South Ardmore Park Master Plan Update February 2014 TOWNSHIP OF LOWER MERION Montgomery County, Pennsylvania South Ardmore Park Master Plan page 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements . page 5 Introduction. page 7 Section A – Background Information and Data. page 11 Section B – Public Participation. page 15 Section C – Site Information and Analysis. page 17 Section D – Activities and Facilities Analysis . page 29 ▪ Summary of the Master Plan Recommendations . page 31 Section E – Design Considerations. page 41 Section F – Design Process. page 43 Section G – Design Cost Estimates. page 49 Section H – Appendix. page 57 South Ardmore Park Master Plan page 3 South Ardmore Park Master Plan page 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The following individuals were helpful in providing guidance and assistance during the preparation of this report. Their cooperation, enthusiasm, and encouragement were invaluable in completing this document: South Ardmore Park Master Plan Study Committee Lower Merion Township Commissioners V. Scott Zelov, P&R Committee Chair Anna Durbin, Ward 8 Commissioner Jane Dellheim, former Ward 8 Commissioner Lower Merion Township Staff Lindsay Taylor, Director of Parks and Recreation Donna Heller, Recreation Supervisor Dave DeAngelis, Parks Supervisor Chris Leswing, Assistant Director of Planning Cliff Van Yahres, Township Arborist Office of the Township Engineer Edward P. Pluciennik, PE, Township Engineer Diana Mancini, RLA Environmental Advisory Council Kate Galer, Chair Lower Merion School District Robert Schultz, Operations Foreman Donald Walsh, LMHS Athletic Director Lower Merion Little League Marc Eisman Lower Merion Soccer Club Biff Sturla And a special thank you to all of the residents who participated in the public meetings. South Ardmore Park Master Plan page 5 This project was financed in part by a grant from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund under the administration of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. South Ardmore Park Master Plan page 6 INTRODUCTION In 2012, Lower Merion Township completed an update to the Comprehensive Parks & Recreation Plan. The purpose was to: Complement the 2006 Lower Merion Open Space and Environmental Resources Protection Plan; Serve as the Parks & Recreation element of the Township’s Comprehensive Plan; and Comply with the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code Act 170, Section 503 (11). The goal of updating the plan was to increase its effectiveness as a guide for the Township’s actions and decision-making in achieving its mission for parks and recreation: “To help our citizens engage in active healthy lifestyles and to conserve our natural resources. We do this by collaborating with public and private sector partners and proving public service that is friendly, convenient and exceeds expectations.” One recommendation contained in the Plan is for the Township to complete master plans for all of its parks. A master plan is an evolving long-term document that defines the future of a park and its place in the park system. Master plans recommend additions and renovations that will provide recreational opportunities, protect significant environmental resources and preserve key cultural resources using an open and public process. South Ardmore Park is an 18 acre active park that is located in the middle of a developed residential neighborhood. It is considered the Township’s flagship active park. Its prior master plan was completed in 1997-98. The South Ardmore Park planning process focused on: Providing facilities that respond to the leisure needs and interests of residents Accessibility Safety standards Improving park circulation Providing gathering spaces Environmental sustainability The park’s use and relationship with the surrounding neighborhood The 2012 Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Plan establishes five very important goals: 1. Enrich parks and recreation facilities as community destinations where residents can have fun, experience nature, socialize and exercise. 2. Conserve our natural resources by using best management practices in the parks for conservation, public education and partnerships. 3. Collaborate with Township planners on the redevelopment of the villages and on land development applications throughout the Township to ensure that public recreation facilities, opportunities and partnerships in recreation facilities, programs and management are incorporated into the improvements. 4. Engage the citizens in recreation to enrich their lives. 5. Provide operational excellence and financial stability that will garner widespread public support for parks and recreation. The Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Plan identifies a series of specific actions that the Township can take to improve its parks and recreation services, and recommends a plan for their implementation. Many of the recommendations are general to various parks and not repeated here. South Ardmore Park Master Plan page 7 Specific to South Ardmore Park, the Comprehensive Plan recommends updating the Master Plan. The Master Plan updates are called on to “focus on accessibility, safety standards, improving park circulation, gathering spaces, and environmental sustainability.” South Ardmore Park is cited as follows: Goal 1: Enrich Parks and Recreation Facilities as community destinations where citizens can have fun, experience nature, socialize and exercise. Objective 1: Increase the number and quality of sports fields. ▪ Convert the 60’ baseball field (Field C) to a 90’ field. ▪ Relocate the 60’ softball field (Field A) to eliminate overlapping outfields with Field B. Objective 2: Continue to work with the Lower Merion School District on joint planning, development, use and maintenance of athletic fields and game courts. ▪ Work with the School District to improve athletic fields that are used by Lower Merion High School for its interscholastic sports teams. Objective 5: Develop a playground planning and improvement program. ▪ Plan improvements unique to Lower Merion Township. ▪ Consider a theme for each playground. Objective 6: Ensure that all parks include an environmental component as part of the park, design, operation and programming. ▪ Introduce rain gardens to infiltrate storm water runoff from courts and impervious surfaces. ▪ Add trees in non-programmed areas of the park for shade and to create intimate areas for informal enjoyment of the park. Objective 7: Evaluate, design, and upgrade parks with consideration of safety and security of users. ▪ Follow principles of CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design), to maintain clear sight lines in the parks from public streets and sidewalks, locate recreation facilities for safety, limit vehicle penetration into the park as much as possible to avoid pedestrian/vehicle conflicts, and provide trails of adequate width for the intended users. ▪ Provide adequate safety zones surrounding ball fields. Do not locate trails, playgrounds and other facilities in foul ball zones. Separate spectator seating from ball fields with fencing. ▪ Continue to work towards meeting Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Guidelines for Public Playground Safety in all playgrounds. Objective 8: Provide accessible trails, viewing areas, and other accommodations to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). ▪ Develop trails within all parks to provide accessible routes from parking areas and sidewalks to recreation and support facilities. ▪ Provide stabilized handicap parking spaces in parking areas. ▪ Provide accessible viewing areas that are connected to an accessible route. ▪ Consider the needs of athletes with disabilities. South Ardmore Park Master Plan page 8 ▪ Develop playgrounds with play equipment that offers play options for children who are physically challenged ▪ Offer site amenities that accommodate persons with disabilities. Objective 9: Design, plan and implement a Township-wide signage system for parks and recreation facilities. ▪ Build upon the Township’s signage system to establish a readily identifiable signage system for wayfinding, park and facility name, directions, rules and regulations, interpretation and information. Objective 11: Create destinations in parks where people can gather and socialize. ▪ Add pavilions in parks for general picnic use. Goal 2: Conserve our natural resources by using best management practices in the parks for conservation, public education and partnerships. Objective 3: Establish a philosophy of environmental sustainability in the parks. ▪ Consider applying Sustainable Sites Initiative Guidelines to park’s design and future improvements. Objective 4: Improve Lower Merion Township’s Parks for environmental sustainability. Objective 5: Address environmental issues in Lower Merion Township’s parks. ▪ Manage stormwater and enhance water quality through infiltration of runoff. ▪ Continue to plant trees in the park. The Master Plan for South Ardmore Park seeks to fulfill the goals and objectives of the overriding Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Plan, while responding to expressed needs and desires of the local community. South Ardmore Park Master Plan page 9 South Ardmore Park Master Plan page 10 SECTION A BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND DATA Introduction to the Community Lower Merion Township is located in Montgomery County, in southeastern Pennsylvania. Located in the heart of the "Main Line," the Township is a first ring suburban community bordering the City of Philadelphia. The community is served by commuter rail