Our Community's Plan for Parks and Recreation

Our Community’s Plan for Parks and Recreation Neshannock Township Parks and Recreation Plan, Including Pearson Park Master Plan 2018 Neshannock Township Parks and Recreation Plan, Including Pearson Park Master Plan

Acknowledgements

Neshannock Township Supervisors

Stephen Demofonte Joseph Gierlach Leslie S Bucci

Neshannock Township Parks Board Members

Valerie Measel Michelle Wish Mark Daugherty Don Kemerer Richard Lyons Robert McCracken Donald Nicolls

Recreation Staff

Chris Navarra, Assistant Park & Recreation Activity Director Mark Bucci, Parks & Recreation Director

Facilitated by:

John Trant Jr., Strategic Solutions, LLC Pashek + MTR

Adopted: 2018

Neshannock Township 3131 Mercer Road New Castle, PA 16105

ii Contents Page

Purpose of This Plan 2 Recreati on Planning . . . . . 2 Demographic Analysis 2 Pearson Park 3 Pearson Park Playground Audit 4 Pearson Park Playground Safety Audit 5 Finances 12 Surrounding Land Use 13 Public Input 20 Neshannock Park Commission 21 Top Ten Issues Identi ﬁ ed (votes) . . . . . 23 Questi onnaire Results . . . . . 25 Key Person Interviews 28 Common Themes 29 Recommendati ons . . . . . 32 Vision for the Future 33 Beneﬁ ts . . . . . 33 Greenways and Natural Resources 33 River Access 34 Pearson Park Master Plan 35 Project Details 40 Appendix 47 Comprehensive Plan Parks and Recreati on Needs Brainstorming Session . . . . . 48 Neshannock Park Commission Meeti ng . . . . . 50 Township Supervisors/Public Meeti ng . . . . . 51 Nati onal Recreati on and Park Associati on Standards . . . . . 52

iii Charts and Tables Page

Table 1. Existing Conditions Parking Analysis - Hess Sport Complex at Pearson Park . . . . .��8 Table 2. Existing Conditions Analysis - Hess Sport Complex at Pearson Park . . . . . ��8 Table 3. Existing Conditions Parking Analysis - Pearson Park . . . . .��9 Table 4. Existing Conditions Analysis - Pearson Park . . . . .��9 Table 5. Township Population and Recreation Spending Comparison . . . . .��12 Table 6. Respondents' Age and Household Size . . . . . ��25 Table 7. Frequency of Park Visits . . . . . ��25 Table 8. Hess Sport Complex Top Activities . . . . .��26 Table 10. Hess Sports Complex Improvements . . . . . ��26 Table 9. Top Three Assets Used at Pearson Park and Hess Sports Complex . . . . . ��26 Table 11. General Improvements . . . . . ��27 Table 12. Trail Improvements . . . . . ��27 Table 13. Recreation Improvements . . . . . ��27 Table 14. Baseball Field Improvements . . . . .��27 Table 15. Pearson Park Master Plan Project List and Cost Estimates . . . . .��35 Table 16. High Priority 1 Projects . . . . . ��40 Table 17. High Priority 2 Projects . . . . . ��40 Table 18. High Priority 3 Projects . . . . . ��41 Table 19. Moderate Priority: Pearson Park Improvements . . . . . ��41 Table 20. High Priority 4 Projects . . . . . ��41 Table 21. Moderate Priority: Expand Hutchison Community Center . . . . .��42 Table 22. Moderate Priority: Improve Hess Ball Field . . . . . ��42 Table 23. Moderate Priority: Improve Tennis Courts . . . . . ��43 Table 24. Moderate Priority: Improve Maintenance Grounds . . . . . ��43 Table 25. Park Budget . . . . . ��49 Table 26. National Recreation and Park Association Standards . . . . . ��52

iv Figures Page

Figure 1. Neshannock Township Zoning Map . . . . . ��3 Figure 2. Pearson Park Topography Map . . . . . ��7 Figure 3. Pearson Park Vicinity Map . . . . . ��11 Figure 4. Our Community’s Future Land Use Plan . . . . . ��13 Figure 5. Existing Trail Network . . . . . ��14 Figure 6. Shenango/Beaver Rivers Water Trail . . . . . ��15 Figure 7. Hess Academy Pamphlet . . . . . ��16 Figure 8. Master Plan Alternative . . . . . ��24 Figure 9. Master Plan Alternative . . . . . ��24 Figure 10. Pearson Park Master Plan . . . . . ��36 Figure 11. Pearson Park Master Plan - Phasing Priorities . . . . . ��38

Chapter 1: Background Recreati on ﬁ elds are integral in bringing the community together and teaching life long values. Community support from residents and businesses are criti cal to sustaining these spaces.

Purpose of This Plan Neshannock's Recreation Planning Our Community is rich in recreati on resources. We can enhance those populati on is resources with strategic acti ons that will strengthen community ameniti es for projected to grow existi ng residents and also serve to att ract future residents and businesses looking for a place to locate where their employees have a great place to live rapidly through and work

2020 and then This plan outlines recommendati ons and strategies for enhancing Our conti nue to grow at Community's resources, thereby enhancing Our Community and our future slower rates through Demographic Analysis 2040. Populati on stati sti cs are uti lized to project populati on trends and conditi ons into the future. Future community needs, including recreati onal and faciliti es, are inﬂ uenced by the current and projected populati on.

Our Community’s change in populati on has followed the patt erns of Lawrence County although Neshannock’s populati on grew between 1990 and 2010 and the county’s populati on conti nued to decline. Lawrence County’s populati on is projected to stop declining in 2020. Neshannock’s populati on is projected to grow rapidly through 2020 and then conti nue to grow at slower rates through 2040. Neshannock’s populati on is projected to grow by nearly 40% between 2010 and 2040. Neighboring Townships are also projected to experience growth - although at slower rates

Neshannock Township’s populati on is largely nati ve-born Americans (98%) and white (97%). The median age is high (49.1 years) in comparison to Lawrence County (43.6 years) and the 10-county region (42.5 years). 20% of Neshannock’s populati on is age 65 or over; 20% is under age 18. Neshannock’s populati on is 2010 was 9,609 and is projected to increase to 13,390 by 2040 Refer to the Township Comprehensive Plan for additi onal demographic informati on and analysis

Chapter 1: Background 2 Figure 1. Neshannock Township Zoning Map

R SMITH RD S E LINDSEY RD UNN E TIMBER LN Y N L R MCGARY RD N

WHISPERING TRAILS RD WILMINGTON ID Neshannock Township SCHWARZ LN G E

R D Lawrence County, Pennsylvania RD N BLUE HERON LN E L

ROBINSON RD G N

D Prepared by the

WILD CHERRY RD ABERNET DR R

C A

Y Lawrence County Planning Department

E T

S N Z July 2004 I

Y I V

COVER RD N A

F James Gagliano, Jr. N

A N N O LAKESIDE DR Frank Gingras D MERCER RD D R E TRILLIUM LN L Allen Miller · A L H N CUNNINGHAM LN C RIESLING ST

NO D RT H V

L G

B D

R A OINT

T P W

E H

E BLVD

T C

D V HUNTER'S WOODS R

I FAWN LN

R R

LOWLAND DR

W O BRISTOL LN

N O Legend

E PROGRESSIVE LN N

L SPRINGFIELD DR

MITCHELL RD D V RD

SOUTHBROOK DR

G A A Y

L E E L L

M MITCHE E L STATE ROUTE 60 LL Y TAMARAC DR TAMARAC R A D R V SPIKER LN SUNWOODDR D T CANTERBERRY DR HUDSON LN JUSTICE LN E MOCASIN TRL S NeshStreams IRAQUOIS DR N R OXFORD DR TALL TREES SU

D BROOKVALLEY DR WHITNEY OTICON DR ELEANOR DR MCCLAIN LN FISHER DR MOHAWK ENCLAVE DR COVINGTON SUNSET VALLEY RD

DR DR DR CT CORONADO DR CLOVER LN N ES R centerlines DR H D SYLVANE DR STEPHEN DR TUSCARORA A CHIPPEWA DR NN VALHALLA DR WILMINGTON RD

CARMELA O C SENECA D CT R

LONG BRANCH DR LONGBRANCH K S PRESNAR DR W PARKSIDE DR T RAIL T OLD PULASKI RD

RANDALL DR CIR C

S PARKSIDE DR PARKSIDE S E NeshParcels ROSEWOODSARATOGA DR K O ��

O BANBERRY BANBERRY LN C ORCHARD R PARK DR B O N U SEQUOIAE DR N HIDD T ARROWHEAD R R NeshannockBound Y CT N

PLANKRD C U L NESBIT RD NESBIT RD S U LN NORTH TERRACE B

CHAPIN RD DR CAMBRIDGE ST D

R A-1 Agricultural District

M A CIR

I PENNY LN D W MEADOW LN F ASHBERRY LN ELM DR I MCQUISTON DR N E V CHAPIN RD E GREENTREE SUNRISE DR L GREENFIELD RD A D R L

CONCORD ST R-1 Residential Urban District G L L LEXINGTON DR

SETONDR N E SHENANGO RD MERCER RD

WHITNEYDR Y

ANOKAOVERHILL DR DR SHANNON DR R CIA CLUB DR FAIRHILL DR D RA D R BLACKSTONE DR EXT BLACKSTONEMERRITT RD DR R-2 Residential Rural District ALYSSA DR HEARTHSTONE DR SCOTT DR UPLAND DR ELDOGOR LN

NOBLE HOUSE LN SMITH LN FERNWOOD LN

MORNINGSTAR LN PEARL DR

PINEHURSTDR R-2-A Special Residential Rural District SUNSET DR FIRESIDE DR SUGARBERRY LN

MICHAEL DR LYDIA LN

GREEN LEAF CT

FORREST FORREST RD MEADOWBROOK DR LEAWOOD DR SANKEY LN RD CLUB DR D MICROBAC DR DR POINT HAVEN R-3 Residential High Density District

WALLACE DR O O

MOONEYDR W MIDFIELD LN RIDGEWOOD WAY FIELDSRUN RD

BEECHWOOD WAY BEECHWOOD

G MANOR RD OLD PLANK RD DEER RUN N OAKWOOD WAY I

K C-1 Limited Commercial District MAITLAND LN ROSE HILL DR CATALINA DR CATALINA KINGS CHAPEL RD

LUANNEDR CAMP EASTBROOK DR LATTIMER LN G HAPEL RD BUENA VISTA WAY BROOKDR C OLDE COLONY DR PAINTERDR R S CHERRY HILL CT TRAILFOUR

TRAILTWO

TRAILONE SPRING GARDENAVE G TRAILTHREE

ROBERTS LN A

N Y I DR MCCREARY

k C FRAZIER DR A ROSEDALEAVE E C-2 Highway Commercial District

W L CRIMSON CIR ORCHARD WAY MAITLAND LN A WILMINGTON RD S OLDPULASKI RD VER R LO D N G W LOCUSTLN Y LU A D W E KEYSTONE DR D

W ND DR SHADY LN S L R STATE ROUTE 60 STATE A I ODL SUMMIT VIEW DR B VICTORIA DR G WO W D R JANEWAY DR

D E C-3 Special Commercial District BREST RD

L RY L B R N LANEWOOD DR BON AIRE AVE MAYBE STONE BRIDGE LN L A HOLLY LN BISHOP LN WINDSOR RDG K FRAZIER LAKE DR E BLAIR DR RIDGELAWN AVE

JEFFERSON ST EXT PARK LNOLD PLANK RDD DECKER DR R SHADYLANE DR FAIRGREEN AVE RAPTOR CIR ALEYNA LN I-1 General Industrial District PULASKI RD MAITLAND LN MARILYN DR LAWNVIEW AVE R BLOSSOM LN D

OAK TREE DR TREE OAK MELVIN DR EVERGREEN AVE K DE DR MERCERST EXT O EA LINDSEY LN M

O WHITEHILL DR N FALLS AVE

R I-1-A Special Industrial District

FAIRWAY DR O OKINAWA DR B

N I Y E L S FRUITLAND DR FADDIS AVE

S SPICHER AVE N E B I BROADWAY ST ST BEAVER N

M Y GUADALCANAL RD

U COCHRANDR E WINDEMERE DR BELLAIRE DR S MERCERRD N MIDWAY IS I-P Industrial Park District

LILAC RD D O TULAGI WAY

MISSION MEADE R H

EXT

MARIE DR MERCERST

RUTGERS DR MCCARTY LN N ANNEDR MANOR AVE A L LATTAVO DR E MCKEE CROSSING B-P Business Park District

W ENGLEWOOD AVE DR CONESTOGA C W ENGLEWOOD AVE E ENGLEWOOD AVE NESHANNOCK HEIGHTS RD A E FAIRFIELD AVE R W FAIRFIELD AVE CARLISLE ST E FAIRFIELD AVE G FORNEY LN COLONIAL DR E HAZELCROFT AVE W HAZELCROFT AVE ALBERTST

IVYWOOD LN W ENGLEWOOD AVELATTAVO DR ORLANDO AVE HIGHLANDAVE E EDGEWOOD AVE E EDGEWOOD AVE EDGEWOOD ACRES E MEYER AVE W MEYER AVE ST SHENANGO 1 inch = 2,500 feet W NORTHVIEW AVE CEMETERY LN CROCKER LN PULASKI RD DELAWAREAVE W ELIZABETH ST E ELIZABETH ST 0 1,250 2,500 5,000 7,500 10,000

L BEAVER ST

MERCERST

E W FAIRMONT AVE GLENDALEAVE AS UR KATHERINE ST E W HILLCREST AVE W HILLCREST AVE E HILLCREST AVE A LINERD Feet V E CLEN MOORE BLVD E X T WELLSLEY AVE WORTHINGTON AVE Property lines as depicted WALKER ST W W KENNETHIL KENNETH AVE M on this map are for visual ROCKY RD AVE IN CATHCART DR G W EUCLID AVE reference only and are not MAPLE DR T O WEINGART LN N to be utilized in lieu of an

R D BEAVER ST actual survey. Zoning and Adjacent Land Use A review of the Township’s zoning map indicates the following insight: Pearson Park is the • Property West is zoned residenti al rural district. • Property North is zoned residenti al high-density district. This area contains a new primary community residenti al area, the YMCA and the Neshannock School District complex. recreati on facility Property South and East is zoned residenti al urban district. There is a parcel in the Southeast corner that is zoned residenti al rural district. A single home is located on this in Our Community. parcel The Park provides a variety of recreati on Pearson Park Pearson Park is the primary recreati onal facility in Neshannock Township. ameniti es, is easily Located at the intersecti on of Mercer and Mitchell Roads in the northeastern accessible, and is porti on of Our Community, this 88-acre park provides numerous ameniti es including: two Litt le League Fields, two small playgrounds, one large playground, forested walking conveniently located trail with exercise equipment, two restroom faciliti es, parking, gazebo, basketball court, community center, six pavilions, six tennis courts and member only swimming pool The for our residents. Hess Sports Complex, in Pearson Park, ameniti es include an ice rink, Pony fi eld, batti ng cages, practi ce football fi eld and parking. Safety Audit A Safety Audit of Pearson Park's ameniti es was conducted as a part of these planning eff orts. The audit detailed the conditi ons of current playground equipment, picnic areas, surfacing trash receptacles, signage, and fencing and made recommendati ons for the enhancing the parks overall safety

Chapter 1: Background 3 Pearson Park Playground Audit

Chapter 1: Background 4 Pearson Park Playground Safety Audit October 5, 2017

Area 1: Large Fenced Playground Area/Gametime '98

Action Items: 1 Poured in place rubber surfacing ti les are separati ng. Tiles should be removed and replaced with engineered wood fi ber. Areas of rubberized ti le can remain in identi fi ed areas such as under the swings. 2 Bulldozer rocking component needs to be refastened 3 Rolling component needs to be removed 4 Repair or remove gliding apparatus; does not slide 5 Install wayfi nding, safety, and age appropriate signage

Area 2: Playground Structures Outside of Fenced Area

Action Items: 1 Remove clown toddler swing structure 2 Remove Gameti me swings or replace swings 3 If Gameti me swings are replaced, safe surfacing must be reestablished to meet safety standards 4 Reestablish safe surfacing to meet standards under purple climber 5 Firehouse structure has missing hose Replace or repair area

Area 3: Animal Kingdom

Action Items: 1 Edging should be moved at least 18" from current locati on to meet playground safety guidelines 2 Engineered wood ﬁ ber should be reapplied to enti re play area

Chapter 1: Background 5 Other Recreation Facilities The Walmo School and property owned by the Township also provides play ﬁ elds and playground equipment in a centrally located area along Maitland Lane. The Preston- Chambers Y-Zone is a premier Lawrence County recreati onal facility that provides an array of recreati onal acti viti es, including a senior citi zen program, Silver Sneakers. Other recreati onal opportuniti es in Our Community include Castle Hills Golf Course, the New Castle Country Club, the Lawrence County Sportsmen Club, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission access areas along Neshannock Creek, and the Pennsylvania State Game Lands 178 Natural Features Water Features and Wetlands Pearson Park falls within the Shenango River Watershed ulti mately leading to the Ohio River. A review of the Nati onal Wetland Inventory Map indicated that a wet area existed where Field #2 is located There are no water features located within the park that would seriously inhibit recreati on facility development. Soils The United States Department of Agricultural Soil Conservati on Service provides data on soil properti es. The majority of soils in the community, as well as those within Pearson Park, are classiﬁ ed as silty loam and do not have hydric components. Silty loam is moderately well drained and should not inhibit recreati on development opportuniti es. Vegetation A mixed hardwood forest comprises about 2/3rd of the park vegetati on. The areas around Pearson Park ameniti es consist of mowed turf with widely dispersed mature trees Wildlife To determine the presence of species of special concern (rare, threatened, or endangered species), the Lawrence County Natural Heritage Inventory (NHI) was reviewed and a Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory Index (PNDI) environmental review of Pearson Park was conducted PNDI records indicate no known impacts within the site, meaning no further coordinati on is required with jurisdicti onal agencies.

Chapter 1: Background 6 Topography Overall, the slope of the site is generally within the 0-10% range. The majority of the level terrain in the park is developed. The steepest topography exists in the northeast corner of the park. This area features existi ng trails and is generally unsuitable for development

Figure 2. Pearson Park Topography Map

1150 1220 1210 1160 1170

1200

1160 1220 R-3 1170

1180

1220 1180 Legend Existing Trails ParkOutline Wetlands

1180 Percent Slope

1230 1230 1190 0 - 5 % 1230 1230 1230 1200 5 - 10 % 10 - 15 % >15 % 1210 1220

1210 1210 1200 1210 Zoning 1220 1230 1230 1230 1230 1210 1220 1210 1190 R-1 Residential Urban District 1210 R-2 Residential Rural District 1220

1200 R-3 Residential High Density District

1220

1210

1230 1230

1230

1230 1230

1210 1230

1210 1210

1230

1240

1230

1220 R-2

1200 1230

1200

1240

1200

1200 1250 1250 1250 1230 ±

1240 1240 R-1 1230 1240 1 inch = 100 feet 1240 1200 1250 Feet 1230 0 130 260 520

Chapter 1: Background 7 Existing Recreational Facilities The following tables document existi ng faciliti es located in the park, their conditi on, whether they are considered to be ADA accessible and other additi onal comments as appropriate.

Table 1. Existing Conditions Parking Analysis - Hess Sport Complex at Pearson Park

Existing Conditions Parking Analysis Hess Sport Complex at Pearson Park

Persons / Peak Use # Daily Use 60% Surplus / Facility Description of Peak Use Vehicle of Spaces of Peak Deﬁciency

4 teams of 12 players + 2 coaches per team + 12 parents Baseball Field #1 2.5 50 30 per team + 5 fans per team = 124 persons

2 teams of 12 players + 2 coaches per team + 12 parents Rectangular Field 2.5 23 14 per team + 3 fans per team = 58 persons

Trailhead 1.5 10 6

4 teams of 12 players + 2 coaches per team + 12 parents Ice Rink 2.5 50 30 per team + 5 fans per team = 124 persons

Ice Rink Open Skate=300 2.5 120 72

Total -56

NOTE: The possible expansion of the Ice Rink would eliminate some of the existing parking.

Table 2. Existing Conditions Analysis - Hess Sport Complex at Pearson Park

Existing Conditions Analysis Hess Sport Complex at Pearson Park

Facility Description/Comments No. Condition ADA

Used by NAA Pony teams, lip needs to be removed, dug outs are good, batting cages Baseball Field #1 1 Good No needs replaced

Used by Little league Football for practice, some discussion to consturct hockey rink Rectangular Field 1 Good No through Pittsburgh Penquins Foundation

Signage needs to be installed with trail map, trail head parking is no existing, Trailhead 1 Fair No connection between the ice rink and the park should be established.

Utilized by 9 youth teams plus 2 Kennedy Catholic Teams, Free Skate is avail able on Ice Rink Saturdays. Ice is 15' short, seating for 40 spectators (should be 200), locker rooms are 1 Good Yes virutally non-existence, a trailer outside of the facility is being used as a locker room.

Chapter 1: Background 8 Table 3. Existing Conditions Parking Analysis - Pearson Park Existing Conditions Parking Analysis Pearson Park

Persons/ Peak Use # Daily Use 60% Surplus/ Facility Description of Peak Use Vehicle of Spaces of Peak Deﬁciency

4 teams of 12 players + 2 coaches per team + 12 parents Baseball Field #1 2.5 50 30 per team + 5 fans per team = 124 persons

2 teams of 12 players + 2 coaches per team + 12 parents Field #2 2.5 24 14 per team + 3 fans per team = 58 persons

Basketball Court 10 (2 teams of 5 players each) 1.5 7 4

Tennis Courts (6) 2 teams of 2 players = 4 persons per court 1.5 16 10

Playground 30 children + 1 parent for every 2 children = 45 persons 2.5 18 11

Medium Shelters (5) 72 person capacity per shelter 3 120 72

Small Shelter 20 person capacity per shelter 3 7 4

Community Center 150 person capacity 3 50 30

Pool 540 Capacity 2.5 300 180

TOTAL Not including pool -109

Total Including pool -289

NOTE: The undeﬁned parking areas near the pool and below the existing ballﬁelds were not taken in the existing number of parking spots. Table 4. Existing Conditions Analysis - Pearson Park Existing Conditions Analysis Pearson Park

Facility Description/Comments No. Condition ADA

Oriented Southwest, batting cage removed and replaced with orange cones. Baseball Field #1 1 Fair No No sidewalks or paths for access, Concession Stand Not easily accessible 1 Fair No Field #2 Oriented Southwest, fence damaged by falling tree, No sidewalks or ADA access 1 Fair No Basketball Court No fencing, Hoods are 11'7" and should be 10' 1 Good No Two court area in good shape. Four court area has some patches and pickle ball Tennis Courts (6) 6 Good Yes lines, no latch on left side of gate. Safe surfacing is separtain. Bull dozer rocking componetnt needs to be re-fastened. Large Playground 1 Good Yes Rolling apparatus should be removed. Glider does not glide. Animal Kingdom Edging needs to be moved out two feet on each side to atleast 18" 1 Good No Swings are broken or not compliant and should be removed. Purple monkey Small Playground 1 Fair No bar area needs safety zone reestablished and remulched 8 tables, grills are too high no water is available, only 1 ADA spot for pavilion 1, 2 & Pavilion #1 1 Good Yes playgrounds Pavilion #2 8 table, no water 1 Good Yes Pavilion #3 2 tables, has grill, should have connection to existing trail 1 Good No Pavilion #4 6 tables, grill, no water 1 Good No Pavilion #5 8 tables, ADA access, has water, grill needs to be replaced 1 Good Yes Pavilion #6 8 tables, nice location near trail 1 Good Yes Restrooms Papertowels and front door not ADA, need renovated 4 Fair No Underside of roof should be repaired/painted, not ADA compliant, no seating for Gazebo 1 Good No concerts Community Center 150 person capacity, Built in 1974, kitchen restrooms a nd rental area should be 1 Good Yes updated

Chapter 1: Background 9 Facility Analysis Nati onal recreati on standards would suggest the need for a tennis court and volleyball courts The need was not reinforced through the public input collected through this planning process. Due to the topography and urban locati ons of the parks, there is no need to address the lack of these faciliti es. Pedestrian Circulation The majority of There are few pedestrian walkways within Pearson Park that meet ADA requirements the Park's features There are concrete sidewalks to the bathrooms, Community Center, tennis courts, and Pavilion 5 A forested trail with a compact surface transverses through the are in fair to good wooded area in the Northeast part of the park. There is a trail connecti ng the Hess Sports Complex to the main park. However, a trailhead, signage and visibility conditi on. There is is not suﬃ cient. Constructi on of a perimeter trail with access to the bordering a general need for neighborhoods should be considered to provide additi onal pedestrian connecti vity. Recommendati on for upgrading these connecti ons is proposed in this Master Site additi onal parking Plan and improved Vehicle Circulation and Parking pedestrian There are three entrances to the park. Two of the entrances serve the main porti on of the park, one from the North and one at the Southeast corner There is one circulati on. entrance form the North providing exclusive access to the Hess Sports Complex in Pearson Park

A parking analysis was conducted The two parking tables located on pages 8 and 9 provide a breakdown of parking defi ciencies within Pearson Park. Additi onal parking should be considered in the main park as well as at Hess Sports Complex. The additi onal parking areas will provide safe and convenient parking to the existi ng park ameniti es such as the ballfi elds, gazebo, pavilions, swimming pool and playground. The recommended design would eliminate on street and pull in parking Parking constructi on could be accomplished by phasing the recommendati ons over the next fi ve years.

Chapter 1: Background 10 NESHANNOCK FALLS RD

BEAVER VALLEY EX VALLEY BEAVER Figure 3. Pearson Park Vicinity Map

Neshannock YMCA Township

WILMINGTON RD Schools

MITCHELL RD

MITCHELL INT/RAMP T RD Pearson Park

RIVER RD NESHANNOCK RD FALLS

SHENANGO RD Neshannock Township Building

EASTBROOK RD

MERCER RD OLD PLANK RDPLANK OLD

OLD PULASKIRD Walmo RAMP 10 RD RAMP 500 RD Park

STATE ST MAITLAND LN

RAMP C RD EX VALLEY BEAVER

RAMP F RD

RAMP A RD

OLD YOUNGSTOWN RD SAMPSON ST

RAMP E RD PULASKI RD HAZELCROFT AV SAMPSON ST

STATE RD

HIGHLAND AV HIGHLAND 1 inch = 2,500 feet

MERCER ST Chapter 1: Background 11 Miles BENJAMIN FRANKLIN HW 0 0.25 0.5 1 ± Finances Neshannock Township Parks and Recreati on annual budget for 2018 is approximately $65,000. The budget includes salaries, maintenance, capital improvements and capital purchases. In 2017 the Township passed a Recreati on Tax (1 mil) to provide additi onal funding for future improvements. It is recommended that this tax revenue be ear marked towards providing funding for yearly maintenance of existi ng conditi ons. Future capital expenditures should be funded through leveraging grant money, private funding or issuing a bond issues for the larger projects

Table 5. Township Population and Recreation Spending Comparison

Neshannock Township Neshannock Township

Marshall Township Marshall Township

Ohio Township Ohio Township

Ross Township Ross Township

0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 60,000 70,000 80,000 Populati on Annual Recreati on Spending in U.S. Dollars

A full analysis of the Township was completed as part of this Plan. The current Public Works/Parks staff should be suffi cient to maintain the parks to an appropriate standard of care. A park maintenance plan should be implemented basedMaintenance on the “Park Maintenance Staf�ing Standards” published by the Nati onal Recreati on and Parks Associati on. This publicati on assists in determining the appropriate level of maintenance of park faciliti es, based on size and usage, and provides producti vity standards which are useful in determining the effi ciency of park maintenance staff . This publicati on is also a valuable tool for esti mati ng maintenance requirements of proposed projects and, with current cost esti mati ng guides, can assist one in establishing park maintenance budgets A set of sample maintenance standards is in the appendices Safety, Risk, and Vandalism Management Safety, risk, and vandalism are components which go hand in hand During the public input of this plan, concerns were raised regarding safety in the parks Some did not feel safe in the parks, even during daylight hours

To ensure an appropriate standard of care, the Township should develop a Park Maintenance and Risk Management Plan that establishes maintenance standards for all parks. Maintaining to these standards will keep recreati on faciliti es att racti ve, useable and safe. It will also reduce liability risks and plan for preventi on of accidents. All faciliti es should be scheduled for regular inspecti on and assessment. A writt en inspecti on form should be completed and minor repairs should be made immediately. Routi ne equipment maintenance and servicing must be scheduled and performed on a regular basis A fund should be established to provide for new maintenance equipment and a regular replacement program. Maintenance staff should be trained in play equipment safety assessment. A Certi fi ed Playground Safety Inspector should be contracted to conduct a playground safety audit whenever playground equipment is changed or damaged ADA Compliance ADA compliance standards have conti nued to change over ti me. The 2010 Americans with Disabiliti es Act have been implemented to specifi cally address park and recreati on faciliti es. These guidelines can be found at www.access-board. gov A thorough ADA analysis of each park was completed as part of this plan This analysis found that most of the Pearson Park faciliti es need to be brought into compliance with the ADA guidelines.

Chapter 1: Background 12 Surrounding Land Use Figure 4. Our Community’s Future Land Use Plan

NASHUA RD HONEY BEE LN

MITH RD MITH S

WILMINGTON TWP(!956

PULASKI TWP

WILMINGTON RD

MITCHELL RD

RIVER RD Pearson Park

BEAVER VALLEY EX MAHONING TWP

376 ¨¦§ MERCER RD

SHENANGO RD

OLD PLANKOLD RD BEAVER VALLEY EX VALLEY BEAVER HARBOR BRIDGE EDINBURG RD MAITLAND LN

RAMP E RD

RAMP F RD

RAMP A RD

¤£422 SAMPSON ST HICKORY TWP

PULASKI RD HAZELCROFT AV SAMPSON ST EASTBROOK RD

UNION TWP (!168 HIGHLANDAV

MERCER ST NEW CASTLE CITY

MCCOMBS CIR W SHERIDAN AVE LVD

Legend B PENN Land Use Acreage Privately-Owned Conservancy Land Privately-Owned Conservancy Land 206 acres Industrial 771 acres Industrial Light Industrial/Business Park 1,078 acres Light Industrial/Business Park Regional Commercial 200 acres Local Commercial 496 acres Regional Commercial Neighborhood Commercial 49 acre Low Density Residential 2,869 acres Local Commercial Medium Density Residential 3,834 acres Neighborhood Commercial Medium-High Density Residential 1,072 acres Public/Semi-Public Open Space 622 acres Low Density Residential The Township's recently adopted Comprehensive Plan includes a Future Medium Density Residential Land Use Plan that will guide future land use and development in Our Medium - High Density Residential Community. Pearson Park is ideally located to serve the growing residenti al Public/Semi-Public Open Space development areas of the Township Source: Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission

Chapter 1: Background 13 Bicycle Circulation The Bicycle PA Route V, a 355- mile trail that traverses Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, Union and several other counti es. The trail runs through Neshannock Township oﬀ ering unique transportati on, and recreati on opportuniti es. A complete street design should be reviewed during new development and road improvement projects to enhance and expand the trail network

Figure 5. Existing Trail Network

Trumbull

Mercer 208 L

t 208

l e D e N

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Cree 18 h k 208 a BORO STATE GAME STATE GAME n LANDS NO. 284 n LANDS o

STATE c k

NO. 150 T 158 P a GAME LANDS C o t y r t 79 e l PULASKI NO. 150 e r o e R r k WILMINGTON 168 R TWP u u n n Sh TWP en an g 19 422 o R C iv 956 o ffe er e Ru WASHINGTON n STATE GAME TWP LANDS NO. 151 STATE PLAIN 551 GAME LANDS GROVE NO. 151 TWP Legend 376 HICKORY Trailheads STATE TWP M NESHANNOCK a GAME LANDS r n s TWP NO. 178 u h R Hiking Trail a l n l o s R H i u o tten m n b augh a Run J Multi-Purpose Trail 388 956 MAHONING TWP 422 Water Trail 168 WEST 18 108 PARK Regional Parks g River SCOTT nin k Maho e 422B e TWP r C Community Parks c k Mahoning o y R NEW er pp UNION li S County Boundary 224 TWP CASTLE 108 CITY Bicycle PA - Route A k e 551 re 224 C STATE GAME ck LANDS no Bicycle PA - Route V an NO. 216 sh

Ohio e N Stavich Bike Trail Bru sh Big Run u n ory Cr R ick ee Neshannock Trail H k 317 SOUTH NEW 19 North Country Trail 108 CASTLE BOR Water Trails 422 422 MCCONNELL'S Butler 65 MILL STATE PARK H Interstate ick o r 168 y Run SLIPPERY NORTH 376 US Route 388 ROCK TWP BEAVER SHENANGO TWP PA Route TWP 18 TAYLOR ll R 108 He un TWP State Maintained Road McKee Run

SNPJ MCCONNELL'S Water Bodies BORO MILL MCCONNELL'S STATE PARK MILL Streams n u Sk STATE PARK E R un dw un k k 551 ards R k R e c un State Park re u

C D G r MCCONNELL'S r a i g MILL STATE n u ds H S PARK to State Game Lands o ney C B ne r ee R k e u Jenkins R a n un v e r MCCONNELL'S R MCCONNELL'S County Park iv MILL STATE e r MILL STATE PARK 65 PARK Ec n kle u s un Run R R e p ak PERRY m Sn a TWP C Existing Trail 76 MCCONNELL'S 168 NEW WAYNE LITTLE n MILL STATE u

TWP R PARK 351 BEAVER BEAVER 488 n w u a u Network BORO R TWP m q pu 288 S m a N o W r aver Lawrence County, Pennsylvania th e C 376 F B r ELLWOOD o le ee 18 rk Litt k STATE GAME CITY BORO LANDS NO. 148 ELLPORT Department of Planning Columbiana 488 BORO & Community Development 351 Lawrence County accepts no liability or responsibility for errors, omissions, or positional 0 1.5 3 6 Miles inaccuracies in the content of this map. Reliance on this map is at the risk of the user. Beaver This map is for illustration purposes only and should not be used for surveying, engineering, or site-specific analysis.

Chapter 1: Background 14 Figure 6. Shenango/Beaver Rivers Water Trail

FROM SHARON PULASKI VILLAGE ACCESS POINT: This access point was previously planned before the onset of the greenways plan. The proposed boat launch will be located on State Game Lands #150 property, just south of the existing pond on the eastern bank of the Shenango River. The boat launch will utilize an existing gravel access drive extending south from State Route 208 in Pulaski Village, just east of the Route 208 bridge over the Shenango River.

SHENANGO RIVER It is important to note that this access point will provide not only a starting point for the water trail in Lawrence County, but also a water trail exit point for water- craft travelling downstream from Sharon an dother points in Mercer County. NASHUA ROAD ACCESS POINT: Although this proposed boat launch will be accessible from Nashua Road in Pulaski Township near the bridge over the Shenango River, the exact location of this proposed access point has not been determined. The Greenways Plan recommends that a detailed site analysis and conversation with adjacent landowners be undertaken by the Lawrence County Conservation District to determine the most feasible boat launch site. Two of the properties surrounding the bridge are enrolled in the Clean & Green program and landowners may be amenable to allowing public access through their property for a water trail access point.

THINKING LONG-TERM: The Harbor HARBOR ACCESS POINT: The proposed long-term connection of Water Trail, the This proposed access will be near the Downtown New Castle revitalization area, and the intersection of Kings Chapel Road and Pulaski Neshannock Creek Rail-Trail will allow residents through- Road in the western reaches of Neshannock out the county to take advantage of amenities in the Access Point Township, near the small community of Harbor County’s largest population center. This trail connection may potentially spur businesses such as canoe / kayak (the area is known locally as “the Harbor”). Creek rentals, bike shops, cafes, etc. to serve trail users passing along the The Greenways Plan recommends that the through Downtown New Castle. County approach the Lawrence County Corpora- tion for Economic Development to inquire about Neshannock Shenango constructing the public boat launch and river access on their Millennium Park property. AN ACCESS POINT AT “THE POINT”: This proposed access is located at the confluence of the Neshannock River presents Creek and Shenango River, which the Greenways Plan will refer to as “the Point” (after the similarly-named confluence of the Allegheny an ideal Mahoning and Monongahela Rivers in Pittsburgh). This boat launch could be developed on property owned by the City of New Castle, and as a long-term goal could provide connection to restaurants and other commercial areas in New Castle’s revitalized SHENANGO RIVER opportunity downtown and to the proposed Rail-Trail along the Neshannock River Creek (another of the pilot projects proposed in the Greenways Plan). MAHONING CONFLUENCE to create a BEAVER RIVER ACCESS POINT: WAMPUM ACCESS POINT: The development of this proposed boat launch is This access point was previously planned before the recreati on important for future expansion of the water trail onset of the Greenways Plan. It will be made possible system onto the Mahoning River. Several properties by the generous donation of land by a private land- around the confluence of the Mahoning and Beaver owner, and by a partnership between the Lawrence desti nati on Shenango Rivers are listed as vacant on Lawrence County Conservation District and the Pennsylvania Fish County Tax Assessor files. & Boat Commission.

The Greenways Plan recommends that the County The planned boat launch is located on the eastern point in Our approach adjacent landowners to discuss the shore of the Beaver River, just north of the State Route possibility of property acquisition for public boat 288 bridge. The launch will be accessible from River Community. launch development. Road in Wayne Township. ROCK POINT RIVER ACCESS: BEAVER RIVER The Wild Waterways Conservancy (WWC) recently purchased the Rock Point property NOTE: with intention to preserve its natural communi- Mapping derived from the following 7.5-minute ties. The Greenways Plan recommends that the USGS Topographic Quadrangles: County approach the WWC to discuss rehabili- tation of the existing boat launch and provision New Castle North, PA New Castle South, PA of public parking areas to serve the launch. Edinburg, PA Bessemer, PA New Galilee, PA Beaver Falls, PA Providing public access to the launch will maintain an important recreation connection to residents of southern Lawrence County and northern Beaver County, and will not detriment SHENANGO / BEAVER RIVERS the Rock Point property’s natural habitats.

WATER TRAIL Creek sing LAWRENCE COUNTY GREENWAYS PLAN Connoquenes Pilot Project Map LAWRENCE COUNTY BEAVER COUNTY TO BEAVER FALLS Not to Scale NORTH October 31, 2007 a pennsylvania corporation

Chapter 1: Background 15 Recreation Programming Recreati on programming is criti cal to the health and vitality of a community. Recreati on programs promote wellness, acti ve lifestyles, mind enrichment, personal growth, and relati onship building among residents. Great communiti es oﬀ er great recreati onal programs to their residents.

Hess Ice Rink is home to nine youth teams plus two Kennedy Catholic Teams. Additi onal programs include Learn to Skate, private lessons, fi gure skati ng and free skate programs. Hess ballfi eld is uti lized heavily by NAA Pony Teams. Other events include a music concert series, Community Day, Independence Day Celebrati on and programs such as yoga, fi tness, and tennis lessons. Below is a sample of recreati on program opportuniti es off ered at Hess Ice Rink. Figure 7. Hess Academy Pamphlet The YMCA and Y-Zone provide a wide variety of programs including summer day camps, preschool programs, youth sports, adult sports and aquati cs, swimming lessons, personal and small group training, childcare, senior programs (Silver Sneekers).

Points of Consideration Our Community is rich in recreati onal resources, providing opportuniti es for residents to gather, socialize, parti cipate, exercise, and play. Pearson Park remains a key focus recreati onal area and takes on a primary role in these planning eﬀ orts. The Township's populati on conti nues to grow, and an increase in demand for recreati onal programming and faciliti es should be expected. Signiﬁ cant capital improvements are needed to existi ng faciliti es, which will address safety, ADA accessibility issues, and increases in facility use and/or availability, further allowing for the expansion of programming opportuniti es.

Chapter 1: Background 16 This page is intenti onally blank.

Chapter 1: Background 17

Chapter 2: Public Input Public input is criti cal to create spaces that meet the needs of the community. Public Input

Public parti cipati on was a key component to the development of Neshannock Township’s Parks and Recreati on and Pearson Park Master Plan

● The Neshannock Park Commission gathered seven ti mes throughout the process to represent the community in meeti ngs with the Consultant ● Two public meeti ngs were held ● A digital recreati on questi onnaire was used to collect informati on concerning residents’ recreati onal interests ● Interviews were conducted with several individuals who represented a variety of interests in recreati onal opportuniti es and operati ons

Each public parti cipati on opportunity helped to understand the needs, desires, concerns and issues of Neshannock residents. This process sets up the ﬁ nal analysis and recommendati ons of the plans to be responsive to community needs. This chapter describes the public parti cipati on process and results. Additi onal details are provided in the Appendix.

Chapter 2: Issue-Based Public Input 20 Neshannock Park Commission The ten-member Neshannock Park Commission met seven ti mes throughout the planning process assisti ng the Consultant to understand community characteristi cs and to provide community interacti on at each step of the Plan. The Commission was comprised of residents from the township, representi ng Neshannock Township School District, sports organizati ons, YMCA, Township Supervisors and staﬀ . The varied interests of the Commission provided a balanced outlook at recreati on, parks, and open space in Township

July 2017 Project Kickoff at Park Commission Meeti ng July 6th Aug

Park Commission Meeti ng - August 3rd * Park Commission Meeti ng - October 4th * Community Survey - October/November * Key Person Interviews - Nov/Dec/Jan 2017-18 * Park Commission Meeti ng - January 4th Plan Draft ing Plan Draft * Public Meeti ng - January 24th * Park Commission Meeti ng - March 1st * Public Meeti ng - April 11th *Apr

Aug 2018 Plan Adopti on by Board of Supervisors

Chapter 2: Issue-Based Public Input 21 Commission members' functions included: ● Acti ng as a sounding board for ideas as the plan was developed ● Representi ng the community throughout the process ● Assisti ng in the development of the public input forums ● Providing feedback as existi ng recreati on faciliti es and programs were inventoried ● Identi fying issues and concerns about parks and recreati on ● Guiding the development of vision, goals, and strategies for implementati on of the Plan

The Commission went through a two-step, group parti cipati on process to describe what it perceives as the key issues, opportuniti es, and concerns. The ﬁ rst step was to ascertain what the Commission thought was important to accomplish from the Plan. The second was to identi fy strengths, opportuniti es, concerns, and needs recreati on in general and Pearson Park in parti cular. The following is a compilati on of these comments, suggesti ons, and recommendati ons.

Sample Brainstorming Session Items... • New baseball ﬁ elds (at least two). • Upgrade and expand ice rink (locker rooms, seati ng, mechanicals) • Senior programming; growing senior populati on. • Bike trail on park property • ADA upgrades to park faciliti es. • Signage

Goals for the Plan... • Serve as a partner Plan to the Township's Comprehensive Plan, adopted in 2017 • Gauge citi zen desires and needs for recreati onal faciliti es and programs • Tie it to a capital improvements plan so it becomes implementable • Consider the balance between acti ve and passive recreati on opportuniti es • Understand the current usage of faciliti es and evaluate the need for future faciliti es

• Include a ﬁ nancial component for implementati on and operati on

Chapter 2: Issue-Based Public Input 22 At a public meeti ng, att endees reviewed the recreati on-related input and recommendati ons from the Township’s 2017 Comprehensive Plan. The group also reviewed the purpose of the Recreati on Plan and a brainstorming Topsession providedTen residentsIssues with Identi�iedan opportunity to voice (votes) their opinions and identi fy key issues. Once the key issues were recorded, att endees prioriti ezed them through a ranking process.

1 Hess Ice Rink Improvements - Built in 1991 (18) • Nature Play • Expansion • Splash Pad • Locker Rooms 9 Programs (1) • Seati ng • Seniors • Mechanics • Teens 2 Connecti vity (11) • Children • Trails • Art in the Park • Bike Lanes • Nature Programs • Overall Township Connecti vity 10 Partnerships • Connecti on to Ice Rink • Neshannock Athleti c Associati on 3 Sport Facility Upgrades (10) • Garden Club • Tennis • Lawrence County Lighti ng • Baseball • Hess Skati ng Club 4 Additi onal Sports Faciliti es (9) • Rappit Tappett s • Mini Golf • Prime Timmers • Driving Range • Neshannock School District • Pickleball • YMCA • Bocci • Cray Youth and Family Services • Horseshoes • Frisbee Golf 5 Renovati on of Hutchinson Community Center - Built in 1974 (8) 6 Overall Upgrades and Modernizati on of Existi ng Facili- ti es (5) • Restrooms • Pavilions • Address Mine Subsidence Between the Park and Ice Rink • ADA Upgrades 7 Community Events in the Park (3) • Festi val of Lights • Holiday Events 8 Playground Renovati ons (2)

Chapter 2: Issue-Based Public Input 23 Figure 8. Master Plan Alternative

Figure 9. Master Plan Alternative

Chapter 2: Issue-Based Public Input 24 Questionnaire Results The questi onnaire respondents were demographically comparable with the make-up of the Township. The 379 responses represented about 25% of the Neshannock Township residents. The following is a summary of the results -

The school district in which the respondents resided were: Neshannock School Families are the District (64%), New Castle School District (4.8%), and Wilmington School District (4.8%). main patrons of Pearson Park and Others include 26 other School Districts including Hermitage (12), Grove City (6), Mercer (3). All others were represented by 1 or 2 responses. (Penn Traff ord, Hess Ice Rink. Poland, OH; Moniteau, Moon, Keystone, Austi ntown, Boardman, Beaver Falls, Sharpsville, Canfi eld, Hampton, North Allegheny, Seneca, West Miffl in, The Park has Brookfi eld, Riverside, Slippery Rock, Howland, West Middlesex, Franklin, Liberty, consistently high and Canfi eld). acti vity levels from Table 6. Respondents' Age and Household Size The majority of the spring to fall with 350 respondents reported the majority of having two people in 300 the age range of 35-59. users visiti ng the The majority of the 250 households had one to Park multi ple ti mes two people between a week. 200 0-19 years of age. A minimal number of 150 households had three or more persons within 100 the age range of 0-19. Table 7. Frequency of Park Visits 50 Respondents visit Pearson 0 9 10-190- 20-34 35-59 60-74 75+ Park multi ple Age ti mes a week during the Spring Summer 1 2 3 4 5 Persons in Household Within Age Range the Spring, Summer, and Fall while fewer visit during the Winter. However, even during the winter the majority of respondents visit the park at least once a month These responses indicate that the Park supports users throughout the year

Fall Winter

Multi ple Times a Week Once a Year Once a Week Never

Once a Month

Chapter 2: Issue-Based Public Input 25 The respondents Figure Skati ng, 2.9% Table 8. Hess Sport ComplexOther, 3.0% Top Activities overwhelmingly Lacrosse, 3.2% Free Skate, 25.9% Adult Hockey, 6.2% support

Football, 7.4% improvements

Hess Sport to Pearson Park Complex Top Skati ng Lessons, 11.7% Acti viti es and Hess Sport Complex, with

Youth Hockey, 24.4% 92% saying yes to Baseball, 15.3% improvements.

The responses were analyzed to identi fy the top acti viti es at the Hess Sport Complex. Free skate Table 9. Top Three Assets Used at Pearson and youth hockey acti viti es generate approximately Park and Hess Sports Complex half of the acti vity at the Complex. Although these 1 Walking Trail/PF Stati ons are popular acti viti es at the Complex, support infrastructure such as improved seati ng, locker rooms, and an upgraded lobby/concession stand were ranked 2 Playground in this order as improvments that are needed at the Complex Tied-3 Picnic Shelters

The top assets used at Pearson Park were identi ﬁ ed Tied-3 Swimming Pool as well. The results are similar to the Hess Sports Complex as highly used assets are also in need of Other Major Uses improvements to maintain and support the park infrastructure The following ranking of improvements Baseball across various areas of the Park and Complex are Events shown below and on the next page. The top ﬁ ve improvements for each category are listed in a bar Ice Rink graph according to the number of survey responses that were recorded in order of importance Tennis

Table 10. Hess Sports Complex 60 50 1 Seati ng (52) Improvements 2 Locker Rooms (45) 40 3 Upgraded Lobby/Concession 30 Stand (34) 20 4 New Scoreboard (28) Number of Responses 5 Expansion of Ice (16) 10 0 1 2 3 4 5 Rank in Order of Importance

Chapter 2: Issue-Based Public Input 26 120 1 Restroom Upgrade (118) 100 Table 11. General Improvements 2 Playground Expansion (38) 80 3 Additi onal Trails (29) 4 Amitheater (22) 60 5 Additi onal Picnic Shelter (16) 40

Number of Responses 20 0 1 2 3 4 5 Rank in Order of Importance 80 1 Repair Existi ng Walking Trail (77) 70 Table 12. Trail Improvements 2 New Hiking Trails (53) 60 3 New Nature Trails (52) 50 4 Additi onal Fitness Equipment (23) 40 5 New Bicycle Path/Trail (22) 30 20 Number of Responses 10 0 1 2 3 4 5 Rank in Order of Importance

Table 13. Recreation 80 70 1 Updated Baseball/Soft ball 60 Improvements Fields (65) 50 2 Additi onal Baseball/Soft ball 40 Fields (51) 30 3 Additi onal Multi purpose 20 Fields (47) Number of Responses 10 4 Mini Golf/Golﬁ ng Range (27) 0 5 Sand Volleyball (17) 1 2 3 4 5 Rank in Order of Importance

Table 14. Baseball Field 60

1 Addressing Field Drainage 50 Improvements Issues (51) 40 T-2 New Batti ng Cages (33) 30 T-2 Playing Field Lights (33) 4 Bleachers 20

5 Repair/Replace Fencing Number of Responses 10 0 1 2 3 4 5 Rank in Order of Importance

Chapter 2: Issue-Based Public Input 27 Key Person Interviews were conducted with individuals who could provide valuable input regarding parks and recreati on issues. Each person was questi oned related to his/her interest or experti se in Neshannock Township parks, recreati on, Keyand open Person space Interviews Interviews were conducted in one of four ways: in person, via telephone, via email, Township, and the Consultant

Pearson Park has great trails, consistent programming “in season”, opti ons for recreati on, baseball, basketball, tennis, pool), and rental faciliti es for large and small gatherings with convenient access to water and electric. With excepti on of rentals, access to recreati on is free or low cost.

Lawrence County Lightning Hockey-Lawrence County Lightening Hockey uti lizes Hess Ice Rink six/seven days a week for many hours at a ti me. Additi onal locker rooms at Hess would have an immediate impact on att endance at the Rink. It will provide the ability to host tournaments

The Township provides organized baseball and soft ball for the youth, the walking trail, free recreati on with tennis and basketball courts, inexpensive summer programs, free summer concert series, July 4th and Community Day acti viti es.

Faciliti es that are in place are top notch, well maintained, and well organized.

Evaluate the ﬁ nancial impacts of ongoing maintenance and needed upgrades to the ice rink Should the management of the facility be outsourced?

Chapter 2: Issue-Based Public Input 28 Common Themes These common ● Enhance the Township’s budget allocati on for regular park facility maintenance. themes were ● Capital upgrades to Pearson Park faciliti es are top priority. ● Promote bicycle and pedestrian connecti vity and trails within the park (and used as the basis ulti mately throughout the Township). to develop the ● Conti nue recreati on program expansion for all ages. vision, goals, and strategies which are detailed in this Plan's recommendati ons.

Chapter 2: Issue-Based Public Input 29

Chapter 3: Recommendati ons Future investment into Our Community begins with a vision and goals. Recommendations

The success of this plan is based on the process of fulfi lling the vision of the This plan for the Neshannock Township for its parks, recreati on, and open space, by meeti ng future of our specifi c goals for each of the identi fi ed key issues, and implementi ng the detailed strategies for each goal. Every step plays a signifi cant role in ensuring parks is focused this plan becomes a useful tool in moving the Township towards meeti ng the on successful current and future recreati onal needs of the residents. implementati on of Pearson Park, including Hess Ice Rink, provides a variety of recreati on opportuniti es for Township residents. The wide variety of facilti es and size high-priority needs of the Park allows it to successfully accommodate current needs There are at Pearson Park. opportuniti es to accommodate Our Community’s growing populati on through updgrading existi ng faciliti es and adding new faciliti es to the Park. Because Pearson Park is the current and future focus of parks and recreati on in Our Community, it is the main focus of the recommendati ons of this Plan.

Chapter 3: Recommendati ons 32 Vision for the Future ● Recognized as Neshannock Township Parks and Recreati on, having a recognizable identi ty ● Dedicated funding for future park maintenance and development ● Provide and promote recreati on programs for all ages and abiliti es ● Provide a quality park system that is well maintained and safe for all parti cipants ● Promote health and wellness through acti ve recreati on programs and faciliti es ● Connecti ng residents to the riverfront ● Cooperati vely create connecti ons throughout the Township and County ● Provide a safe place to play, celebrate, and gather

Good parks, open space and program services contribute to economic development by fostering economic beneﬁ ts and promoti ng tourism. Environmentally, they provide green infrastructure and help manage climate change. Bene�itsSocially, they revitalize communiti es, create safer neighborhoods, help children learn and grow, improve public and environmental health, and support smart growth Culturally, open space and program services can nurture a sense of place in the community, and provide opportuniti es to engage the public.

Greenways and Natural Resources Eff orts should be taken to guide growth, development, and redevelopment in a manner which: • Maintains and enhances the storm water capacity • Maintains and enhances water quality fi ltrati on functi ons • Maintains and enhances groundwater recharge • Reduces fl ooding • Maintains and increases streamside vegetati ve buff ers • Protects steep slopes from erosion • Creates a Greenway Master Plan to connect points of interest, including schools, parks, the YMCA, the Route 18 corridor, and river access points

These objecti ves can be obtained in multi ple ways. Non-proﬁ t organizati ons within the region can assist with educati on, awareness, and implementati on eﬀ orts related to the conservati on of natural systems greenway corridors within Neshannock Township These include: • Center for Healthy Environments & Communiti es, University of Pitt sburgh Graduate School of Public Health, www.chec.pitt .edu • Foundati on for Pennsylvania’s Watersheds, www.pennsylvaniawatersheds.org • Pennsylvania Environmental Council, wwwpecpaorg/region/southwest • Pennsylvania Resources Council, wwwprcorg • Pennsylvania Organizati on for Watersheds and Rivers, www.pawatersheds.org

Chapter 3: Recommendati ons 33 • Construct the Harbor access point near the intersecti on of kings Chapel Road and Pulaski Road in the western reaches of Neshannock Township near the small community of Harbor. • Work with the County and Lawrence County Corporati on for Economic Development to inquire about increasing Riverthe visibility Access of the public boat launch and river access on their Millennium Park property • Connect the Neshannock Creek Rail-Trial with the water trail and the downtown New Castle Revitalizati on Area to potenti ally spur businesses such as canoe/kayak rentals, bike shops, cafes etc.

Neshannock Township Potential Programs Recreati onal programming plays an important role in the overall health and vitality of a community. Programming opti ons in Our Community could be enhanced and strengthened by exploring nati onal trends, technological advancements, changing public interests, and input from residents. The follow programs are potenti al additi onal oﬀ erings -

● Summer Camps ● Special Needs Programs ● Nature Camps ● Puppy/Dog Obedience ● Schools Out Programs ● Dino Dig ● Craft Fair ● Nature Hikes ● Earth Day Event ● Snapolog/Legos ● Easter Egg Hunt ● Senior Programs - Luncheons, Cards, Bingo, Fitness ● Household Hazardous Waste Event ● Junior Golf Programs ● Movies in the Park ● Learn to Canoe ● Trunk Sale ● Learn to Fish ● Babysitti ng Training ● Family Campout ● Master Gardener Classes ● CPR/First Aid ● Engineering for Kids ● Cooking Classes ● Preschool Programs - Dance, Art, Sports, etc.

Chapter 3: Recommendati ons 34 Pearson Park Master Plan

The Pearson Park Master Plan, as illustrated on the following pages and described in detail by the projects listed below, represents Our Community’s plan for full upgrade and build-out of the Park and its faciliti es to accommodate current and future residents of the Township. The projects described below represents signiﬁ cant investment in the primary recreati on opportuniti es in Our Community. Upgrading the faciliti es in Pearson Park will allow for accommodati on of both additi onal programs and events, as well as additi onal residents as Our Community’s populati on grows. The primary focus of recreati on-related investment for the foreseeable future will be Pearson Park. Maintaining this focus through multi -year capital investment and regular annual maintenance upgrades will ensure that Pearson Park conti nues to be the recreati on jewel of Our Community.

Table 15. Pearson Park Master Plan Project List and Cost Estimates Description Cost Estimate Breakdown Cost Estimate Expansion of Hess Ice Rink including new locker rooms, 60' x 200' = 12,000 SF x $150/SF = $1,800,000 1 $2,200,000 additi onal parking, and trail connecti on to main park Parking, signage, and trail connecti on = $400,000 Playground upgrades including safety improvements, Playground upgrades = $350,000 2 $525,000 access, and new parking Parking and access = $175,000 Hutchinson Community Center expansion, parking, and Expansion of 2,800 SF x $150/SF = $420,000 3 $570,000 additi on of park offi ce 20 parking spaces = $150,000 Two restrooms at $100,000 = $200,000 4 Restroom upgrades and parking $500,000 40 parking spaces and wlakways = $300,000 Gazebo = $75,000 5 New gazebo including ADA access and parking $100,000 Walkways and parking = $25,000 Upgrade trail network including wayfi nding and trailhead Trail improvements and wayfi nding = $75,000 6 $225,000 parking 20 parking spaces = $150,000 Field reconstructi on = $250,000 Reorient Field 1 and 2, construct a new concession 7 Concessioin building = $75,000 $875,000 building, and construct 40 parking spaces 40 parking spaces = $300,000 Constructi on of maintenance building including parking, 30' x 35' buiding at $100/SF = $100,000 8 $150,000 fencing, and gate Parking, fencing, and gates = $50,000 Upgrade three picnic shelters including ADA parking and 3 picnic picnic shelters at $100/SF = $300,000 9 $450,000 walkways Walkways and 20 parking spaces = $150,000 Upgrade three picnic shelters including ADA parking and 3 picnic picnic shelters at $100/SF = $300,000 10 $450,000 walkways Walkways and 20 parking spaces = $150,000 Constructi on of road connecti on and parking along Road constructi on = $150,000 11 $300,000 southern border 20 parking spaces = $150,000 Ballfi eld repairs = $50,000 Upgrade Hess Ballfi eld including repairs, 30 parking spaces, 12 30 parking spaces = $300,00 $550,000 and fi eld lighti ng Field lighti ng = $200,000 Resurface 4 tennis courts at $30,000 each = $120,000 Upgrade tennis courts including resurfacing, lighti ng, and 13 Lighti ng = $50,000 $320,000 parking 20 parking spaces = $150,000 Total Master Plan Cost Esti mate $7,215,000

Additi onal Projects: Constructi on of a deck hockey rink with funds from the Constructi on of the rink should occur when outside funding n/a Pitt sburgh Penguins Foundati on Project Power Play becomes available Additi on of an air supported cover over two tennis courts Constructi on should occur when outside funding becomes $375,000 as well as additi onal upgrades stated in Goal 4 available

Chapter 3: Recommendati ons 35 Figure 10. Pearson Park Master Plan

LEGEND

Way nding Signage

1. Diamond Shaped Field 1 (200’) - Upgrade 2. Diamond Shaped Field 2 (200’) - Upgrade 3. Diamond Shaped Field 2 (200’) - New 4. Diamond Shaped Field 2 (200’) - New 5. Maintenance Storage/Stockpiles - New 6. Maintenance Building (35’ x 35’) - New 7. Shelter (25’ x 45’) - Upgrade 8. Concessions Stand and Restrooms - New 9. Restrooms - New 10. Shelter - Upgrade 11. Community Center/Park Oce - Expanded 12. Shelter (20’ x 25’) - Upgrade 13. Gazebo - New 14. Playground - Upgrade 15. Shelter (25’ x 40’) - Upgrade 16. Shelter (20’ x 40’) - Upgrade 17. Basketball Court - Existing 18. Pool Complex - Existing 19. Water Tower - Existing Neshannock Township 20. Tennis/Pickleball Courts (4) - Upgrade Master Plan 21. Restrooms - New 22. Park/Tennis Oce - Upgrade 23. Tennis Courts with air supported dome (2) - New 24. Shelter (15’ x 20’) - Upgrade 25. Trails - Upgrade

100 200 400 0 N A. Hess Ball Field (300’) - Upgrade B. Penguins Deck Hockey Court - New April 26th 2018 C. Ice Rink - Expanded D. Trailhead/Ice Rink Overow Parking - New E. Trail connection between Ice Complex and remaining park - Upgrade with minor realignment and expansion

Chapter 3: Recommendati ons 36 LEGEND

Way nding Signage

Chapter 3: Recommendati ons 37 Figure 11. Pearson Park Master Plan - Phasing Priorities

PHASING PRIORITIES Priority 1 Priority 2 Priority 3 Priority 4

LEGEND

Way nding Signage

Chapter 3: Recommendati ons 38 PHASING PRIORITIES Priority 1 Priority 2 Priority 3 Priority 4

LEGEND

Way nding Signage

Chapter 3: Recommendati ons 39 Project Details Upgrade and Modernize Existing Facilities at Pearson Park

■ Prepare an updated topographic survey of Pearson Park to allow for proper design and constructi on of future upgrades and new faciliti es ■ Apply for a Community Conservati on Grant through the Department of Conservati on and Natural Resources in April 2018 for Priority #1 Projects ■ Annually work with staff to identi fy annual maintenance projects ■ 2018- Pearson playground: replace safe surfacing in fenced playground, remove or repair hazards as identi fi ed in the Playground Safety Audit ■ Consider bond issue, to be funded in part through revenue generated by the recreati on tax, that will fund the Hess Ice Rink, ballfi eld reorientati on, installti on of upgraded power supply, and installati on of roadway lighti ng.

Pearson Park DCNR Grant Scope Table 16. High Priority 1 Projects DCNR Township 9. New restroom near gazebo, ballfi elds, trail, and playground Includes ADA access, and 20 parking spaces $100,000 $150,000 which includes ADA accessible parking space 13. New gazebo including ADA access and parking $75,000 $25,000 Upgrade shelter (#2 near ballfi elds) that will include ADA $100,000 $50,000 access and seven parking spaces Throughout. Wayfi nding signage to entrances, trails, $25,000 $25,000 faciliti es, roads, and river access Neshannock Township in-kind services (includes survey) $50,000 Total $300,000 $300,000

Table 17. High Priority 2 Projects DCNR Township 3./4. Construct two new 200' ballﬁ elds (at $250,000 each) including clearing/grading, and stormwater and accessibility - $500,000 improvements 8 Construct new concession/restroom facility - $150,000 Associated with 3/4/8 Construct 120 parking spaces - $600,000 including ADA parking spaces Total - $1,250,000

Chapter 3: Recommendati ons 40 Table 18. High Priority 3 Projects DCNR Township 1/2 Upgrade Field 1 and 2* - $500,000 Baseball Associati on committ ed funding - -$75,000 Total - $425,000 *Projects will be funded with a 2018 bond issue

Table 19. Moderate Priority: Pearson Park

DCNR Township Improvements 7./10./12./15./24. Upgrade remaining ﬁ ve picnic shelters, - $300,000 provide ADA access, and construct 30 parking spaces 14 Upgrade playground - $525,000 Total - $825,000 Update and Expand Hess Ice Rink Expansion of Hess Ice Rink including new locker rooms, seati ng, additi onal parking and trail connecti on to main park. Other upgrades include:

• Construct locker room additi on. The need for locker rooms is a priority at the ice rink. The expansion would allow the additi on of locker rooms as well as renovati on of concession stand, additi onal seati ng and lobby area. • Increase seati ng capacity. Seati ng capacity is currently 40. An additi onal 200 seats are recommended to be added. • Replace dehumidiﬁ cati on system The upgrades to the facility will allow for additi onal programs and leagues to use the ice. This would provide additi onal revenue for future improvements. Potential Funding Sources ■ CFA Grant February 1 - May 31; maximum funding is $250,000 with a 15% match ■ Pitt sburgh Penguin Foundati on, Operati on Restore ■ Explore funding through County oil and gas funding ■ Township Bond issue

Table 20. High Priority 4 Projects Township C Expand facility by 60' x 200' $1,800,000 12,000 SF x $150/SF D./E. Construct parking, signage, and trail connecti ons $400,000 Total $2,200,000

Chapter 3: Recommendati ons 41 Expand Hutchinson Community Center There is a desire by the residents to update and expand the Hutchinson Community Center The capacity is currently 150 Expansion of an enclosed, heated pati o in the rear of the center could expand the center to a capacity of 250, which would allow larger venues such as weddings. The pati o could be designed to be able to open during the summer months by “garage doors” Expanding the center into the rear would promote the beauty of the wooded area of the park and provide great photo opportuniti es. The renovati on and expansion would also increase the revenue opportuniti es. During the design phase of the expansion, the incorporati on of a park oﬃ ce should be discussed. The existi ng park oﬃ ce near the tennis courts could be converted to a tennis programming headquarters and/or additi onal storage.

Table 21. Moderate Priority: Expand Hutchison Community Center Township 11. Expand Hutchinson Community Center by 2,800 SF $420,000 Associated with 11 Construct 20 parking spaces $150,000 Total $570,000

Improve Hess Ball Field

Ball Field Table 22. Moderate Priority: Improve Hess Township A. Upgrade/Repair Ballﬁ eld $50,000 Total $50,000

• Recording the developed sidewalk standards into the local ordinances and Pedestrianenforcing them Connectivity • Developing a standard for constructi on and maintenance of sidewalks, including repair of deteriorated sidewalks • Connecti ng criti cal gaps in the existi ng sidewalk network • Sidewalk connecti ons to all schools and parks • Proper pavement markings, signage, and signalized crossing are in place

Chapter 3: Recommendati ons 42 and Expand Parking Resurface Tennis Courts, Improve Lighting,

Tennis Courts Table 23. Moderate Priority: Improve Township Resurface four tennis courts $120,000 Lighti ng $50,000 Construct 20 parking spaces $150,000 Total $320,000

Improve Maintenance Grounds

Maintenance Grounds Table 24. Moderate Priority: Improve Township Construct 30' x 35' building $100,000 Construct parking, fencing, and gates $50,000 Total $150,000

Chapter 3: Recommendati ons 43 Based on public input including, key person interviews and the on-line questi onnaire, the most popular acti vity at Pearson Park is walking, hiking,Connectivity jogging The current trails are an excellent amenity for all ages Additi onal trails throughout the park should be designed with future community connecti ons in mind. A clear connecti on from the ice rink to the park should be constructed so that pedestrians can access both faciliti es year-round. Way- ﬁ nding signage should be placed in key areas including trailheads and park entrances. During the design phase, an additi onal half mile loop between the ice rink parking and the community center should be evaluated. This additi on could also ti e directly into the existi ng 1.5-mile trail network. Strategy: Create a Focus Group to Identi fy Potenti al Funding Sources

■ Create an Ordinance to assure dedicated bike lanes, trails, and sidewalks are identi ﬁ ed and developed throughout the Township ■ Create a partnership with Lawrence County Planning Department to create connecti ons with other communiti es ■ Improve trail connecti on on both sides of Pearson Park (Hess Sports Complex and main park area) ■ Implement consistent wayﬁ nding throughout the Township and Pearson Park ■ Construct additi onal trails ■ Construct bike lane additi ons in conjuncti on with road paving schedules ■ Improve overall Township connecti vity. Focus on connecti ng desti nati ons along Mitchell Road, Mercer Road, Maitland Lane, and Wilmington Road Update Tennis Courts

Chapter 3: Recommendati ons 44 Additional facilities discussed for Pearson Park but

• Miniature golf have not○ One been to two acresidenti�ied would be needed as for current an average size priorities: course ○ Cost of constructi on would be $100,000-$200,000 ○ A concession area or the park oﬃ ce would need to serve as a concession to provide balls, clubs, scorecards, and execute payment • Deck hockey rink ○ Potenti al funding could come from the Pitt sburgh Penguins Foundati on Project Power Play • Air supported cover over two tennis courts as well as proposed upgrades stated in Goal 4 ○ Consturcti on should occur when outside funding becomes available ○ Cost of constructi on would be $375,000 • Disc golf course • Bocci, horsehoe pits, and cornhole ○ Should be located near the pavilions for use by the renters • Splash pad ○ Analysis and discussion regarding a feasibility study should take place if and when the pool is scheduled for upgrades or ownership changes • Dog park ○ Two acres minimum

Chapter 3: Recommendati ons 45

Appendix Brainstorming Session ComprehensiveAugust 4, 2016 Plan Parks and Recreation Needs ● New baseball ﬁ elds (at least two) ● Upgrade and expand ice rink • Locker rooms, seati ng, and mechanicals ● Mine subsidence issue between the park and ice rink ● Senior programming for a growing senior populati on ● Mini-golf ● Driving range ● Bike trail on park property ● Bike lanes on roads or paved shoulders ● Crosswalks and sidewalks ● Splash pads ● ADA upgrades to park faciliti es ● Signage • Identi fy parts of the parks and faciliti es • Welcome • Directi onal ● Connecti on to ice rink from park • Clearer, year-round connecti on ● Timbering/woods clean-up ● Plant and animal interpretati on signs ● Upgrade and modernize existi ng faciliti es is an overarching goal ● Opportuniti es for all ages within the park ● Regionalizati on and coordinati on • Pooling of resources • Township, school district, non-proﬁ ts, YMCA ● Opportuniti es for community fundraising in parks ● Educati onal components • Kids learning opportuniti es • Classes ● Picnic shelters ● Renovati on of Hutchinson Community Center (built in 1974)

Appendix 48 ● Related organizati ons • Neshannock Athleti c Associati on • Garden Club • Lawrence County Lightning (hockey) • Greater Youngstown Figure Skati n • School district • Cray Youth and Family Services • Lions Club • YMCA • Rappit Tappett s • Neshannock Pool Associati on ○ Pool is a separate enti ty ○ Owned by the Associati on • Prime Timers • Challenges / Catholic Chariti es • Opti ons in Aging ● Court sports needed • Pickleball • Bocci • Horsehoes • Frisbee golf ● Festi val of lights event / holiday events in the parks

Park Budget per year

Table 25. Park Budget Description Budget Salaries, etc $115,000 Pearson Park $177,000 Hess Ice Rink $287,000 Total +/- $580,000* *Approximately $100,000 of total is spent on annual capital improvements

Appendix 49 Neshannock Park Commission Meeting January 8, 2018 Hutchinson Community Center

In att endance: Joe Gurlach, Neshannock Township Supervisor Leslie Bucci, Neshannock Township Supervisor Don Kemerer, Neshannock Park Commission Mark Daugherty, Neshannock Park Commission Mark Bucci, Neshannock Parks and Recreati on Director Chris Naurra, Neshannock Parks and Recreati on Jim Pashek, Pashek+MTR William Cosgrove, Neshannock School Board Todd Chamberlain, Lawrence County Lightning Hockey Nancy Lowry, New Castle News

Meeting Outline

● Introducti ons ● What have we learned about the park site? ● Site Analysis/Assessment • Park Ownership - Township owned • Size and Locati on - The 88 acre park is located at the intersecti on of Mercer Road and Mitchell Road in the northeastern porti on of the community • Zoning and Adjacent Land Use - Residenti al (three types) • Natural Features ○ Watershed - Shenango River or Neshannock Creek ulti mately leading to the Ohio River ○ Wetlands - See map ○ Soils - The majority of the soils in the community is silty loam ○ Topography - Relati vely ﬂ at ○ Vegetati on - Mostly wooded ○ Wildlife - PNDI • Existi ng Recreati onal Faciliti es - See table • Pedestrian Circulati on- Lack of connecti on between the Hess Sports Complex and Pearson Park • Bicycle Transportati on- The Bicycle PA Route V, a 355 mile trail that traverses Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, Union, and several other counti es. The trail runs through Neshannock Township and oﬀ ers unique transportati on and recreati on opportuniti es. • Vehicle Circulati on - See parking table. Lack of proper signage for each entrance ● Park Planning 101 - Things you should consider when planning a park ● Small group discussions with plans and facility cutouts to scale ● Presentati on of the plans by each group ● Common Themes - What should we take with us as we develop a master plan?

Appendix 50 January 24, 2018 TownshipMeeting Notes Supervisors/Public Meeting 1 General Public Comments on Recreati on A How will projects be funded; don't raise taxes (again) for recreati on. B Explore the possibility of acquisiti on of properti es adjacent to Pearson to provide opportuniti es for future park expansion and/or buff ering. 2 Priority Projects - Aft er review of the draft Pearson Park Master Plan, the following projects were identi fi ed as prioriti es. The priority projects were then grouped into larger projects based upon the similarity of project types and possible funding strategies (e.g. the Hess Ice Rink Upgrades is a high price project that may require multi ple funding sources; it is a high priority project but can proceed on a parallel track with other high priority projects). A Group A i. Hess Ice Rink Upgrades (including ADA) B Group B - General Upgrades i. Restrooms Upgrades (including ADA) ii. Trail Upgrades iii. Additional Parking iv. Road Repaving v. Shelter Upgrades (including ADA) C Group C i. Baseball Upgrades (Hess/Pearson) D Group D i. Playground Upgrades E Group E i. Hutchinson Community Center Upgrades/Expansion 3 Priority Groupings. The priority project groupings were then prioriti zed as follows: A #1 - Upgrades to trails, shelters, roads, restrooms, gazebos B #1 - Hess Ice Rink C #2 - Pearson Ballfi elds 1 and 2 Upgrades (reorient) D #3 - Playgrounds E #4 - Hutchinson Community Center F #5 - Hess Ballfi eld Upgrades

Appendix 51 National Recreation and Park Association Standards Table 26. National Recreation and Park Association Standards Acres per Type of Use Desirable 1,000 Desirable Facility Area Size Population Characteristics Service Suitable for intense Area for intense recreati onal acti viti es such as development Easily accessible Neighborhood fi eld games, court games, craft s, playground ¼ to ½ mile 1 to 15 acres 1 to 2 acres to neighborhood populati on, Park apparatus area and picnicking serving a geographically centered with concentrated populati on. safe walking and bike access Areas of diverse environmental quality May include areas suited for intense recreati onal May include natural features Community faciliti es such as athleti c complexes, swimming such as bodies of water and 1 to 3 miles 25+ acres 5 to 8 acrea Park pools May be an area of natural quality for areas suitable for intense passive recreati on, or a combinati on of both types development Easily accessible of recreati on. Regional/ Area of natural or ornamental quality, for outdoor Conti guous to or encompassing Metropolitan recreati on such as picnicking, fi shing, trail uses, 40 to 50 miles 200+ acres 5 to 10 acres natural resources Park swimming, camping; may include play areas. Area of natural quality for nature-oriented outdoor recreati on and nature study, swimming, Diverse or unique natural Regional Park picnicking, hiking, boati ng, camping. 80% of land resources, such as lakes, 40 to 50 miles 1,000+ acres Variable Reserve reserved for conservati on and natural resource streams, marshes, fl ora & fauna, management, less than 20% for recreati on and topography development Areas for specialized or single purpose recreati onal acti viti es, such as golf courses, nature centers, marinas, zoos, conservatories, arboreta, display gardens, arenas, outdoor theaters, gun No applicable Special Use ranges, or downhill ski areas, or areas that Variable Variable Within communiti es. standard preserve, maintain,and interpret buildings, sites, and objects of archeological signifi cance. Also plazas or squares in or near commercial centers, boulevards, parkways There are two types of greenways -- “natural Tie park system components greenways” and “man-made greenways.” Natural together to form a conti nuous greenways follow suitable natural resource areas park environment They such as stream corridors and wildlife habitat emphasize harmony with the Greenways areas. Man-made greenways include developed Variable Variable Variable natural environment and allow areas, revitalized riverfronts, abandoned railroad for uninterrupted and safe beds, old industrial sites, and powerline rights- pedestrian movement between of-way. Modes of travel along greenways include parks throughout a community hiking, walking, jogging, bicycling, and skati ng.

Appendix 52