Park Planning & Stewardship Division Park & Trail Planning Section Urban Park Guidelines Objectives, Outreach Strategy Recommendations and Plan Schedule PARK PLANNING & STEWARDSHIP Brooke Farquhar, Rachel Newhouse MontgomeryCounty Department of Parks Montgomery County Planning Board June 3, 2010 The Right Parks in the Right Places The Urban Park Guidelines will develop a vision that will consider visual and physical access to parks that enhance mental, physical and spiritual health green gathering spaces to improve social connections and relieve stress outdoor recreational opportunities to improve physical health low impact development and environmentally sensitive design to improve health of the land interesting i and aesthetic design to create a sense of place well maintained and safe spaces to encourage community interaction educational opportunities to provide information on health benefits of parks 2
Parks at the heart of sustainability Meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Recognize the interdependence between the economy, the environment, and social equity. Work to promote each to the benefit of all. 3 How the Guidelines will be Used Developing staff recommendations to the Board for urban parks in: Community Based Master Plans Park Master Plans Park Facility Plans Guide urban park planning from vision to operational reality 4
Overall Goal Re Examine and Re Define the Role of Urban Parks WHITE FLINT SECTOR PLAN AREA DOWNTOWN SILVER SPRING GERMANTOWN There are few parks in the center of urban areas DOWNTOWN BETHESDA WHEATON 5 Distribution of Existing Urban Parks 6
Urbanizing Areas of the County 7 Vision Team Areas Potomac/Rural Area North thcentral ltransit itcorridor East Transit Corridor South Central Transit Corridor Key Question: Ownership Ownership by Department of Parks or the private sector? MC Parks Civic Green, Germantown Private Sector Public Use Space, Bethesda 8
Key Question: Ownership Publicly Owned Public Use Space Public Connectivity Privately Owned Public Use Space Sector Plan Proposed Existing The System Proposed Existing Cii Civic Green Wall Local Park New Recreation Loop New public open Pbli Public open White Flint Expansion of White White Flint Green Streets spaces associated with spaces associated Flint Neighborhood Neighborhood Park new transit, with existing Green Boulevards Park commercial and mixed use housing. development Civic Green Traville Local Park New Recreation Loop Urban Recreational Great Seneca Green Streets Park Extension Stream Green Boulevards Valley Park Great Seneca Science Corridor Orchard Neighborhood Park Quince Orchard Valley Neighborhood Park Civic Green Long Branch & Sligo Bike Lane on University New public open Stream Valley Park Green Streets Takoma Park Takoma Langley Recreation Center New public open spaces associated with new transit stations, commercial and housing. spaces associated with new transit stations, commercial and housing. 9 10
Objective 1 Revise the Definition of Urban Park Define a new (third) park category in the classification system called Urban Parks. In this category, the following kinds of spaces can occur: Civic Green Urban Recreational Park Neighborhood Green Urban Conservation Park 11 Objective 1 Revise the Definition of Urban Park Gathering Places: Civic Green, Neighborhood Green Urban Recreation Destinations: Urban Recreational Park Urban Conservation Areas: Urban Conservation Park Woodside Urban Park Caroline Freeland Urban Park 12
Objective 1 Revise the Definition of Urban Park Gathering Places: Civic Green, Neighborhood Green Urban Recreation Destinations: Urban Recreational Park Urban Conservation Areas: Urban Conservation Park Royce Hanson Urban Park Acorn Urban Park 13 Objective 1 Revise the Definition of Urban Park Gathering Places: Civic Green, Neighborhood Green Urban Recreation Destinations: Urban Recreational Park Urban Conservation Areas: Urban Conservation Park Battery Lane Urban Park Wall Urban Recreational Park 14
Objective 2 Standard Amount Propose a standard amount of parkland for community master plan areas, based on future population in the plan area (acres per thousand people.) Fairfax: 1.5 acres/1,000 people p San Francisco: 5.5 acres/1,000 people Chicago: 5 acres/1,000 people 15 Objective 3 Distribution Propose a methodology for distributing parkland across a community master plan area. Meet identified needs Create a walkable system Determine a service area and fill gaps in Service Include a hierarchy of spaces according to their roles, walkability, and equitable distribution. FOR EVERYONE Wall Park swimming sports, recreation, and fitness activities White Flint Neighborhood Park Expansion rectangular field space for multiple sports FOR THE SECTOR PLAN AREA A central civic green gathering, ceremonies, and celebrations FOR EACH NEIGHBORHOOD A neighborhood green meeting place and landmark FOR EACH BLOCK An urban plaza at each cluster of offices, residences, and shops provide plazas, pocket parks, green streets FOR EACH BUILDING Private recreation space public use space, community garden, green roof 16
Objective 3 Distribution Walkability 17 Objective 3 Distribution Service Areas Chicago s method: Establish service area standards for each type of park. Map existing service areas. Identify underserved areas. Plan new parks to fill the gaps. 18
Objective 3 Distribution Fill Gaps in Service Pattern of Open Space Before Pattern of Open Space After 19 Objective 3 Distribution Plan Response White Flint Sector Plan 20
Objective 4 Vision Develop a vision and performance standard for each type of Urban Park Urban Recreational Park A place for sports, recreation, and fitness Wall Local Park 21 Objective 4 Vision Develop a vision and performance standard for each type of Urban Park Civic Green Rockville Town Center.69 acre (excluding street) t)/.86 acre (including street) t) Campus Martius, Detroit 1.5 acre (excluding street) Post Office Square, Boston 1.7 acre (excluding street) A central space for gatherings, ceremonies and celebrations 22
Objective 4 Vision Develop a vision and performance standard for each type of Urban Park Urban Conservation Park Protects Urban natural & historic features Urban Stream Restoration in Silver Spring 23 Objective 4 Performance Standards Develop a vision and performance standard for each type of Urban Park URBAN RECREATION PARK a space large enough for active recreation and team play 3 5 acres NEIGHBORHOOD GREEN A meeting space and a landmark Size varies CIVIC GREEN a central space for gatherings, ceremonies, and celebrations 1 2 acre setting URBAN CONSERVATION PARK Protects Urban natural & historic features, connected with community Size varies 24 White Flint Urban Design Guidelines
Objective 4 Performance Standards Develop a vision and performance standard for each type of Urban Park Health and Wellness Checklist 25 Objective 5 Acquisition Strategies Clarify urban park acquisition strategies and the various conditions associated with each. 26
Objective 5 Acquisition Strategies Close roads for to create larger public spaces Before After 27 Objective 5 Acquisition Strategies Parks on top of parking facilities Bryant Park, New York City Post Office Square, Boston, MA 28
Objective 6 Environmental Guidance & Regulations Explain how the Environmental Guidelines, Forest Conservation, Environmental Site Design and Stormwater Management Regulations will be applied to urban parks. Environmental Guidelines are applied to all projects by M NCPPC staff when reviewing public park developmentand private developmentplans. Forest Conservation Regulations Environmental Site Design (ESD ) is now a law in the State of Maryland that must be followed. Storm Water Management Regulations (SWM) is included in the ESD review and permitting process that happens at staff and county levels of review. 29 Objective 7 Implementation Strategies Recommend implementation strategies for design, development and construction of urban parks 30
Objective 7 Implementation Strategies Recommend implementation strategies for design, development and construction of urban parks Standard text to elevate urban parks as a priority amenity Other Tools for Implementation Partnerships Donations Shirley Povich Baseball Field Partnership 31 Objective 8 Operations Describe strategies for operations, including maintenance, programming, and policing Outline typical costs associated with implementing the standards. Propose performance criteria to evaluate whether or not the standards are being met. Present pros and cons associated with at least the following three strategies for maintenance and policing: Parks Department Urban Districts Contractors Present an analysis of successful case studies of urban park programming. 32
Outreach Strategies Outreach methods will include community meetings, public hearings, booths at community events, online surveys, and an interagency work group. Public Meetings & Website www.parkplanning.org Involve Regional Centers for Design Student project on the design of Fenton Urban Park Symposium of Speakers University of Maryland Recreation & Open Space Plan Presentations to Interest Groups APA in New Orleans Upcoming NRPA 33 Outreach Strategies Outreach methods will include community meetings, public hearings, booths at community events, online surveys, and an interagency work group. Groups contacted so far: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Economic Benefits Bethesda Ub Urban Partnership their hi maintenance standards d APA Conference Trust for Public Lands additional strategies for getting open space in urban areas University of Maryland Recreation and Open SpacePlan similar issues as Montgomery County Sector Plans Health Parks Healthy People performance standards Landscape Design Students for Fenton Urban Park local contacts and concept generation 34
Master Plan Schedule ONGOING May 2010 Department of Parks Inter Divisional Meetings on draft Objectives and Issues June 3, 2010 Plan Objectives, Outreach Strategy Recommendations, and Plan Schedule to Planning Board ONGOING SPRING 2011 Community Outreach and Interagency Collaboration SPRING 2011 Publish Draft Urban Park Guidelines for Public Review SUMMER 2011 Public Hearing and Planning Board Approval TBD Publish Approved Urban Park Guidelines 35