Parks, Recreation, and Open Space
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Moscow Comprehensive Plan 4.1 Parks, Recreation, and Open Space COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 4.1 INTRODUCTION four Parks, open space, and recreation facilities are essential parts of a healthy, quality, and sustainable community Parks, recreation, and open space environment. They provide necessary components in areas all provide a lasting value and human existence for events outside of the home, after work, benefit to Moscow. They add to local and beyond school activities. Whether for passive or active quality of life and community character through the provision of recreation op- use, park areas and recreation facilities are an important part portunities and open space and natural of everyday active living. Much like streets and sidewalks, areas, and serve essential environmen- water and wastewater lines, drainage facilities, police and tal functions including habitat preser- fire equipment, and other municipal facilities and services, vation, flood control and water quality management. As the City continues to parks and open space are integral components of the grow, enhancement of the parks system municipal infrastructure. They warrant a significant level and conservation of open space will be of attention and commitment of resources to be adequately important in preserving the very qualities CHAPTER that define the character of the com- acquired, constructed, operated, and maintained. munity and the reasons people choose to call Moscow home. A comprehensive and interrelated system of parks, open space, and recreation opportunities that respond to the needs and values of the local residents contribute to a community’s quality of life and livability. These opportunities contribute to the health of residents, provide a variety of recreational and educational activities for all ages, and preserve and enhance the quality and integrity of the natural environment. Parks and recreation opportunities are also important in attracting visitors to the community and, thus, contribute to local tourism and economic development. Through development of this Plan the community’s stated desires for parks, recreation, and open space opportunities include: Invest in the community’s livability and quality of life to contribute to its economic development and attractiveness as a place to live and conduct business; Improve the quality and appearance of public spaces to form a positive, and desirable image of Moscow; Contribute to a healthful community life through provision of opportunities for sport and exercise; Parks, Recreation, and Open Space 4.2 com Provide facilities for athletic events and social festivities for local recreation leagues and activity groups; Establish criteria for the development of new parks, including their type, design, location, and methods of financing; P Provide diverse areas and facilities in close proximity to all citizens to meet rehensive their individual needs; and, Preserve valued open spaces and sensitive lands to promote good stewardship and contribute to the enjoyment of future generations. The creation and development of these opportunities is driven by a single overarching goal, followed by more specific goals for the various parks, open space, and recreation components listed at the end of this chapter: To provide a system of well distributed parks, open space, and recreational facilities that meet the active and leisure recreation needs of citizens of all ages, interests and abilities. 4.2 PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN PLAN In coordination with the preparation of this Comprehensive Plan the city initiated the process of developing a separate 2013 the City adopted a Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The purpose of this stand-alone document is to determine the community’s current and future needs for improving, expanding, and enhancing its parks and recreation system. The Parks and Recreation Master Plan includes the City’s policy direction of the City pertaining to the preservation and conservation of natural areas and open space, the timing of park development, the placement of parks and open spaces within the City and the Area of City Impact, the types of facilities, and the method by which enhancements and improvements may be funded. The Master Plan will guides the City’s planning efforts for developing a high-quality system of parks, open spaces, and recreation system, while directing private contributions through provision of active recreation areas and open space to meet the requisite needs of new development. The Master Plan addresses the availability, quality, type, size, and location of leisure and recreation opportunities to meet the needs of Moscow’s residents and visitors. The complete plan may be referenced for further details and specific implementation steps and recommendations. 4.3 LOCAL CONTEXT PARK CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM Moscow and the surrounding Palouse area provide various recreational opportunities for the enjoyment of its citizens. The City offers an assortment of parks and facilities that provide opportunities for a variety of uses and recreation activities. The park system that is owned and managed by the City includes over 164171 acres of pocket, neighborhood, community, linear, and special use parks and facilities, plus an additional 5558 acres that is owned by the Moscow School Moscow Comprehensive Plan 4.3 District. See Map 4.1, Existing Parks. Each of the developed and undeveloped public and semi-public parks, as well as the linear parks and pathway segments, are displayed in Map 4.1, Existing Parks and Pathways. The Virgil Phillips Farm County Park, which is owned by the City and operated by Latah County, and the Moscow Mountain Property are not shown since they are located outside of the City limits and beyond the extent of this map. 4.4 PARK CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM four The City’s parks serve various purposes and needs depending upon park size, location and facilities. For the purposes of this Plan the City’s parks and public spaces are classified in the following categories: Table 4.1 Pocket parks Pocket Parks Neighborhood parks Size Park Name (acres) Community parks Almon Asbury Lieuallen 1.57 Linear parks or pathways Alturas Park 0.90 Special use parks and facilities East Gate Park 1.75 Regional parks Friendship Square 0.40 CHAPTER Open spaces Indian Hills 1.23 Semi-public park facilities Kiwanis Park/Hordemann Pond 2.75 4.4.1 Pocket Parks Jim Lyle/Rotary Park 2.14 Pocket parks are smaller parks Lillian Woodworth Otness Park1 0.53 of less than0.25 to three acres in Morgan’s Orchard 0.42 size and with a service area of Subtotal, Developed 9.5111.69 approximately one-eighthquarter 1 mile – generally two to four blocks. Vista Park 1.94 They are intended to serve the needs Itani Park1 0.84 of people living or working in the Subtotal, Undeveloped 5.502.78 immediate area and, therefore, the TOTAL 12.3914.47 number of persons that benefit from these public spaces can be relatively 1 Undeveloped land Source: City of Moscow Parks and Recreation Department small depending on the location and facilities provided. There are eight 11 pocket parks within the community that provide a little total of more than 1214 acres, as shown in Table 4.1, Pocket Parks. Parks, Recreation, and Open Space 4.4 com 4.4.2 Neighborhood Parks Table 4.2 Neighborhood Parks Neighborhood parks are Size moderately sized facilities of Park Name (acres) three to four acres in size that are P Anderson Frontier 4.60 intended to serve neighborhood Berman Creekside 4.17 rehensive residents within a one-half mile Lena S. Whitmore Park 3.00 radius. The size of neighborhood Subtotal, Developed 11.77 Lola Clyde Park1 5.10 parks currently within the City Moser Property1 3.50 varies according to the availability Salisbury ParkMilton Arthur Park1 3.00 of property, method and timing of acquisition, and the intended Baker Street Park1 3.00 use. Presently, there are sixseven Subtotal, Undeveloped 11.6014.60 neighborhood parks that total TOTAL 26.3723.37 over 2326 acres, as shown in 1 Undeveloped land Source: City of Moscow Parks and Recreation Department Table 4.2, Neighborhood Parks. It is important to note however, Table 4.3 that Lola Clyde, Moser, and Community Parks SalisburyMilton Arthur, and PLAN Size Baker Street parks are City Park Name (acres) East City Park 7.04 neighborhood parks that have Mountain View Park 16.00 not yet been developed as of this TOTAL 23.04 writing. Source: City of Moscow Parks and Recreation Department 4.4.3 Community Parks Community parks provide for the needs of the entire community at large and, therefore, are the largest parks within the municipal system ranging from 105 to 25 acres in size. These larger areas have a broad variety of facilities and intended uses including both passive and active recreation, such as walking and jogging paths, athletic courts, ball fields, picnic areas, activity centers, and swimming pools that draw residents primarily within a distance of one mile. The secondary service area extends two miles to accommodate the park users within an expanded area. Due to the size and types of facilities and improvements available, there are two parks that are classified as community parks, including East City Park and Mountain View Park. Together, these properties account for just over 23 acres, as shown in Table 4.3, Community Parks. 4.4.4 Linear Parks or Pathways A linear park is developed for one or more modes of recreational travel, such as hiking, biking, walking, and, in some cases, horseback riding. Pathways may be used for active use, such as running or rollerbladingbiking, or for passive purposes. Beyond recreational purposes, linear parks and multi-purpose Moscow Comprehensive Plan 4.5 pathways also serve an important Table 4.4 role as transportation corridors Linear Parks and Pathways throughout the community Size Park Name (See Section 3.7 Multi-Purpose (acres) Pathways). The growing system Bill Chipman Palouse Pathway 5.60 of pathways is expanding its Itani-Rolling Hills 0.34 reach within the community and Meadow Street Property 0.11 increasingly improving access Paradise Path 30.80 throughout the City and the Travois Way Property 0.75 surrounding area.