Terre Haute Parks & Recreation Master Plan
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This plan was prepared with the assistance, direction, and cooperation of the City of Terre Haute Parks Board, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, the Purdue Extension Vigo County, and the citizens of the City of Terre Haute. PREPARED FOR: Terre Haute Parks and Recreation Department CONTACT INFORMATION: Eddie Bird, Parks Superintendent City of Terre Haute Parks and Recreation Department 1110 Girl Scout Lane Terre Haute, IN 47807 p (812) 232-2727 MAYOR/PARK BOARD MAYOR Duke Bennett PARKS BOARD MEMBERS Gordan Bryan John Wright Nancy Cummins Bobby Moore PREPARED BY: ACKNOWLEDGMENTS HWC Engineering 135 N. Pennsylvania Street, Suite 2800 Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317) 347-3663 December 2017 Page Left Intentionally Blank 1. INTRODUCTION...................................................1 Purpose Plan Methodology Mission and Vision Plan Goals and Objectives 2. THE COMMUNITY...............................................15 The Community Community History Community Features Cultural Features Vigo County Parks Benefit of Historic, Cultural and Community Assets to the Terre Haute Parks System The People Past Population Trends Current Population Trends Application 3. THE PARKS DEPARTMENT...................................29 Management Maintenance Budget Strategies Facility Classifications and Standards Recreation Programming Golf Courses 4. THE PARK SYSTEM.............................................45 Overview Parks Map Public Input Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces Creating Healthy Communities Program 5. THE PARK SYSTEM: CENTRAL DISTRICT.............57 Fairbanks Park Curtis Gilbert Park Herz-Rose Park Paul Dresser Memorial Park Veterans Memorial Park Thompson Park Centennial Park Graham Park Oakley Park John M. Hanley, Jr. Memorial Park Ohio Boulevard National Road Heritage Trail TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE 6. THE PARK SYSTEM: NORTH DISTRICT.................77 Collett Park Coy Park Sheridan Park Spencer F. Ball Park Maple Avenue Nature Park Lafayette Corridor Parks Vi Cottrell Park Gold Medal Park Boy Scout Park Anaconda Park Five Triangles (Terre Town) 6. THE PARK SYSTEM: SOUTH DISTRICT.................95 William S. Rea Park Brittlebank Park Voorhees Park Booker T. Washington Park Block Parks One Triangle 6th Street Boulevard 6. THE PARK SYSTEM: EAST DISTRICT....................109 Deming Park Hulman Links John G. Dobbs Memorial Park 17 Acres Complex Jones Trailhead Twigg Rest Area 7. ACTION PLAN......................................................123 8. APPENDICES...................................................A-1 Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces: Creating Healthy Communities Community Engagement Report The Renewal of Historic Rea Park Page Left Intentionally Blank INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION u 1 INTRODUCTION PURPOSE In 2008, the City embarked on an extensive park critical issues throughout the parks system need planning process, resulting in the 2009-2013 Parks action plans. Deferred maintenance must be Master Plan. This long-term vision was intended addressed. Golf operations need investment. to place emphasis on the value of parks and Aquatics facilities are aging rapidly. The trails are provide a guide for the care of this tremendous not so new anymore and need work. Strong park asset. However, budget cuts reduced staffing leadership will be required to implement solutions levels, deferred maintenance projects and cut to address these needs over the course of this plan. programming is the following years. The 2014-2018 plan anticipated lean years and the main emphasis was to take care of what Terre Haute already has - including addressing deferred maintenance issues, replacing outdated equipment and updating aging facilities. As the City now looks ahead to the 2019-2023 Parks Master Plan, the budget is beginning to slowly rebuild and the department is starting to move forward incrementally. As the department revisited the previous plan, leaders renewed their commitment to the long term vision and goals established by that plan. Additional goals include focusing more resources on neighborhood parks and forming lasting partnerships to facilitate rehabilitation and renewal. Recognition has been given to the fact that many Terre Haute Park and Recreation Master Plan 2 t PLAN METHODOLOGY The results of this program were compiled in the Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces (EVPS) report The Terre Haute Parks System is contained within and were reviewed by stakeholders and Parks Staff. the corporate limits of the city of Terre Haute. In Multiple meeting were held with key staff members addition to serving the needs of the residents of the of the Parks Department to understand how the city, it is recognized that the parks also serve as parks can better enhance their value to the local a regional draw for users outside of the corporate community. Specific issues and opportunities were limits. It is acknowledged that these outside users discussed and noted. Since this plan largely builds impact the parks while not financially contributing from the previous 2014-2018 plan, an evaluation to the parks system. The Parks Department has a of the progress of the community toward their long-term goal to address these impacts, but this is previous goals were completed. Incomplete goals not an immediate priority for this plan. Currently, it were noted and evaluated to see if they were still is not feasible to put non-resident fees in place… a priority. Items remaining a priority were brought forward into this plan if applicable. We cannot continue to ignore the financial difficulties that the Terre Haute Parks System has Priorities were reviewed by the Parks Board and experienced in recent years. As such, this plan will Mayor’s office, city planners and staff. All goals and lay out priorities and methodologies for addressing objectives were then presented to the public at an needs in creative and innovative ways while open house prior to finalizing the plan. highlighting areas of the parks system that need priority financial support. This plan was developed through an extensive process of property inventory, data collection, analysis of previous plans, park staff meetings and public input. Input from the general public was sought through a public outreach program facilitated by the Purdue Extension Vigo County, in partnership with the Terre Haute Parks and Recreation Department and the City of Terre Haute. INTRODUCTION u 3 MISSION STATEMENT The Terre Haute Parks and Recreation Department strives to preserve, protect, and enhance Terre Haute’s heritage, character, and quality of life by effectively providing the community and visitors diverse leisure time opportunities, parks, trails, and facilities. VISION Throughout the planning process, it was repeated multiple times that Terre Haute has an incredible park system, and that taking care of the system is the highest priority to the community. Concerns were also consistently expressed that maintaining the park system has become a challenge with the past budget cuts. Park leaders understand that establishing long term alternative revenue streams is essential for meeting their goals of taking care of the parks system. Also critical to the success of the department will be continuing to educate the public on the value of parks so that the public will continue to support improvements to park facilities. “The City of Terre Haute is known for its fine people, public concerns, historical value and the quality of service provided to all citizens. The Terre Haute Parks and Recreation Department plays an important role in this community as thousands of adults and children visit and use City parks every year. We strive to provide quality recreational opportunities to individuals of all abilities. Each year, the Terre Haute Parks and Recreation Department experiences growth as it strives to meet increased demands and needs.” Terre Haute Park and Recreation Master Plan 4 t PLAN GOALS AND OBJECTIVES GOAL: SET THE GROUNDWORK TO IMPROVE REA PARK AS A REGIONAL AND NEIGHBORHOOD PARK The following is a summary of the primary goals TO SERVE THE SOUTHSIDE COMMUNITIES and objectives for the 2019-2023 plan. This is not meant to be inclusive of everything that will occur in the parks in this time frame. Instead, it is intended OBJECTIVES: as an overview of department priorities. • Work with the Friends of Rea Park, Inc., to implement the improvements to William S. Rea Park. The goals an objectives were developed based • Renewal efforts include: renovation of the historic upon the EVPS public input summary, stakeholder 1925 clubhouse into a park activity center, input and meetings with staff. implementation of a park master plan that includes reconstruction of tennis courts and other facilities, and encouraging the parks board to maximize the efficiency and profitability of all Rea Park resources, programs and facilities. GOAL: PLAN FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN ONE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK PER YEAR OBJECTIVES: • Use the Herz-Rose Park partnership as a model of community engagement through strategic partnerships. Indiana State University, with support from Arts Spaces, has received a National Collett Park Sign Endowment for the Arts grant to engage with an artist to create a public art work for Herz-Rose Park. In September 2018, the artist conducted NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS an “outdoor living room” in the park, sitting with approximately 60 residents and conversing with It is of utmost importance that there is a park them for approximately 2-3 hours regarding what serving every neighborhood of Terre Haute. they value about