE PARKS, RECREATION, TRAILS AND OPEN SPACE SYSTEM 4-1 ELEMENTS OF THE PLAN 4-1 USING THE PARKS AND OPEN SPACE MAP 4-2 METHODOLOGY AND MAPPING 4-2 Natural Resource Evaluation Methods from Prior Updates 4-2 Natural Resource Evaluation Methods 4-3 Resource Maps 5. PARKS, RECREATION AND RECREATION FACILITIES ELEMENT 5-1 NEEDS FOR PARKS, RECREATION PROGRAMS AND RECREATION FACILITIES 5-1 PARK ACREAGE AND RECREATION FACILITIES 5-1 Parks and Recreation Facilities Level of Service 5-3 Projection for future athletic facility needs based on Thornton organized sports participation 5-9 ACCESS TO NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY SCALE FACILITIES 5-9 NEEDS FOR RECREATION PROGRAMS AND FUTURE TRENDS 5-10 SERVICE AREAS FOR RECREATION CENTERS 5-11 NEEDS FOR SPECIALIZED FACILITIES 5-12 SPECIFIC PLAN PROPOSALS 5-12 Community Parks 5-12 Neighborhood and Pocket Parks 5-13 Regional Parks 5-13 Specialized Recreation Facilities 5-13 Unique Challenges 5-13 DESIGN STANDARDS FOR PARKS Pocket Parks Neighborhood Parks Community Parks viii

8 TABLE OF CONTENTS 6. TRAILS ELEMENT 6-1 CONNECTING THE PEARLS TRAILS ELEMENT: EXPANDING THE FOCUS 6-2 INTEGRATING PLANNING APPROACHES 6-2 Thornton Existing Trail System Thornton Complete Street Policy 6-4 Multi-Jurisdictional Plans 6-6 UNDERSTANDING THE TRAIL USERS 6-7 IMPLEMENTING AN ACTION PLAN FOR 2025 AND Opportunity-Based Projects 6-7 Need-Based Projects 6-11 PROMOTING THORNTON S HERITAGE 6-15 FACILITY CLASSIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS 6-18 Regional Multi-Use Trail Facilities 6-18 Local Trail Facilities 6-19 Heritage Trail Facilities 6-19 Bike Lands and Bike Routes 6-19 STREET CROSSING GUIDANCE 6-19 Grade separation 6-20 At-Grade Crossings 7. OPEN SPACE ELEMENT 7-1 EXISTING CONDITIONS 7-2 Topography and Views 7-2 Water Features and Floodplains 7-2 Vegetation 7-3 Wildlife Habitat 7-5 Wildlife 7-7 Farmland 7-7 MECHANISMS FOR OPEN SPACE PROTECTION 7-7 Public Ownership (City-Owned Land) 7-7 Floodways and Floodplains 7-7 Tracts and Easements 7-8 Parks and Open Space Zoning 7-8 Wetlands 7-8 CRITERIA FOR OPEN SPACE PROTECTION 7-8 Natural Resource Values 7-9 Functional Values 7-9 Special Features 7-9 Feasibility Of Acquisition 7-10 SPECIAL ECOLOGICAL OPPORTUNITIES 7-13 SPECIFIC PLAN PROPOSALS 7-13 Higher Priority Areas 7-16 Medium to Lower Priority Areas 7-17 SUMMARY ix

9 TABLE OF CONTENTS 8. IMPLEMENTATION 8-1 TOOLS FOR EXPANDING THORNTON S PARK AND OPEN SPACE SYSTEM 8-1 Public Land Dedication (PLD) Requirement 8-1 Parks and Open Space Taxes 8-2 Other Preservation Tools 8-5 CAPITAL BUDGETING 8-5 STAFFING REQUIREMENTS FOR MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE 8-6 PLAN AMENDMENTS AND REVISIONS 8-6 RECOMMENDED ACTION STEPS A. APPENDIX List of Appendices Page Appendix # Appendix Description A1-1 Appendix Thornton Comprehensive Plan Core Goal: City of Great Amenities Policies that apply to Parks, Open Space, Recreation, and Trails A2-1 Appendix Ballot Language Parks and Open Space Tax A3-1 Appendix Ballot Language Parks and Open Space Bond Issue A4-1 Appendix Ballot Language A5-1 Appendix 5 Charge from the Thornton City Council to the Parks & Open Space Commission (POSAC) A6-1 Appendix 6 Record of Public Input A6-3 Appendix 6.A Public Outreach Summary A6-11 Appendix 6.B Master List of All Projects for the Parks and Open Space Plan A7-1 Appendix 7 Community Overview and Historical Sketch of Thornton A8-1 Appendix 8 Inventory of Parks and Other Recreational Resources A9-1 Appendix 9 Natural Resource Mapping and Analysis A10-1 Appendix 10 Property and Resource Disposition Policies for Open Space A11-1 Appendix 11 Land Acquisition Tools A12-1 Appendix 12 Heritage Trail Linkage Plan, March 2012 A13-1 Appendix 13 Trails Element Appendices A13-3 Appendix 13.A Missing Links In 2025 Primary Network A13-11 Appendix 13.B Highest Priority Action Items A13-13 Appendix 13.C Trail Amenity Specifications A14-1 Appendix 14 City of Thornton Community Services Program Participation A15-1 Appendix 15 City of Thornton Coyote Management Plan A16-1 Appendix 16 Comparison of Colorado Local Government Requirements for Parks, Trails, and Open Space A17-1 Appendix Parks and Open Space Master Plan Update Survey A17-3 Appendix 17.1 Summary and Overview A17-7 Appendix 17.2 Sample Survey A17-11 Appendix 17.3 Summary Diagrams x

10 TABLE OF CONTENTS B. GLOSSARY List of Exhibits Page Exhibit # Exhibit Description 2-3 Exhibit 2.1 MAP: Regional Context 2-6 Exhibit 2.2 Existing Parks and Parks Planned in Approved Developments in the city of Thornton, by Classification (2015) 2-7 Exhibit 2.3 Distribution of Existing Recreation Facilities and Recreation Facilities Planned in Approved Developments in the city of Thornton, by Ward (2015) 2-8 Exhibit 2.4 Current Parkland and Recreation Facilities Level of Service Acreage in Thornton, by Ward (2015) and Estimated Level of Service for Parks Planned in Approved Development 2-9 Exhibit 2.5 MAP: Existing Parks and Open Space 2-21 Exhibit 2.6 MAP: Privately Owned Facilities - Playgrounds 2-23 Exhibit 2.7 MAP: Privately Owned Facilities - Pools 2-25 Exhibit 2.8 MAP: Schools 2-28 Exhibit 2.9 Existing and Future Approved Designated Open Space and Open Lands in Thornton, by Ward (2015) 4-5 Exhibit 4.1 MAP: Parks and Open Space Master Plan 5-2 Exhibit Current Park and Recreation Facilities Levels of Service (LOS) in Thornton 5-3 Exhibit 5.2 City of Thornton Existing Parkland and Recreation Facilities Comparisons to NRPA 2015 Benchmarks and 2012 Regional Municipalities Average 5-5 Exhibit 5.3 MAP: Service Areas for Parks 5-7 Exhibit 5.4 Levels of Service: City and Non-City Owned Facilities 6-3 Exhibit 6.1 Existing Trail Segments 6-5 Exhibit 6.2 Multimodal Thoroughfares 6-8 Exhibit Trails Plan: Primary Network 6-9 Exhibit Trails Plan: Priority Missing Links 6-10 Exhibit Trails Plan: Facility Types 6-11 Exhibit Trails Plan: Heritage Trail System 6-13 Exhibit 6.7 MAP: Existing Trails Network and Proposed 2040 Trail Plan 6-16 Exhibit 6.8 Trail Types 6-21 Exhibit 6.9 Crossing Type Criteria 6-22 Exhibit 6.10 Crossing Types 7-11 Exhibit 7.1 MAP: Special Ecological Opportunities 8-3 Exhibit 8.1 Public Land Dedication Requirements Change Recommendations 8-7 Exhibit 8.2 IMPLEMENTATION ACTION STEPS for Parks, Trails and Recreation Facilities 8-8 Exhibit 8.3 IMPLEMENTATION ACTION STEPS for Open Space xi