March 31, 2010 SUBJECT: Morningcrest Park Master Plan Dear Resident, I would like to thank you for your comments on the Morningcrest Park that was mailed out and posted online on the City website in February, 2010. Your input into the process has been helpful in determining the final concept design. Proposed Park Master Plan: The Master Plan has been revised to incorporate suggestions received in response to the Park : The master plan includes both active and passive recreational components as follows: Children s play area with separate junior and senior play structures and swings with wood mulch safety surfacing, subsurface drainage and concrete curb Mowed grass area for informal play/ mini soccer field Half Basketball Court Asphalt paved pathways New deciduous trees Living Fence Seating area Picnic area Site Furniture: Benches, Picnic Tables, Trash Receptacles and Bike Rack Park Identification and Rules signs In response to the concern about dog excrement left on City Parkland, sidewalks and private property, City has mailed letters with information on Stoop and Scoop and Animal Control bylaw to all the residents living in your neighbourhood. The proposal does not include outdoor natural ice rink, tennis courts, splash pad or lighting as explained below: An outdoor natural ice rink and tennis courts are proposed at Eastview Community Park. Given the size of Morningcrest Park and its proximity to proposed Eastview Community Park that is 5 minutes walk away, an ice rink feature is not included in the proposed Master Plan. Splash Pad: It is City policy to install splash pads with a recirculation system. A Water recirculation system is chosen over a pump and dump system due to water conservation concerns. A recirculation system adds capital costs to the implementation of the project but is a sound environmental decision. Splash Pads are best suited for (P.3) Community Parks with parking and washroom facilities. A splash pad has been proposed at Eastview Community Park. Given the size of the park and its close proximity to Eastview Park a splash pad has not been included in the Morningcrest Park Master Plan. Lighting: The proposal for the park does not include lighting. Residents are encouraged to use the park during the daytime hours only. City Hall 59 Carden St Guelph, ON Canada N1H 3A1 T 519-822-1260 TTY 519-826-9771 guelph.ca
City staff has prepared a report with recommendations pertaining to the Master Plan for Morningcrest Subdivision Neighbourhood Park. This report is scheduled to be presented to the Community Development and Environmental Services (CDES) Committee on Monday April 19, 2010 beginning at 12:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 1 Carden St., Guelph. If you have any concerns regarding the master plan and wish to be a delegation at the CDES Committee meeting, please contact Dolores Black of the City Clerk s Office at 519-837-5603 by April 16, 2010. The copies of the staff report can also be picked up from the City Clerk s office or viewed on the City web site (Guelph.ca) on or after April 15, 2009. Please contact the undersigned for more information. Sincerely, Jyoti Pathak Parks Planner Development and Parks Planning Community Design and Development Services T 519-837-5616 x 2431 F 519-837-5640 E Jyoti.pathak@guelph.ca Enclosures: 1. Proposed Morningcrest Park Master Plan 2. Park results cc Councillor Vicki Beard Councillor Ian Findley Scott Hannah, Manager of Development and Parks Planning
Type 1 Mailed 2 Mailed 3 Mailed 4 Mailed Comments Likes Dislikes Other Something for everybody, lot of trees Absolutely everything, plans look great Lots of trees and shrubs, great walking path Flow of the park, the pathway wraps around smoothly and allows access to all areas. (1) Not enough benches and trash receptacles (5) Dog owners do not pick up after their pets- this could become a problem Staff Response (2) Need to have trash (1, 2 & 3) Two benches along the trail receptacles near every by the living fence and trash entrance/ exit of the park. receptacles at each entrance are (3)Would like to see a couple proposed. of benches along the back by (4) Lighting is not included in the the living fence so that we can proposal. Residents are encouraged to sit and enjoy the park without use the park during the daytime hours being near the children s only. activities. (4) Is there lighting? (6) Suggest putting a sign to pick up after pets and a fine if not adhering to the rules. (7) Larger trees along property (10) Hopefully #5 will not be line to the north appear to be a paved little too close to the private property. (8) Larger trees to the south along Severn may be too close to each other This may close-in the park too much inviting inappropriate behaviour. (9)The basketball court may prove to be very noisy for the home on the Maude Lane. (11) Mini soccer field is surrounded by trees. The tree spacing should be more spread out to allow picnic tables. (5 & 6) A park rules sign are proposed to be installed at each entrance. One of the rules listed on the sign is 'pick up after your pet'. (7) Only small trees and shrubs will be planted as part of living fence. (8) Proposed large trees along Severn Drive are deciduous trees and will not block the sightlines into the park. (9) The basketball half court has been relocated away from the houses. (10) Item # 5 is mowed grass area/mini soccer field (12) What about putting a (11) The trees are proposed far enough skating park (Ice rink) instead to have space for picnic table in of basketball half court? between. (12) An ice rink has been proposed at Eastview Community Park which is 5 minutes walk away from the Morningcrest subdivision. 1
5 Mailed 6 Mailed Open green space, walking paths, living fences and trees, nice layout Love the layout (17) I do not agree with woodmulch surfacing. Rubber surfacing is a better choice. Woodchips are a hazard with small children, they put things like wood chips in their mouths. (13) What do circular shapes represent? (14) What will homes on Acker Street will face? (15) Poop and Scoop reminders throughout walking areas and (16) Receptacles for depositing animal waste I think I should be a play guard for 12 months and up. (13 & 14) Trees (15) Same as (5& 6) above (16) The City Operations currently do not provide waste separation bins in the parks. (17) City standard is 30 cms deep Fibar safety surfacing (treated wood chips). Third party certified playground inspectors are required to test and approve the safety surfacing in accordance to CSA-Z614-07 Childeren's playspaces and Equipments 2007 before a new playground is put to use. Rubber surfacing is a very expensive alternative to wood-mulch surfacing. 7 Online 8 Online Multi use and green space Looks good on paper (18) No parking area (19) No area for pets to play (18) Parking is not a permitted use in a Neighbourhood Park (P.2) zone. (19) According to the City of Guelph 'Animal Contol Bylaw' Schedule "A" unleashed dogs will be permitted on the unoccupied mini soccer field while under control of a person: (a) between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. from the first day of May to the fourteenth day of September inclusive; and (b) between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. from the fifteenth day of September to the thirtieth day of April inclusive. 2
9 Online Wide variety of options, half basketball court and mini soccer field is an excellent choice, both the junior and senior play areas with a safety surface (20) Suggest putting a sign to Pick Up after pets (20) Same as (5& 6) above. 10 Online Everything (21) Only one trash receptacle, (22) Hoping for a dog park area as there are many dogs in the neighbourhood and they will only use that space for the purpose anyway. (21) Proposal includes 5 trash receptacles. (22) Same as (19) above. 11 Online Living fence, pathway (23) Basketball half court. This area will encourage youth to possibly hang out later in the evening that may lead to vandalism and anti social behaviour. (24) include a "dog waste" receptacle (23) Basketball courts are neighbourhood level facilities. The City's Parks, Recreation and Culture strategic Plan recommends programming and active engegement of all under represented groups including youth. The park has good sightlines and eyes into the park from streets and from the houses across the streets to deter any vanadalism and anti-social behaviour. (24) same as (16) above 12 Online Junior/senior play area and structure, trees, natural space, mini soccer field (25) No tennis courts (26) Put up signs about cleaning up after pets (25) same as (28) below (26) Same as (5 & 6) above. 3
13 Online Trees, basketball court, pathways, play structures (27) Do not put a half basketball court backing onto residential properties. No one wants to sit in their backyard and have to listen to the sound of a basketball bouncing. (28) Could use more tennis courts and splash pads for kids (27) Same as (9) above. (28) A splash pad and tennis courts have been proposed at Eastview Community Park which is 5 minutes walk away from the Morningcrest subdivision. 14 Online Placement of the playground 15 Mailed Living fence, picnic tables Only one picnic table Having a park in the neighbourhood is wonderful 16 Mailed Children s play area and swings with woodmulch surfacing Finish the park as soon as possible 17 Mailed The whole concept (29) When would it be completed? (29) The master plan implementation work will be initiated in 2010 following approval of the park master plan by City Council. The park will be developed in phases as full funding for the park construction is not identified until 2012 in the 5 year capital forecast. 4