Facility Master Plan Update

WakeMed Soccer Park Page 1 Facility Master Plan Update Facility Master Plan Update FOR THE TOWN OF CARY PARKS, RECREATION, & CULTURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT BY INTEGRATED DESIGN, PA ARCHITECTS • ENGINEERS • PLANNERS August 2010 WakeMed Soccer Park Page 2 Facility Master Plan Update Acknowledgements Town Council Ervin Portman, "At-Large" Representative Gale Adcock, District "D" Representative Harold Weinbrecht, "Mayor" Jennifer Robinson, District "A" Representative Jack Smith, District "C" Representative Julie Aberg Robison, Mayor Pro Tem, "At-Large" Representative Don Frantz, District "B" Representative Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Advisory Board Jeff Boucher Robert Bush Sal Cammarata Susan Davenport Dennis Hoadley – Chair Ed Langan David Lindquist Tullie Johnson Neema Patel Kay Struffolino Athletics Committee Ed Langan Andy Mcree Jeffrey Trendel Thomas Griffin Walker Reagan Randall Bennett Pete Burke King Prather Larry Miller Ken Berry Christine Nacewicz, Teen Representative Caycee Dorrier, Teen Representative Town of Cary Staff Mary Henderson, Director, PRCR Doug McRainey, Parks Planning Manager, PRCR William Davis, Athletics Manager, PRCR Paul Kuhn, Senior Parks Planner, PRCR Keith Jenkins, Facility Manager, PRCR David Crotts, Assistant Facility Manager, PRCR Larry Dempsey, Facilities Division Manager, PW James Walters, Facilities District Coordinator, PW WakeMed Soccer Park Page 3 Facility Master Plan Update Table of Contents I Executive Summary……………………………..Page 4 II Project Overview…………………………………Page 5 III Soccer Park History……………………………...Page 6 IV User Group Data Collection……………………..Page 10 A Town of Cary SWOT Analysis B Invited User Group Forum C Group Meetings V Data Analysis Narrative………………………….Page 21 A WakeMed Soccer Stadium B Koka Booth Stadium C Park Fields D Park and Cross Country E Parking and Circulation F Future Stadium VI Implementation and Cost Estimate……………..Page 42 Appendix A1 – User Group Meeting 3.19.09 A2 – Survey Results A3 – Interview Notes A4 – Meeting minutes – Athletic Committee A5 – Meeting minutes – PRCR Advisory Board A6 - WakeMed Soccer Park Stadium Graphics WakeMed Soccer Park Page 4 Facility Master Plan Update I. Executive Summary To ensure WakeMed Soccer Park continued role as a premier soccer park and to meet its new role as a community park an updated Master Plan was developed for the facility. This Master Plan will guide the Town of Cary into the future to ensure it can continue to serve the community needs. Premier events such as the RailHawk’s, ACC & NCAA Tournaments, regional cross-country events all the way to local youth events will continue to be hosted at this facility with the implementation of this plan. Listed below is a summary of the recommendations for the facility to be implemented based on current user groups feedback: A. WakeMed Soccer Stadium 1. Expand stadium capacity to 15,000 seats, improve seating quality 2. Upgrade existing concessions 3. Install video boards 4. Develop new team room facility with multi-purpose space 5. Construct administrative offices with meeting space 6. Upgrade field lighting B. Koka Booth Stadium 1. Improve field lighting/electrical system 2. Expand seating to 1,500 seats 3. Develop new press box 4. Provide video board - portable C. Park Fields 1. Install artificial turf field conversions (fields 4,5 & 8) with lights 2. Develop new irrigation pond & continue water stewardship 3. Provide a shelter for fields 4, 5 & 8 D. Park and Cross Country Course 1. Expansion of Cross Country Course 2. Install shelter with restroom near fields 6 & 7 3. Add park comforts – wireless access, play area & public art 4. Expand maintenance facility 5. Increase signage E. Parking & Circulation 1. Pave parking lot between fields 6 & 7 2. Develop a new parking lot on south side of WakeMed Soccer Stadium 3. Upgrade circulation between WakeMed Soccer Stadium and Fields 6 & 7 4. Close south loop of existing road near stadium entrance 5. Extend Trinity Road 6. Improve pedestrian circulation and Walnut creek Greenway Improvements 7. Land expansion/future development F. Future Stadium 1. Construct a 25,000 capacity stadium WakeMed Soccer Park Page 5 Facility Master Plan Update II. Project Overview WakeMed Soccer Park is a 158 acre facility located in the Town of Cary that was originally completed in May 2002 as a regional soccer competition facility and home to the WUSA professional soccer team, the Carolina Courage. In 2004, the Town of Cary assumed management and operational responsibilities for the park. Since this time, the facility has begun a dual role as a community park as well as its original role as a premier soccer center. Today the Park is more accessible to local sports groups and near-by schools as well as the home of the Carolina Railhawks, a USL Division 1 men’s professional soccer team. During the past five years, under the direction of the Town of Cary Parks, Recreation, & Cultural Resources Department, the Park has increased the variety of user groups as well as increased the number of high caliber soccer events. As use of the Park has grown, the department has commissioned a Facility Master Plan update to reflect the changing needs of the Park and shape its future growth. In November 2008, the architects, engineers, and planners of Integrated Design, PA began work on updating the Facility Master Plan. Integrated Design was the Designer of Record for the original facility and prepared a Master Plan during the initial planning of the Park. The objectives of the Facility Master Plan Update include: To update the WakeMed Soccer Park Facility Master Plan based on the Town of Cary’s current facility management and operating goals. To develop a facility that is both a national soccer venue as well as a community-based sports park accessible to local sports groups. To define the ultimate scope and scale of the existing stadium in terms of seating capacity, seating types, and support facilities. To analyze both current and future circulation for accessing and exiting events. This analysis will include a review of the impact of the Trinity Road extension through the facility. To analyze all remaining undeveloped land area within the soccer park to maximize use of entire facility. To develop a priority list, estimated cost, and schedule of capital projects necessary to achieve the updated Master Plan. WakeMed Soccer Park Page 6 Facility Master Plan Update III. Soccer Park History Under the leadership of Cary Mayor, Koka Booth, a state owned property at the edge of the town was identified as a suitable site for a Soccer Park. Working through Wake County using the Inter-Local Agreement funded by hotel, motel, and prepared food tax, Phase IA (See Graphic) of the Soccer Park was put into motion. This phase included a 3,000 seat stadium, 5 Competition Soccer Fields, 3 Buildings, and parking for over 1,000 automobiles. In the quest for a WUSA team, Wake County increased the scope and budget of the park (again using funding from the Inter-Local Agreement) to build Phase IB (See Graphic) as part of the initial park completion. This phase increased the stadium to 5,000 seats, added two additional Competition Soccer Fields, increased the building amenities, and added parking to accommodate over Early Schematic of the Park (1998) 1,800 automobiles. During construction, the Soccer Park became the new home of the WUSA team, the Carolina Courage. Team owners of the Carolina Courage provided the funding for Phase IC, which increased the stadium to 7,000 spectators, an addition to Building A for the Team’s use, and an increase in the parking capacity to over 2,600 automobiles. Final construction on the Soccer Park’s initial phases was May 2002. In 2001 a Master Plan was completed (See Graphic) based on the Phase 1A, 1B & 1C and included a 25,000 seat stadium and support facilities. The 2001 Master Plan is the starting point for this current Master Plan. WakeMed Soccer Park Page 7 Facility Master Plan Update State Capital Soccer Park – Phase IA WakeMed Soccer Park Page 8 Facility Master Plan Update State Capital Soccer Park – Phase IB WakeMed Soccer Park Page 9 Facility Master Plan Update State Capital Soccer Park – 2001 Master Plan WakeMed Soccer Park Page 10 Facility Master Plan Update IV. User Group Data Collection In accordance with the Town of Cary’s WakeMed Soccer Park Business Plan (May 2009), the Town of Cary and Integrated Design collected input from the sports community. The purpose of collecting data from current user groups is to assist in determining planning for Capital needs and programming options. In collecting data from the current users of the Soccer Park, Integrated Design used three different sources of information. The first was a SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) of the park conducted previously by the town staff. The second source was a invited user group forum with various community groups conducted at the Town of Cary’s Bond Park Community Center on March 19, 2009. The third source of information was a series of small group meetings and conference calls with major users of the park. A. Town of Cary SWOT Analysis Prior to the WakeMed Soccer Park Facility Master Plan Update, the Town of Cary staff conducted a SWOT Analysis (Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats). The first analysis was compiled from input by Town staff members. The second analysis was compiled from input provided by staff members for the Carolina Railhawks and the third analysis was compiled from input provided from representatives of

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