Land Use, Natural Resources, Parks, Trails and Recreation Inventories
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SECTION III: LAND USE, NATURAL RESOURCES, PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION INVENTORIES MAP 6. WALKER LAND USE (2003 GVMC Data)…………. MAP 7. WALKER FUTURE LAND USE PLAN (2007)…………. MAP 8. WALKER ZONING MAP (2014)…………………………. MAP 9. SOIL TEXTURE MAP (1984)……………………………. MAP 10. FEMA FLOODZONES & HYDROLOGY…………….. MAP 11. WALKER PARKS & STREETS…………….. MAP 12. WALKER NON-MOTORIZED TRAIL SYSTEM…………………………….. Table 16: REGIONAL NON-MOTORIZED FACILITIES INVENTORY………………… Table 17 - SUMMARY OF WALKER SEASONAL RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES……………………………………… Table 18 – SUMMARY OF WALKER PARK BALL DIAMOND USAGE……………… Appendix 6: WALKER PARKS DETAILED INVENTORY…………………………… Appendix 7: 2013 CITY CENTRAL PARK AND WIFC ACCESSIBILITY AUDIT… LAND USE & NATURAL RESOURCES INVENTORY Land Use Patterns The City of Walker was incorporated from Walker Township in 1962, in part to stem the annexation taking place by the City of Grand Rapids. Today the City of Walker contains some 25 square miles of land with a diverse mixture of land uses...from urban core to suburban to rural. Map 6 displays the 2003 Land Use matrix for the City of Walker Map 6. WALKER LAND USE (2003 GVMC Data) Regional transportation routes are readily accessible to Walker residents. Interstate I-96, runs through northern Walker and links the City to Detroit and the Lake Michigan shoreline. US-131 runs through the eastern edge of Walker and links the City to the rural areas of Michigan in the north and Kalamazoo in the south. Interstate I-196, which runs parallel to the southern edge of Walker, is a direct route to Holland in the southwest and on to Chicago. Several of Walker's primary roads provide routes between these freeways and many lead directly toward downtown Grand Rapids. The Walker road system consists of 38.5 miles of major city streets, and 70.1 miles of city local streets, for a total of 108.61 miles of roads, all but approximately one mile of which are paved. There are two sets of active railroads in the City. The Coopersville Marne railroad crosses diagonally through the north and northwestern portions of the City. The Coopersville Marne railroad links the Grand Rapids metropolitan area with the City of Muskegon. The second railroad (CSX and Grand Elk) runs north-south along the east side of the City, generally parallel to US-131. Map 7 shows the future land use plan for the City of Walker. The most densely developed lands are located and planned in the northeast portion of the City, south of I-96, and in the central part of the City between I-96 and Lake Michigan Drive (M-45). It is in these areas where the majority of the industries, shopping facilities, residential subdivisions, office buildings, and apartment complexes of the City are located and planned. Elsewhere in the City, future development has occurred and is planned, for the most part, along primary roads. Approximately 2,000 acres of land in Walker are still used for agriculture. Map 7. WALKER FUTURE LAND USE MAP (UPDATED 2007) Existing and proposed land uses are regulated through the Walker Code of Ordinances, part of which is Chapter 94, the Walker Zoning Ordinance. Map 8 is the 2014 Walker Zoning Map, which maps the location of 23 zoning districts, from standard Euclidean to PUD to the hybrid Form Based Code called the Standale Downtown District. Map 8. ZONING MAP (2014) Soils. Map 9 displays the matrix of Soil Texture results from the 1984 USDA / NRCS Soil Survey of Kent County, Michigan. These data describe the top three feet of the soil column only. Generally speaking, a broad, rolling, and well-drained ground, interspersed with waterways dominates the northern portion of the City. In areas where these soils are generally level, the water table tends to be high and the soils very wet. The northerly part of the City contains the southerly edge of the glacially-generated Fruit Ridge, both from soil and topography standpoints. The southerly and easterly parts of the City are heavily influenced by the Grand River and associated outwash-type soils and landforms. These consist of dry, sandy, and gravelly soils along the Grand River valley. The topography varies considerably as the land rises abruptly from the Grand River Valley and gradually levels off as it merges with the ground moraine in the north. Soils throughout these areas are interspersed with pockets of wetlands and muck. A third major landform is a broad, deep valley, which spreads across the central west portions of the City. This valley, which was formed by the action of vast quantities of water released by melting glaciers, includes alluvial soils. Such soils are subject to flooding. Based on soil conditions alone, much of Walker's landscape is well adapted to residential, commercial and industrial development. There are, however, several areas that have severe use restrictions. For example, there are numerous locations affected by poorly drained soils. Such soils can pose problems for all types of development, including the development of parks and recreation facilities. It is important to understand that the soil map is a generalization and onsite engineering and geotechnical surveys should be conducted to better understand the capabilities and limitations of specific locations. Map 9. WALKER SOIL TEXTURE MAP (1984 Kent Co. Soil Survey) Water Resources. Although all surface water runoff in the City of Walker eventually drains into the Grand River system, the City contains several feeder streams and sub- watersheds. Some of these sub-drainage areas drain through other municipalities, such as the City of Grand Rapids, before reaching the Grand River. Each of these sub- watersheds has a localized floodplain. However, only certain floodplains have been officially recognized by FEMA, as shown on Map 10. Note: As with the soils map, onsite engineering and geotechnical surveys should be conducted to verify the location of FEMA and non-FEMA floodplains and elevations. In particular, the Grand River Flood Plain is susceptible to seasonal flooding in the northeast and southern portions of Walker. According to maps prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), a number of roads in Walker would be covered with water during a 100-year flood, including the portion of North Park Street immediately west of the river, Butterworth Drive in Johnson Park, the entire length of Veteran's Memorial Drive, and portions of Maynard Drive in the southern part of the City. Over the years, the use of streams and rivers as receiving waters for industrial discharge has led to the degradation of aquatic life and water quality in the Grand Rapids metropolitan area. In recent years, however, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) reports zero outfall into the surface water in Walker. From a recreational standpoint, over 60 acres of surface water have been created by gravel mining operations in south Walker. Many of these ponds have been incorporated into the design and development of Millennium Park. Map 10. FEMA FLOODZONES AND SURFACE HYDROLOGY Climate Walker is under the climatic influence of Lake Michigan. Temperature extremes are moderate in summer and winter, although there are a few hot, humid weeks during most summers. The growing season is 160-170 days. The last freeze in spring is mid to late April; the first freeze in fall is early to mid- October. Walker receives an average of 32 inches of precipitation each year. The average low temperature in January is 16 degrees F; the average high in July is 83 degrees F. Winds are predominately from the south and southwest. November is the windiest month. Summer, however, is the time for potentially more dangerous storms, including thunderstorms and tornadoes. Walker has an average of 200 cloudy days each year. PARKS AND TRAILS INVENTORY Map 11 displays the relative location of parks and other recreational features boundaries in and near the City of Walker. From a practical standpoint, the selection of capital park improvement projects is done on a rotating basis between Walker wards. When available, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds are sometimes used for park improvements but must be carefully applied in eligible locations. Regular park maintenance is conducted based on quantifiable needs by the City of Walker Department of Public Works. The City of Walker spent approximately $170,000 to maintain the 9 city-owned parks during the 2012 fiscal year. MAP 11. WALKER PARKS & STREETS There are over 2,000 acres of park and recreation land within the Walker city limits. Some 350 acres are contained within privately owned golf courses. More than 1,660 acres make up Kent County’s Johnson Park and Millennium Park, which are regional facilities along the Grand River. Note that Walker is seeking to connect to, not duplicate, the regional-level amenities provided at Millennium Park and Johnson Park. The same can be said for the Blandford Nature Center. Kent County - Millennium Park – Walker Ward #3 • 1,500+ acres of land available for public recreation • Park includes a six-acre beach and splash pad, picnic areas, nearly 20 miles of trails, boating area and several picnic areas • One of our nation's largest urban parks touching the cities of Grand Rapids, Walker, Grandville and Wyoming. • Development of park space continues as former sand and gravel mining operations are converted into public park amenities. Kent County - Johnson Park – Walker Ward #3 • 260 acres of land available for public recreation. • Park activities and facilities include ball diamonds, biking, exercise equipment, fishing, disc golf course, hiking/walking, picnic areas, enclosed shelter house, restroom buildings, Grand River boat launches and winter sports. Blandford Nature Center – City of Grand Rapids - Walker Ward #2 • This is a publically owned and operated nature and cultural center. • Approximately 88-acres of the 143-acre facility are located within Walker, south of Richmond Street.