West Duluth Sports Corridor Mini-Master Plan Wade Stadium and Wheeler Athletic Complex August 31, 2015 Table of Contents
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West Duluth Sports Corridor Mini-Master Plan Wade Stadium and Wheeler Athletic Complex August 31, 2015 Table of Contents Table of Contents ii Acknowledgements Executive Summary iii We would like to thank the neighborhood residents, athletic organizations, and elected offi cials who provided input and feedback on the West Duluth Introduction 1 Sports Corridor Mini-Master Plan. Existing Conditions 3 Parks and Recreation Commission Master Plan 7 • Edwin Hall (at large) - Chair • Thomas Albright (District 5) Implementation and Phasing 11 • K. Tiersa Dodge (District 4) • Andy Holak (Professional) • John Schmidt (District 3) • Erik Torch (Community Education) • Jon Welles (District 2) • Tjaard Breeuwer (District 1) • Patrick Contardo (at large) • Amanda Crosby (Commission on Disabilities) • Michael Schraepfer (Land Management) Staff Advisory Group • Kathy Bergen - Manager, Parks and Recreation • Dale Sellner - Building and Grounds Supervisor • Patrick Loomis - Engineering • Chuck Campbell - Properties & Facilities • Jared Blomdahl - Police • Mike Erikson - Police • John Kelly - Planning City of Duluth • Jim Shoberg - Parks & Recreation 411 West First Street • Lisa Loukkala - Parks & Recreation Duluth MN 55802 • Josh Abraham - Parks & Recreation 218 . 730 . 4300 • Tari Rayala - City Architect Citizen Advisory Committee • Craig Smith - Duluth Huskies • Daniel Hersey - Duluth Huskies Hoisington Koegler Group Inc. • Katie Adkin - Lincoln Park Business Group, Board of Directors • Chris Pekkala - West Duluth Little League 123 N 3rd Street, Suite 100 • Bob Rients - UMD Baseball Minneapolis MN 55401 • Dave Geary - Arrowhead Youth Soccer 612 . 338 . 0800 • Ben Olson - Damage Boardshop Wheeler Athletic Complex and Wade Stadium in 2008 II West Duluth Sports Corridor Mini-Master Plan Executive Summary Project Overview Maintenance The West Duluth Sports Corridor Mini-Master Plan provides direction to Bldg. & Yard guide reinvestment at Wheeler Athletic Complex, the Wade Stadium area Superior StSuperior St 34th Ave (including the surrounding fi elds, parking, and other support facilities), and 34th Ave the surrounding area that connects to the Heritage Sports Center. The intent P +/- 16 of the master plan is to analyze, evaluate, and recommend improvements Expanded Field #5 for Baseball that will create a distinctive “district” feel between these major sporting Picnic destinations in West Duluth. Sand Tennis & Wade Stadium Volleyball Pickleball P Softball +/- 260 Goals of the Project Expanded Basketball • Create a cohesive corridor from Wheeler to Wade to Heritage. Skatepark Softball • Identify strategies to make the corridor a competitive center for Duluth sports. Picnic Fieldhouse Entry Plaza Bocce Plaza • Resolve parking and lighting issues at Wade and Wheeler. 35th Ave • Softball Identify other improvements needed at Wade and Wheeler Horse Revamped Playground • Identify future cross-city trail alignments and entry points. Concessions Shoes P Batting Cages • Develop a wayfi nding strategy. Softball & Dugouts Softball Wade Stadium • Identify stormwater solutions. Wheeler • Prioritize projects for implementation. P +/- 198 Ave Ave Grand Grand t S Softball Tree Mich. St. n Preferred Master Plan Plantings a Dedicated g i P h Youth Ballfi eld c The preferred master plan represents the collection of feedback throughout i 36th Ave +/- 98 MMichigan St the planning process. The core framework of the parks remain intact Trailhead Kiosk Right Field with upgrades to many of the existing facilities and the addition of a few P 36th Ave P new features. Enhanced connectivity between both parks is created with P +/- 71 Dedicated +/- 45 Youth Ballfi eld additional trails and provide clear access to smaller, satellite parking lots Merritt Cr. surrounding Wade Stadium. Key elements of the plan for Wheeler Athletic P Complex, Wade Stadium Area, and Corridor Connectivity are as follows: +/- 32 Wheeler Athletic Complex The main goal at Wheeler is to improve the existing facilities. All of the would be repaved, lighting would be upgraded and stormwater treatment Corridor Connectivity ballfi elds receive improvements including expanding the fi eld #5 outfi eld would be implemented. New walks and trails will help improve park circulation. Improving connections between Wade and Wheeler, as well as other parking locations and Heritage Sports Center will help the facilities function together dimensions and infi eld, and upgrading the dugouts, concession building, Wade Stadium Area scoreboard, & surrounding paving and stairs for at the softball pinwheel). for the promotion of athletics in the area. Multi-modal connections (roads, Expanded and improved parking and trails at Wade improve the gameday The existing fi eldhouse building would need a new roof and upgraded hvac trails, sidewalks) ensure all users are able to get to, and move through the experience for fans, players, and neighbors. Stormwater improvements help and the lower terrace courts area would be revamped with tennis/pickleball, corridor. Wayfi nding and signage ensure visitors and neighbors are able to the ecological functioning of the park and improve the overall aesthetic. basketball, bocce, horseshoes, sand volleyball, and an expanded skate park. fi nd their way, from both the vehicular and pedestrian/bicyclist experience. Improvements to the surrounding fi elds and their support facilities Relocating the maintenance facility out of the center of the center of the park (concessions, warm up areas, staging areas) will advance the facility as a would allow for an enhanced playground and picnic area. The parking lots regional tournament destination. Executive Summary III Introduction Project Overview Other Plans and Projects The West Duluth Sports Corridor Mini-Master Plan provides direction to There are a number of other recently completed planning eff orts or eff orts guide reinvestment at Wheeler Athletic Complex, the Wade Stadium area that are currently underway that have been reviewed, analyzed and (including the surrounding fi elds, parking, and other support facilities), and referenced as a part of this planning process . These projects and plans the surrounding area that connects to the Heritage Sports Center. The intent include: of the master plan is to analyze, evaluate, and recommend improvements • Duluth Parks and Recreation Master Plan that will create a distinctive “district” feel between these major sporting • Duluth Parks and Trails Master Plan destinations in West Duluth. • The Cross City Trail Mini-Master Plan • St. Louis River Corridor Neighborhood Parks Mini-Master Plan Goals of the Project • Historic Wade Stadium Renovation A number of goals and objectives were identifi ed at the start of the process: • Lincoln Park Small Area Plan • Create a cohesive corridor from Wheeler to Wade to Heritage. • West Duluth Neighborhood Revitalization Plan • Identify strategies to make the corridor a competitive center for Duluth sports. • Resolve parking and lighting issues at Wade and Wheeler. • Identify other improvements needed at Wade and Wheeler • Identify future cross-city trail alignments and entry points. • Develop a wayfi nding strategy. • Identify stormwater solutions. • Prioritize projects for implementation. Context The Wheeler Athletic Complex and the Wade Stadium area sit in the heart of West Duluth, just north of Interstate 35 between the 40th Avenue and 27th Avenue exits along Grand Avenue, a major transportation route in the community. The area is designated as a hub in the City’s Park and Recreation Master Plan and hosts a number of tournaments and league play at the numerous softball and baseball fi elds and Wade Stadium is a major tourist destination. The skate park at Wheeler Athletic Complex 1 West Duluth Sports Corridor Mini-Master Plan Duluth Downtown Lake Superior Project Area Superior Introduction 2 Existing Conditions Existing Conditions Analysis confi guration with 60’ base paths and 300’ fences for primarily softball, and As part of this process, the existing conditions and needs were inventoried one with 90’ base paths and 290’ dimension for outfi eld fencing for youth and analyzed. This included “on the ground” site analysis, discussions with baseball. These fi elds host baseball and softball tournaments that draw staff in charge of scheduling and maintaining the facilities, and in-person and from the region and around the state, but are showing signs of deferred online input from various user groups and neighbors. maintenance. The outfi elds are also striped for youth soccer for multi-use. On the lower terrace of the park near Grand Avenue, the park includes a Context 5,000 +/- sq. ft. concrete skate park built as phase one of a planned larger In western Duluth and the area immediately surrounding the West project in 2008. Phase 2 and 3 have yet to gain funding. Four tennis courts Duluth Sports Corridor, there are several projects underway to which are in need of repair and resurfacing and there are 6 bocce ball courts that the mini-master plan must respond. Wade Stadium recently underwent need upgrades. A small, single container playground with relatively new play improvements including installation of an artifi cial turf fi eld, upgraded equipment is adjacent to the softball fi elds and maintenance road. Wade Stadium entrance (prior to entry plaza construction) lighting, and enhancements to the scoreboard and outfi eld walls. With the stadium improvements and anticipated additional use and visitorship The Wheeler Fieldhouse is a WPA structure with meeting rooms,