Public Engagement

Chapter 5 Public Engagement Lastly, the statistically valid community survey Introduction that was administered as part of the Plan process provides a rich balance of broad citizen- The Manhattan Parks and Recreation Strategic based data related to the delivery of parks and Facility Improvement Plan was greatly informed recreation facilities and services in Manhattan. through input, comments, and engagement See Chapter 6: Community Survey for results and of citizens. While the focus of this Plan is to interpretations of this data. identify short, mid, and long-term indoor and outdoor athletic facilities needs, the input received Focus Groups through this process will enable MPRD to better As part of the public engagement strategy for understand from a system-wide perspective what the Plan, listening sessions with over fifteen parks and facilities users value most and what focus groups were facilitated to establish a better unmet needs exist in the community today. This understanding of opportunities, challenges, and diverse range of user input coupled with the unmet needs for parks and facilities in the City demographic summary, market review, level of of Manhattan from a diverse range of users. service analysis, parks and facilities assessment, These sessions combined with citizen input and and community survey data will enable more other engagement strategies provided insight and informed decisions impacting MPRD to be made perspective on areas of priority to be addressed by city leaders far beyond the scope of this Plan. in the community survey. Representatives from 187 different leagues, clubs, institutions, not-for- profits, community service entities, religious Citizens organizations, health and wellness providers, and arts and humanities were invited to participate Manhattan residents were encouraged to in the focus group sessions. Focus groups were participate in the Plan development process organized to group similar activities and interests through a variety of avenues. A Public Open together and facilitated to enable like-minded House was facilitated early in the process to entities to share opportunities, challenges, and afford individuals interested in learning more ideas for improvement together. The following is about the overall sequence of the Plan evolution a summary of discussions with each of the focus to learn more and express their thoughts and groups part of this Plan process: concerns related to existing facilities, unmet needs, and considerations for future parks and facilities improvements. Citizens were invited to several City Commission and Park Board sessions facilitated during the Plan process for updates and discussion. In addition to formal meetings and sessions, citizens were provided with updates, opportunities to review presentations, announcements, and other Plan-related information on the project web page hosted with the MPRD website.

136 | Parks and Recreation Strategic Facility Improvement Plan Focus groups provide a deeper understanding of opportunities, challenges, and unmet needs for parks and facilities in the Manhattan Community.

Public Engagement Process | 137 MPRD Staff MPRD Staff community in the future. maintain outdoor and indoor parks MPRD provides community programming in and recreation several City owned, maintained, and operated facilities facilities. Community House, City (Peace and provide Memorial) Auditorium, Douglass Community recreational Center, and the Roundhouse provide indoor programming to the Manhattan community. spaces for a variety of community programs. For this group the general consensus is that the The size and poor condition of each of these City provides an adequate quantity of outdoor facilities limits the type and capacity of usage recreation fields and amenities to meet needs in that can be accommodated in the spaces. the community, but the poor quality of these The majority of indoor recreation programs facilities adversely impacts the ability of MPRD offered by MPRD are accommodated in USD to maximize services to the community. The 383 school gymnasium spaces. The limited size group shares similar concerns related to the poor of elementary school gymnasiums often presents quality of indoor recreation spaces provided challenges to maximizing effective delivery of by the City to the community, but also is these programs. Usage of elementary school challenged by the limited quantity of adequate gymnasiums by the City for programming is indoor recreation space provided by the City and coordinated directly with Principals, which can available for MPRD programming. present scheduling conflicts that result in City The majority of outdoor recreation programs program times and/or locations being adjusted – offered by MPRD are accommodated at facilities reflecting poorly on MPRD. within parks owned, maintained, and operated by the City. The poor quality of many of these fields, courts, and facilities adversely impacts MPRD ability to maximize program offerings to the community and often presents scheduling challenges to serve current programs. Wet fields, poor drainage, excessive use, and limited maintenance resources result in frequent and extended programming delays, cancellations, and scheduling challenges due to field conditions. Improvements to playing field surfaces and field lighting at the most frequently utilized parks – Frank Anneberg Park, CiCo Park, and City Park would greatly enhance MPRD abilities to more adequately serve current programming needs and expand program offerings to the Manhattan

138 | Parks and Recreation Strategic Facility Improvement Plan Sports Tourism The sports tourism specifically during wet conditions. Practices and focus group expressed games for recreational leagues are accommodated enthusiasm and at facilities throughout the Manhattan park excitement for system. Manhattan-based competitive teams in Manhattan’s capacity general practice at to attract sport activities to the community facilities or open space that net a positive impact on area businesses. within the Manhattan Participation rates in competitive sports and park system, but the traveling teams have continued to grow in majority of games Manhattan and across are played outside the state of . of Manhattan due The group believes to lack of facility hotel room capacity availability. No indoor space is currently available exists for large for or training during the weekend events and winter months. The baseball and softball group tournaments to be expressed challenges with hosting recreational hosted in Manhattan. and competitive baseball or softball tournaments However several challenges to hosting events in at Manhattan park facilities due to the existing Manhattan exist – such as scheduling conflicts quality of facilities and limited maintenance staff with K-State events, conferences, and other support during events. regional activities, lack of quantity and quality of sports facilities available in Manhattan coupled / with limited access to existing facilities, and competition from other communities with higher The basketball quality facilities and amenities. and volleyball organizations Baseball/Softball providing services to the Manhattan Many different community equally organizations and expressed the most leagues provide challenging aspect of their programs is availability baseball and softball and accessibility to indoor gymnasium space programming to for practices and games. The majority of these the Manhattan non-MPRD programs are utilizing USD 383 community in gymnasium spaces, outside of School District addition to MPRD. This presents Manhattan events and MPRD programming. Several residents with a diverse range of options when volleyball teams do have limited access to K-State selecting a service provider for these activities. gymnasium facilities for practice purposes, but However, challenges exist to delivering these most games are played outside of Manhattan due services due inadequate quality of facilities- to lack of gymnasium space.

Public Engagement Process | 139 Additionally, Douglass Disc Center is the only indoor facility in The disc golf group Manhattan accessible indicated participation to citizens for drop-in in the sport has been basketball play and no growing in Manhattan indoor facilities in exist in Manhattan accessible and throughout the to citizens for drop-in volleyball play. state of Kansas in recent years. Warner Park and Fairmont Park are the official disc golf facilities within the City. CiCo Park provides an Riley County objects course (no baskets) and University Park The existing provides an unofficial practice area. Tuttle Creek relationship between State Park, north of Manhattan also provides disc Riley County and golf facilities to the region. The group would like City of Manhattan to see the existing 9-hole course at Warner Park to maximize park expanded to 18-holes and is prepared to assist resources at CiCo with fund raising and/or construction of these Park and Fairmont improvements. Permanent restroom facilities at Park to citizens have been successful in the past Warner Park are desired as well. Expanded disc and should be leveraged for future benefits as golf facilities within the community would greatly well. The County Parks and Recreation capital enhance the ability of disc golf groups to host improvement budget is limited. The group larger, more frequent tournaments. indicated an interconnected County-wide trail study would be helpful to connect communities, Football/Soccer greenways, and other destination points Football and soccer throughout the region. Additionally, the group programs are offered noted establishment of a not-for-profit land to Manhattan citizens holding entity would be beneficial as Manhattan through a variety of continues to grow and expand to acquire and/ leagues, associations or accept land donations and maintain these and clubs. This holdings until such time the County or City was presents Manhattan residents with a diverse range prepared to convert the properties into parks, of options when selecting a service provider for greenways, trails, or other publicly accessible these activities. However, challenges exist to spaces. delivering these services due to the inadequate quality of facilities – specifically during wet conditions. Practices and games for recreational leagues are accommodated at facilities throughout the Manhattan park system as well as available open space on other public and private properties.

140 | Parks and Recreation Strategic Facility Improvement Plan The Fairmont Park Manhattan High School Athletics fields are heavily used, but lack of The MHS Athletics group included storage and potable representatives from baseball, cross country, drinking water at the , basketball, soccer, and Park is a challenge. programs. The group noted the shared-use Some football facilities agreement between USD 383 and groups currently have access to K-State facilities the City of Manhattan has provided reciprocal for practices and games. Coaching and field benefits to each entity as well as residents over maintenance is typically provided by volunteers, time and continuation of this positive relationship which can be problematic. No indoor space is should be embraced and strengthened in the currently available in the community for football future to maximize resources available to the or soccer training during the winter months. public. If future improvements to convert natural turf fields to synthetic turf are pursued by the City, consideration should be given to having Baseball permanent inlaid markings for soccer and football. In general the field facilities utilized by MHS baseball at Religious Organizations Eisenhower Complex Several religious meet the baseball organizations indicated needs of the program. usage of City Park The Complex is and CiCo Park in owned and largely maintained by the City. The the past for church amount of parking available at the facility is events as well as Keats inadequate and presents several challenges during Park, a Riley County games and events. Future consideration should Park. Availability of restrooms at City Park be given to increasing the amount of parking beyond the Pavilion is a challenge and the group available at the Complex as well as converting expressed the idea of making the Aquatic Center the competition field to synthetic turf and restrooms available to Park users during events. improvements to the backstop system. No indoor Churches that have gymnasium and/or flexible space is currently available in the community for indoor recreation rooms indicated those spaces baseball training during the winter months. are typically being fully utilized during evening and weekends and do not have any capacity for additional programming in these spaces. Several churches noted their congregations would benefit greatly from additional indoor multipurpose spaces being available and accessible within the community for potlucks, meetings, recreation activities, and other church events.

Public Engagement Process | 141 Cross Country Basketball The cross country The MHS basketball program trains programs are at Warner Park, accommodated Anneberg Park, primarily through Northeast Park usage of USD 383 and others areas indoor gymnasium throughout the City facilities, although of Manhattan. Lack of permanent restrooms the gymnasium at City Auditorium is utilized at Warner Park is a challenge – specifically occasionally for summer camps and clinics. when MHS hosts meets at the Park. Future Offseason training for participants is challenging consideration should be given to constructing due to lack of available and accessible indoor permanent restrooms at Warner Park for use gymnasium space in the Manhattan community. during practices and meets. Cross country MHS basketball programs as well as youth participants train year-round and would greatly development programs would greatly benefit from benefit from having access to an indoor running additional gymnasium space availability within track. the community.

Tennis Soccer The outdoor facilities The majority of accessible to the MHS soccer practices MHS tennis program and games are at the High School, accommodated on the City Park, and CiCo synthetic turf field at Park are in poor Bishop Stadium. The condition. The poor alternative back-up condition of existing facility for MHS courts in the community coupled with the lack of soccer programs is Griffith Park. Participants at a single location with a minimum of nine courts the high school level consistently express concerns negatively impacts the ability for Manhattan to regarding poor quality of soccer fields in the host tennis summer camps and tournaments. The Manhattan community leading to availability School District is landlocked at the High School challenges ultimately resulting in inadequate with limited space for expansion of the existing youth development within the sport. Winter four courts at that location. The tennis program conditioning and training for participants is would greatly benefit from a nine court complex a major challenge due to lack of available and with access to permanent restrooms, a central accessible indoor space in the community. shaded area and adequate parking for regular practices, meets, camps, and tournaments.

142 | Parks and Recreation Strategic Facility Improvement Plan Swimming Recreation Services The MHS swimming programs typically The K-State have 40 to 50 Recreation Center participants per consists of 11 year and utilize the basketball courts, existing K-State 14 racquet ball Natatorium facility. courts, two squash The Natatorium is programmed extensively and courts, four exercise rooms, one spinning room, open swim times beyond scheduled training and one personal training room. The facility sessions are limited. The future uncertainty of the averages approximately 3,500 users per day, with Natatorium is of concern to USD 383, as there usage typically peaking at over 5,000 per day in is currently no other facility in Manhattan that January. The facility is funded through student could accommodate MHS swimming programs if and membership fees. Student fees at $120 per the K-State facility was closed and not replaced or student per semester combined with faculty and unavailable to MHS. staff memberships at $28 per month and affiliate memberships at $38 per month help fund $1.2M for operations and $1.8M to retire debt annually. The Manhattan community can utilize the K-State Recreation Center by joining the K-State Alumni Association, currently $50 per year, and paying a $56 per month membership fee. Guests can utilize the facility with a member for $5 per day. Complete membership details and eligibility requirements is accessible on the K-State Recreational Services webpage. Limited partnerships between K-State and the City exist for use of University gymnasium spaces. However, some volleyball camps and programs are allowed access to these gymnasium spaces. Ahearn Field House is a shared facility used by Kinesiology, Athletics, Training, UFM, Cross Fit, and ROTC amongst other groups. K-State recreation fields are not actively monitored and thus do receive some unprogrammed community usage. K-State does not allow personal trainers to utilize these recreation fields. There are approximately 30 different K-State Sports Clubs run by Recreation

Public Engagement Process | 143 Services. The synthetic turf field at Memorial Trail Users Stadium is used for some Club Sports, , a few outside organizations and the The organized community for some field sports. No formal trail user groups in system currently exists for community rental, Manhattan range reservation, or usage of K-State recreation fields. from bicycling groups, runners, and cross Swimming country clubs. Several run and walk events The K-State Natatorium are organized by these and other not-for-profit provides a 25-yard, 8-lane groups and held within the parks and along competition pool, 6-lane the trails in Manhattan each year. In addition warm-up pool, diving well, to organized groups, the trails in Manhattan and spectator seating. The provide citizens with a number of safe and Natatorium is used by the accessible recreational opportunities, alternative Marlins Swim Team, MHS transportation corridors, and connections between swimming programs, community destinations. The group identified UFM, and other groups several areas of the trails system in Manhattan as well as the community. that could be improved, including connectivity of Programs offered at the parks, schools, and other destination hubs within Natatorium include competitive swimming, the community through trails, improved and swim lessons, water aerobics, hydro classes, scuba expanded sidewalk system, incorporation of bike diving classes, life guard training, party rentals, lanes, and improved trail head amenities such as and other uses. The facility is rented by multiple drinking fountains, seating and shade provisions, organizations in the community throughout restrooms, and bike repair stations. Completion the entire year and available open swim times of Linear Park and continued implementation of are limited. K-State does not currently have recommendations from previous trails and bicycle swim teams and does not have plans to add this master plans was also a recommendation from the program in the future. Eventually the existing groups. Natatorium will become too costly to operate and K-State does not anticipate replacing this Private Service Providers competition pool venue when it is closed. Future development of a leisure pool, indoor and/or Representatives from outdoor, by K-State Recreation Services may be a several private sector possibility, but would likely be many years off due recreation and athletic to funding. facility and service providers participated in this focus group. Each of these private sector facility providers are serving specific existing needs within the community. These facilities range from indoor spaces for strength training, physical therapy, gymnastics, tennis, and a

144 | Parks and Recreation Strategic Facility Improvement Plan variety of small space uses. None of the private as Community House, sector providers currently offer indoor aquatics of City Auditorium, and any kind. Outdoor facilities provided within the Roundhouse. None private sector include tennis, golf, driving range, of the these facilities mini golf, batting cages, and limited flexible open are ideal for theatre space. In general private sector providers believe performances or dancing due to inadequate an underserved population of the Manhattan HVAC systems, lighting, sound systems community exists when it comes to indoor and acoustics, flooring materials, available recreation facility accessibility due to economic space, and occupancy limits. The arts and demographics and affordability of memberships. humanities groups in Manhattan would However, competition and potential displacement greatly benefit from a performing arts theatre of for-profit private sector facilities by subsidized and large multipurpose space for dancing public facilities is of concern should the City and community events that is available and decide to pursue new recreation facilities in economically accessible to these groups. the future. The program and facility Community Service Organizations offerings for a potential new public Participation in recreation center programs offered or centers should by UFM and other be strategically community-based developed to serve organizations continues the unmet needs and undeserved demographic in to grow in the the Manhattan community, not to compete with Manhattan community. UFM currently serves in existing for-profit facility providers. several capacities, including offering community recreation and education programming, acting as a liaison between K-State, Manhattan CVB, Arts and Humanities and event organizer/sponsors seeking to utilize The arts and humanities K-State facilities, limited facility offerings, and group included other community outreach roles. One major representatives from challenge currently in Manhattan for community diverse ethnic dance organizations is limited availability of accessible groups, theatre and affordable indoor meeting spaces – especially groups, visual arts, spaces with direct access to kitchen facilities and performing arts for cooking classes, community dinners, and groups. With the exception of the privately celebrations. In addition to multipurpose rooms owned Manhattan Art Center – which is limited for meetings, classes, and lessons, community to occupancy of 150, these groups With the organizations in Manhattan would greatly benefit exception of the privately owned from a large indoor multipurpose space such Manhattan Art Center – which is as a gymnasium with wood flooring that can limited to occupancy of 150, these be subdivided into separate spaces for smaller groups utilize public facilities such activities.

Public Engagement Process | 145 Steering Committee The steering committee established to provide input, review, and guidance in development of this Plan consisted of 15 individuals representing a diverse range of interests and demographics in the Manhattan community. This committee was engaged several times throughout the Plan process to provide valuable insight and informed decision making at strategic milestones in the process. The implementation priorities, recommendations, and outcomes of the Plan have been developed through consensus and support of the committee.

City Commission and Parks and Recreation Advisory Board The City Commission and Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) were afforded multiple opportunities throughout the Plan process to review information and data being researched, ask questions, and most importantly provide input and guidance to the process. Participation by Manhattan elected officials in the Plan process was an important consideration to ensure policy makers in the community fully understand research, information, and data developed to inform decisions during the Plan process.. This will hopefully pay tremendous dividends going forward as the community seeks support from city leaders to implement the Plan.

146 | Parks and Recreation Strategic Facility Improvement Plan