MIDDLET N COMPREHENSIVE OUTDOOR RECREATION PLAN 2020-2025 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Staff Matt Amundson, Director of Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Rebecca Price, Assistant Director for Recreation Greg Lamping, Recreation Coordinator Carrie Schneck, Office Manager Mark Wegner, Assistant Director for Field Services/City Forester Abby Attoun, Director of Planning and Community Development Mark Opitz, City Planner and Zoning Administrator Parks, Recreation & Forestry Commission David Shaw, Citizen Member John Schaffer, Citizen Member Prepared by: Erin Summers, Citizen Member This document was prepared by MSA Professional Sue Poehlman, Citizen Member Services, Inc. with assistance from City Staff and Jim Koch, Citizen Member the Parks, Recreation & Forestry Commission of Nick Adams, Citizen Member Middleton, Wisconsin. Mark Sullivan, Council Member Project No.: 04928079 ii Middleton | Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan Adoption Ordinance CONTENT CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 4: ANALYSIS OF O1 1.1 Plan Purpose 29 NEEDS AND DEMANDS 1.2 Planning Process 4.1 Quantitative 1.3 The Role of Parks, Analysis Recreation & Trails 4.2 Geographic Analysis 4.3 Qualitative Analysis 4.4 Regional & State Insights CHAPTER 2: ABOUT MIDDLETON 05 2.1 Local & Regional Context CHAPTER 5: RECOMMENDATIONS 2.2 Transportation & 41 5.1 Existing Park Circulation Facilities 2.3 Demographics 5.2 New and Expanded 2.4 Physical Character & Park Facilities Environmental 5.3 Trail Improvements Resources 5.4 Programming 2.5 Existing Land Use & Recommendations Zoning 5.5 Other Recommendations 2.6 Future Land Use Plans 2.7 City-Owned Facilities & Existing Recreation CHAPTER 6: IMPLEMENTATION Programs 6.1 Tools & Mechanisms to 2.8 School Facilities 113 Fund Implementation 2.9 Dane County Facilities 6.2 System Staffing Requirements 2.10 Regional Parks & Recreation 6.3 Existing Agreements Facilities 6.4 Plan Adoption & Amendments 6.5 Action Plan CHAPTER 3: GOALS & STRATEGIES 23 3.1 Goals & Strategies A APPENDIX A: SURVEY SUMMARY APPENDIX B: PARK & OPEN SPACE B CLASSIFICATIONS APPENDIX C: PARKS AND C RECREATION MAPS Chapter 1 | Introduction v vi Middleton | Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION Chapter 1 | Introduction 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 PLAN PURPOSE Parks, recreation and trails are important elements in the quality of life for all communities. Not only these elements CORP & provide a safe and healthy place to recreate, they also serve to beautify, protect the natural environment and influence the patterns of development in and around the community. GRANT FUNDING The City of Middleton realizes the importance and benefits its parks, open space and trail systems have on the City’s The Wisconsin Legislature created character and quality of life and is committed to providing the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship for the recreational needs of current and future residents. Program (Stewardship) in 1989. This plan intends to guide the continual improvement of Named for two of Wisconsin’s most the City’s park, recreation and trail systems to maintain its revered conservation leaders, eligibility for State and Federal park and recreation grants. Warren Knowles (Governor 1965- This plan envisions a connected system of parks, open 1971) and Gaylord Nelson (Governor spaces and trails throughout Middleton, related to the 1959-1963, U.S. Senator 1964-1981), City’s natural resources, geography and neighborhoods. the purpose of the program is to preserve valuable natural areas The plan is also intended to be a support document and and wildlife habitat, protect component of Middleton’s Comprehensive Plan, as well as water quality and fisheries, and align Middleton with local and State initiatives to promote expand opportunities for outdoor outdoor recreation. This plan along with the City’s other recreation. The conservation and long-range plans and development-related ordinances, will recreation goals of the Stewardship be used to implement and promote its parks and recreation Program are achieved through the program. acquisition of land and easements, development of recreational Specifically the plan provides: facilities, and restoration of wildlife habitat. • Information regarding demographic trends The Stewardship grant program is • An inventory of existing park and recreational facilities, the most widely used recreational • An analysis of parkland and recreational needs and grant program in the state. Eligibility demands, for the program requires that a community maintain a local • General policy direction regarding park, recreation, open space, bicycle, and pedestrian facility planning comprehensive outdoor recreation and maintenance, plan (CORP), updated every five years, and that the project for which • Recommendations for new and improving existing park, grant funding is sought is described bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and in the CORP. Many other similar • Implementation strategies. state and federal recreational grant programs have similar requirements This plan identifies conceptual locations and or have shown a tendency to favor recommendations for different types of parks, trails, natural those grant applications which areas, and recreational facilities. In nearly every case, more are supported through previous detailed planning, engineering, study, budgeting, and community planning efforts. discussions will be necessary before decisions are made to actually acquire land or construct recreational facilities. 2 Middleton | Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan 1.2 PLANNING PROCESS Recreation, bicycle, and pedestrian planning are essential components of long-range community planning in Middleton. Currently Middleton has a Comprehensive PROJECT Outdoor Recreation Plan (CORP) that was adopted in 2014. In 2020, the City contracted with MSA Professional Services, MILESTONES Inc. to assist with an update to the 2014-2019 plan. Early in the planning process Middleton facilitated an online FEBRUARY-MARCH 2020 community survey to gather citizen feedback on desired public park, trail and recreational facilities. The process also • Staff Kick-Off Working included a public involvement meeting (PIM) which was Session held virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions. This meeting • Existing Conditions Review was held to obtain input from the public and surrounding • Park Needs Review communities on desired park and recreation improvements (Refer to Appendix A for survey results and Chapter 4 for APRIL 2020 a summary of the public involvement meeting). A public • Parks, Recreation & Forestry hearing was also held prior to plan adoption. Commission (PRFC) Meeting #1 This plan was developed following the Guidelines for the Development of Local Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plans of the 2019-2023 Wisconsin State Comprehensive MAY-JUNE 2020 Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) created by the Wisconsin • Community Survey Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). The plan content • Public Open House and format have been tailored to fit the needs of Middleton. JULY-AUGUST 2020 1.3 THE ROLE OF PARKS, RECREATION & • Preliminary Park Needs TRAILS SEPTEMBER 2020 The benefits of parks go far beyond simply being spaces • PRFC Meeting #2 where people can recreate. Parks contribute to the physical • Draft Plan and mental health of individuals and provide public safety, environmental, economic and social equity benefits to our OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2020 communities. Recently, parks have come to the forefront of • Park Commission Meeting public health discussions due to COVID-19. The pandemic #3 - Plan Review & has put parks in the spotlight as more people seek them out Recommendation as natural refuges from the virus. It is important to remember • Public Review/Comment the benefits parks provide to the communities they serve, Period which include: Belonging DECEMBER 2020 Public parks are a unique amenity because they have the • Common Council Review & Plan potential to be accessible to anyone in the community, Adoption regardless of age, gender, ability, socioeconomic status, race or ethniCity. Though we often find that disparities exist in the distribution and quality of parks and recreation amenities, many parks and recreation departments across the U.S. are now rethinking how to engage and provide benefits to residents who do not currently have access to parks. If parks can be more inclusive, they have the potential to function as a nucleus of neighborhood activity, where residents can gather for social events, recreational activities, and meetings about local issues, increasing social interaction and creating an overall sense of community. Chapter 1 | Introduction 3 INTRODUCTION Community Health In addition, if a park system is designed with According to the National Recreation and Parks connections to regional destinations, it can serve to Association (NRPA), when individuals use green bring in additional visitors. This additional tourism spaces, they have fewer health issues, improved can be a significant benefit to local businesses. The blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and City’s plan will align with regional and State plans reduced stress—which leads to a lower incidence to promote outdoor recreation in the greater area. of depression and a greater ability to face problems. According to a report by the NRPA Connections titled “The Economic Impact of Parks,” “Diabetic Connecting parks and recreational facilities to individuals taking 30-minute walks in a green each other and the general population via trails space experienced lower blood glucose levels than is important to encourage