Parks & Recreation Master Plan Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan

219 Pages·2009·6.1 MB·English

C A
I T Y O F L E X A N D R I A
2009
Comprehensive
Parks and
Recreation
Master Plan
Prepared by
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE ARCHITECTURE ENGINEERING PLANNING
C A
i t y o f l e x A n d r i A
2009
C o m p r e h e n s i v e
Pa r k s a n d R e c r e a t i o n
M a s t e r P l a n
Prepared by:
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE ARCHITECTURE ENGINEERING PLANNING
Tennessee Office Georgia Office
1314 5th Avenue North, Suite 200 220 West Crogan St.
Nashville, TN 37208 Lawrenceville, GA 30045
p. 615-242-0040 p. 770-338-0017
f. 615-242-1405 f. 770-338-0397
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Lose & Associates would like to thank the citizens, elected officials, the Community Services Division and
city staff, and all members of the Alexandria community who participated in the Parks and Recreation
Master Plan. Your dedication and commitment to your community are a testament to the high quality
of life that is present in the City of Alexandria. Special thanks are due to the following:
MAYOR
Jacques M. Roy
ALEXANDRIA CITY COUNCIL
Councilman-at-Large
Myron K. Lawson
Councilman-at-Large
Roosevelt L. Johnson
Councilman, District 1
Ed Larvadain, III
Councilman, District 2
Everett C. Hobbs
Councilman, District 3
Jonathan D. Goins
Councilman, District 4
Harry Silver
Councilman, District 5
Charles L. “Chuck” Fowler
PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN
STEERING COMMITTEE
COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION STAFF
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
SECTION 1 – INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………….....1.1
Prevous Plannng Efforts………………………………………………………………...……1.2
SECTION 2 – COMMUNITY PROFILE……………………………………..……………………….…2.1
Demographc Profle…………………………………………………………….……….……2.1
Population by Age………………...……………………………………………………….……………...2.4
Population by Ethnicity………………………………………………………………………...………….2.5
Education, Income and Employment Profiles………………………………………………………..…..2.6
Vehicles Available per Household………………………………………………………………………..2.7
Conclusons…………………………………………………………………………….………2.8
SECTION 3 – PUBLIC INPUT…...…………………………………….……………..……………...…3.1
Intervews………………………………………………………………………………........…3.1
Steerng Commttee Workshop……………………………………………………………...3.2
Publc Meetngs………….……………………………………………………………..……...3.7
Martin Community Center………………………………………………….………………………….....3.7
Public Safety Complex…..…………………………………………...…………………………………...3.8
Broadway Resource Center……………………………………..………………………………………...3.9
Frank O. Hunter Park Gymnasium…………………………………..………………………….……...3.10
Scott M. Brame Middle School……………………………………..…………………………………...3.11
St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church……………………………………..……………………...…………...3.11
Communty Survey…………..………………………………………………………………3.12
Program and Activity Preferences……………………………………………..………………………...3.12
Park and Program Usage……….…………………………………………………………...…………...3.15
Program Adequacy.…………………………………………………………………………………….. 3.18
Facility Priorities..………………………………………………………………...……….........………. 3.22
Marketing……..…………………...……………………………………………….…………....……….3.24
Funding and Willingness to Contribute...............…...…………………………………………....…... 3.25
Respondent Demographics.………………………………...................................................………. 3.26
Summary of Publc Input Fndngs………………………………………..…..………...….3.28

SECTION 4 – DIVISION ORGANIZATION AND ANALYSIS…………….………...……………...…4.1
Current Organzaton……………………………………...…………………………………..4.1
Community Services Division...……………………………….................................................……….4.1
Parks and Recreation Department……………....................................................................………...4.2
Current Organization Analysis……………………………………................................................…....4.3
Proposed Organzaton and Recommendatons………………………………………….…4.4
Recreation Programs.……………………………………….....................................................……….4.4
Revenue Centers.....……………………………..............................................…...…………………...4.8
Parks Maintenance………...………………………...………................................................……...….4.8
Community Programs………...............….…………………................................................…….….4.12
Sports and Marketing………………………………...………...................................................….….4.13
Alexandria Zoo………………………................................................…………………………....…..4.14
Division Leadership………………………………………........................................................….….4.14
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board………………………………………...........................……….4.15
Job Descriptions for New Positions………………………………………………...........................….4.16
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Recommendatons Summary……………………………………………………….…….…4.17
Tier One Organizational Priorities………………………......................................................……….4.17
Tier Two Organizational Priorities …………………………….....................................…...………...4.17
SECTION 5 – PROGRAMMING ASSESSMENT………………..……..…………………………….....5.1
Communty Programmng Benefts……………………………………………………….….5.1
Communty Servces Dvson Programs..………………………………………………..….5.2
Program Analysis………………..……………..……..……………………...…………………..……..…5.2
Partnershps…………………………………………………………………………………….5.4
Partnership Analysis……………………………………………………………………………...…..……5.4
Partnership Recommendations……………………………………………………………………...……5.4
Alternatve Provders…………………………………………………………………...……...5.6
Recreaton Trends…………………………………………………………………...………...5.6
Population-Based Programming……………………………………………………………………….….5.6
Activity-Based Programming…………………………………………………………...……………..…..5.7
Program Ideas from Other Communities………………………………………………….………....…..5.9
Trends Overview and Recommendations…………………………………………………….….……..5.11
Recommendatons Summary…………………………………………………………….….5.12
Development of New Programs…………………………………………………………………...…....5.12
Administrative……………………………………………………………………………………..…......5.13
Organizational…………………………………………………………………....……………………...5.13
SECTION 6 – BUDGET ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS...…………………………………6.1
Budget Overvew……………….……………………………………………….…...………...6.1
Budget Analyss……………….……………………………………………….…...…………..6.2
Community Services Division…………………………………………………....………………..……...6.2
Parks and Recreation Department (Parks Maintenance)………………………………………..…....…6.2
Enterprise Funding………………………………………………………….……………………..………6.3
Benchmark Comparison...………………………………………………….……………………..………6.3
Cost Recovery…………….……………………………………………….………………....…6.4
Budget Recommendatons…………….……………………………………………….…..…6.5
Enterprise Centers………………………………………………………….……………………..………6.5
Per Capita Spending………………………………………………………….…………………..………6.6
Cost Recovery………………………………………………………….…………………………..………6.6
Recommendations Summary……………………………………….……………………..…………...…6.7
SECTION 7 – PARK ASSESSMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS………………………………….7.1
NRPA Gudelnes………….…………………………………………………………….…...…7.1
Mini Park.…………………………………………………………………………………………….……7.2
Neighborhood Park.…………...……………………………………………………………………….…7.3
Community Park………………………………………………………………………………….....….…7.4
Regional Park…………………………………………………………………………………...…….……7.5
Special-Use Park………………………………………………………………………………………..…7.5
Natural Resource Area/Preserve……………………………………………………………………...…..7.5
Greenways…………………………………...………………………………………………………….…7.5
School Park…………………………………………………………………………………………......…7.6
Private Parks and Recreation Facilities……………………………………………………………...……7.6
Alexandra Park Provders…………………………………………………………………..…7.7
City of Pineville……………………………………………………………………………………………7.7
Civitan Ball Park/CENLA Fields at Masonic Drive…………………………………………………..……7.7
Cotile Lake.…………………………………………………………………………………………...……7.7
Kisatchie National Forest..…………………………………………………………………………...……7.7
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Pineville Ward 9 Sportsplex..……………………………………………………………...………...……7.8
Red River Waterway Commission..………………………….……………………………………...……7.8
Faclty Standards and Dstrbuton………………………………………………………..…7.9
Community Standards.……………………………………………………………………………………7.9
Facility Surplus/Deficit……………………………………………………………………………….……7.9
Park Classifications and Service Areas………………………………………………………………..…7.12
Park Distribution.………..……………………………………………………………………………….7.13
General Park Evaluatons, Observatons and Recommendatons……………………….7.15
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).………..……………………………………………………..…7.16
Playground Safety Standards.………..……………………………………………...……………..……7.17
Security and Vandalism.………………………………………………………………….……...………7.17
Indvdual Park and Faclty Assessments and Recommendatons…………………...….7.18
Alexander Fulton Mini Park.………..…………………………………………….........................……7.18
Bayou Rapides Trail.………..……………………………………………………………………………7.19
Beagle Club.………..…………………………………………………………………….....……………7.20
Bolton Avenue Community Center Playground.………..…………………………………………...…7.21
Charles Smith Park.………..………………………………………………………………………….…7.22
Cheatham Park.………..…………………………………………………………………………………7.23
Compton Park………………………………………………………………………………...….....……7.25
Deborah Bowman Park.………..…………………………………………………………………..……7.26
Enterprise Park.………..…………………………………………………………………………....……7.27
Frank O. Hunter Park.………..……………………………………………………...………….....……7.28
Greenbelt.………..………………………………………………………………………………...….…7.30
Harmon Park.………..……………………………………………………………………………......…7.31
Harold Miles Park.………..………………………………………………………………………...……7.32
Helen Black Park.………..………………………………………………………………………………7.33
Johnny Downs Sports Complex.………..…………………………………………..……….….....……7.34
Lincoln Park.………..……………………………………………………………………………...….…7.36
Links of the Bayou Golf Course.………..………………………………………………………….……7.37
Martin Park.………..……………………………………………………………………………...…..…7.38
Mason Street Park.………..…………………………………………………………………………..…7.39
O’Hearn Mathews Soccer Fields.………..………………………………………………………..….…7.40
Old Menard School Park.………..…………………………………………………………………...…7.41
Peabody Playground.………..…………………………………………………………………….….…7.42
Wycliffe Way Park.………..………………………………………………..……………………...….…7.43
Cty Park Master Plan Development……………………………………………………..…7.44
Alexandria Youth Baseball Complex.………..………………………………………………..…..….…7.45
Alexandria Zoo.………..………………………………………………..……………………........….…7.47
Ben Bradford Field.………..………………………………………………..……………………..….…7.48
Big Island Field.………..………………………………………………..…………………….…...….…7.49
Boys and Girls Club Picnic Area.………..………………………………………………………...….…7.50
Bringhurst Golf Course.………..………………………………………………..……………….…....…7.51
City Park Playground.………..………………………………………………..……………………....…7.52
Diamond #1 (Masonic Field)……………………………………………..……………………....….…7.53
Hynson Bayou Trail.………..………………………………………………..……………………......…7.54
Tennis Complex.………..………………………………………………..……………………...…....…7.55
Overall Faclty Recommendatons………………………………………………………....7.56
Park Naming and Classification System…..………….…………………………………...…………….7.56
New Park Recommendatons and Economc Benefts…………………….……………....7.58
City Park Renovation and Expansion Priority Projects.………..………………………………….……7.58
Frank O. Hunter Park.………..……………………………………………………………………….…7.61
Harold Miles Park and Beagle Club.………..………………………………………………………..…7.62
Lilly Grimble Park.………..……………………………………………………………………..….……7.62
Martin Park.………..……………………………………………………………………..……..….……7.62
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O’Hearn Mathews Soccer Fields.………..………………………………………………………...……7.63
Zoo Expansion.………..……………………………………………………………………..….…….…7.63
Park Renovations.………..……………………………………………………………………..….….…7.63
New Neighborhood Parks.………..……………………………………………………………………..7.63
Greenway Development.………..……………………………………………….……………..….……7.63
Design Standards.………..…………………………………………………………….………..….……7.64
Faclty Recommendaton Implementaton Stratagy………………………………………7.66
Tier One Priorities………...………..…………………………………………………….……………...7.66
Tier Two Priorities………...………..…………………………………………………….……………...7.66
Tier Three Priorities………...…………………………………………………………….……………...7.66
SECTION 8 –OPINION OF PROBABLE COST AND PROJECT PHASING……..…………………..8.1
Existing Park Renovations…………………..………..……………………………………………...……8.3
Grand Total for Existing Park Renovations………………………...………………………………...….8.17
City Park Improvements………………………...……………………………….............................….8.18
Grand Total for City Park Improvements ………………………...………………….……………...….8.19
New Park, Facility and Greenway Recommendations……………………………………...….……...8.20
Grand Total for New Parks, Facilities and Greenway Development………………………...….…….8.22
Total Cost Breakdown…………………………………………………………..………...….8.22
SECTION 9 – FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS……………………………………………...…....9.1
Current Fundng Methods………………………………………………………….……..….9.1
SPARC Funds……………………………………………………….……………………..……….…...…9.1
Tradtonal Fundng Methods…………………………………………………………..…….9.1
Bonds………………………………………………………….……………………..……………………9.1
User Fees…………………………………………………………..………………………………………9.1
Special Assessment Districts…………………………………………….……………………..…….....…9.2
Dedicated Property Tax………………………..……………………….……………………..…….....…9.2
Impact Fees……………………………………..……………………….……………………..…….....…9.2
Regulatory Funding or Development Sources..……………………….……………………..…….....…9.3
Federal Fundng……………...…………………………………………………………..…….9.3
Community Development Block Grants……………………………………………………………....…9.2
Land and Water Conservation Fund……………………………………………………….…………..…9.3
National Recreational Trail Program……………………………………………………….…………..…9.3
Rehabilitation Service Programs……………………………..…………………………….…………..…9.3
Transportation Enhancement Funds and Safe Routes to School Funds……………………………...…9.4
State Fundng ………………………………………………………….……………………….9.4
Louisiana Assistance Resource Center…………………………………….…………………………...…9.4
Louisiana Information Infrastructure Center…………………………………….……………..……...…9.4
Louisiana Endowments for the Humanities…………………………………………………………...…9.4
Louisiana Division of the Arts…………………………………….………………………….………...…9.5
USDA Rural Development…………………………………….……………..………………………...…9.5
Alternatve Fundng Mechansms…………………………………………………………….9.5
Fundraising…………………………………….…………………………………..…………………...…9.5
Utility Round-up Programs……………………………………….…………………………………….…9.5
APPENDIX
Communty Survey Questonnare
Sample Faclty Use Agreement
Faclty Inventory
WORKS REFERENCED
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Nestled along the quiet waters of the Red River, the
City of Alexandria sits in the heart of central Louisiana.
As the seat of Rapides Parish, the city provides a
crossroads for various regional transportation routes
including the Port of Alexandria, the Kansas City-
Southern Railroad and Interstate 49. As a result of its
ideal location, Alexandria serves as an economic hub,
drawing in resources from the entire central Louisiana
region. The city was founded in 1818 as a central
trading location for other cities in the region and later
chartered in 1882 as the port grew into a regional
distribution center for various goods. Alexandria also
served as the home for the England Air Force Base,
which housed a contingent of the prized A-10 aircraft
until it was closed in 1992. Today, Alexandria’s
regional draw continues to grow as the city continues
to position itself as the go-to destination for Central
Louisiana.
The City lies along a level plain containing several
waterways that meander throughout the area,
including several bayous such as Bayou Rapides,
Bayou Roberts, and Hynson Bayou. These waterways
provide green corridors containing an abundance
of natural vegetation and wildlife that are integral
to the overall environment of the area. Alexandria
has already begun to take advantage of these natural
Alexandria Zoo
resources through the establishment of trails and
greenways to provide recreational opportunities to its
citizens. The land lends itself to additional outdoor recreation due to the flat, open terrain but is often
limited by the surrounding development that has occurred over the years. As a result of this sprawling
development, park lands have become disconnected and scattered, creating a strain on government
resources to provide sufficient, quality recreational opportunities for its citizens. Recently, there has
been a demand for a revitalization of the parks system, along with a need for new and updated facilities
and programs.
Currently, parks and recreation services are provided through a variety of public and private agencies.
The Parks and Recreation Department is under the realm of the Department of Public Works, which
operates primarily as a maintenance group but also coordinates the use of several athletic facilities.
In general, athletic programs offered to the public are run through private associations, which rent
facilities from the City as needed. Another government entity, the Division of Community Services,
organizes additional recreation programs, particularly those geared toward community outreach,
health and wellness programs for adults and youth summer camps. Other entities such as the Boys
& Girls Club, YMCA and church groups account for the remainder of major recreation providers for
2009 Comprehensive parks and reCreation master plan • introduCtion 1.1
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the city. As a result of the current configuration, the
parks and recreation system for Alexandria lacks the
necessary structure to provide a single, efficient public
recreation provider that is committed to a common
goal, maximizing funding available for such services.
In November of 2007, the City’s Division of
Community Services recognized the City’s need for
an efficient, cohesive recreation system and sent
out a request for proposals for a City Recreation
and Parks Master Plan. The purpose of this Master
Plan is to evaluate the current system and submit
recommendations in order to achieve a shared vision
for meeting the City’s recreation needs over the next
ten years - from 2008 to 2018.
Lose & Associates, Inc., a landscape architecture firm
with offices in Nashville, Tennessee, and Atlanta,
Georgia, was selected to conduct this Master Plan.
Using demographics, population projections,
assessments of current facilities, National Standards,
and public input, Lose & Associates developed a
Links on the Bayou
10-year Master Plan. This document serves as both
a strategic plan and an action plan, providing the
City of Alexandria with guidelines for future program
planning efforts and capitol improvement projects.
Previous Planning Efforts
In 1992, the City Council hired RM Plan Group, a Nashville planning consultant, to produce a
Comprehensive Development Strategy. This publication outlined a vision, goals, objectives, plan and
implementation for ensuring quality growth and economic development by the year 2010. One
of the outcomes of this document was a review of existing parks and recreation facilities as well as
recommendations for the future. Over the years, the City has taken action on some of these points in
an effort to revitalize parks services. Unfortunately, the recommendations made in this report were very
general and neglected to reform the fragmented parks administrative system. As a result, enforcement
of these recommendations was limited in scope, and the overall parks and recreation system ultimately
fell into further disrepair.
Another report, the Alexandria Urban Master Plan was composed, in part, by Moore Planning Group
in 1999. This plan sought to revitalize the City’s downtown district through revised land use, structural
rehabilitation, and development of parks and open space, particularly trails and greenway linkages.
While some of the proposed greenways have been developed, their context within the park system has
not yet been realized, and connections to areas outside of this urban core have not been made.
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