Hudson Parks Master Plan Prepared for the Hudson Park Board June 2000 CLEVELAND Prepared for: The Hudson Parks Board Dr. J. Daniel Williams - Chair Jim Carsten Ed Fink Robert Kahrl Phil Mikita Chuck Schilling Pamela B. Smith Hudson Parks Department John Grell - Superintendent Kathy Wolking- Administrator City of Hudson John Krum - Mayor Mike Morton - City Manager Prepared by: URS, Cleveland Table of Contents Summary Summary of the Master Plan Introduction • Introduction ................................................................... 1 • The Master Plan and Process ...................................... 2 • The Vision ..................................................................... 4 • Master Planning Concepts............................................ 4 • Open Space Template .................................................. 5 The Parks The Parks................................................................................ 6 • Active Use Parks .......................................................... 8 • Mixed Use Parks ........................................................... 12 • Limited Use Parks ........................................................ 17 The Trail Network Trail Concept ........................................................................... 20 • Priority 1 Trails .............................................................. 21 • Priority 2 Trails .............................................................. 24 • Priority 3 Trails .............................................................. 27 The Guidelines Accessibility Guidelines .......................................................... 29 • ADA Requirements ...................................................... 29 • Play Area Accessibility ................................................. 29 • Accessibility for Trail Users with Disability ................... 30 Planting Material Guidelines ................................................... 32 • Village Parks and Trails................................................ 32 • Township Parks and Trails ........................................... 32 Lighting Guidelines ................................................................. 33 • Trail Lighting ................................................................. 33 • Park Lighting ................................................................ 33 Furnishings Guidelines ........................................................... 33 • Seating ......................................................................... 33 • Trash Receptacles ...................................................... 34 • Bollards ........................................................................ 34 • Decorative Fencing ...................................................... 34 • Back Stops/Dug Outs .................................................. 34 Hudson Park Board–City of Hudson Table of Contents Signage Guidelines ................................................................ 34 • Monument Signs .......................................................... 35 • Directional Signs .......................................................... 35 • Informational Signs ...................................................... 35 Trail Guidelines ....................................................................... 36 • General Considerations ............................................... 36 • Profile of a Basic Trail .................................................. 36 • Trail Surface Treatments ............................................. 37 Maintenance Guidelines ......................................................... 39 • Levels of Maintenance ................................................. 39 • Maintenance Plan ........................................................ 39 • Maintenance Tasks ...................................................... 40 Recreational Program Alternatives ......................................... 42 Volunteer Program Guidelines................................................ 44 • Assessing the Needs ................................................... 44 • Individual Volunteer Activities ........................................ 45 • Group Volunteer Activities ............................................ 45 • Adopt Programs ........................................................... 46 Security Guidelines ................................................................. 47 • Park and Trail Security .................................................. 47 • Security Responsibilities............................................... 47 • Security Program Options ............................................ 48 Funding Alternatives ................................................................ 49 • User Fees ..................................................................... 49 • Park Patron Program .................................................... 49 • Corporate Support ........................................................ 50 • Legacy Gifts .................................................................. 51 • Program Endowments.................................................. 51 • Land Acquisition Through Dedication ............................ 52 • Developer Impact Fees................................................. 53 • Grants ........................................................................... 53 • ODOT Program Resource Guide.................................. 53 Implementation Guidelines ...................................................... 58 • Park Improvements ...................................................... 58 • Park Land Acquisition ................................................... 60 • Park Trail Development................................................. 62 • City Trail Development .................................................. 64 • Implementation Guidelines - Policy ............................... 68 Hudson Park Board–City of Hudson Table of Contents Appendix Analysis Material • Sensitive Lands • Existing Data • Park Inventory / School Inventory • Comprehensive Plan Relationship • Neighboring Recreational Facilities • History • Recreational Needs Assessment Survey Hudson Park Board–City of Hudson Summary MASTER PLAN SUMMARY Introduction The “Hudson Parks Master Plan” promotes the mission of the Hudson Park Board (HPB) and seeks to create a greater sense of place and iden- tity for Hudson residents. Where the 1995 “Comprehensive Plan” envi- sions Hudson as the embodiment of rural/small town characteristics within a major metropolitan region, the “Hudson Parks Master Plan” seeks to preserve and develop this image. It combines the recreational and park facilities, the open space preserves, and the network of trails, and creates an integrated city-wide system. The Hudson parks will become a commu- nity focus and act as a guardian of the ‘quality of life’ for all residents. The goals of the “Hudson Parks Master Plan” were developed to further the Hudson Parks’ role as an integral component in the identity and image of the City of Hudson. The Master Plan seeks to create a framework to guide park use, expansion, connectivity, and image for the betterment of the community. These goals incorporate the mission of the Hudson Park Board, the policy of the “Comprehensive Plan,’ and the desire of the resi- dents, and develop a physical identity for the park system. The Process The development of the Master Plan was the result of a lengthy process. Phase One of the project was concerned with data collection, and a com- prehensive base of information allowed the plan to develop on solid footing. An important component of this was the mail and telephone survey con- ducted during the first several months. Funding for it was provided by the Hudson School District, the current recreational program provider, and the HPB. The results of the survey were compared with national averages for recreational facilities in communities similar to Hudson in size and char- acter. Data on the physical nature of the park lands was collected using the Sensitive Lands Mapping previously prepared for Hudson, data from the Hudson Land Conservancy, the Metroparks GIS, Summit County digi- tal mapping and airphotos, AMATS regional planning documents and ex- tensive field investigation. To insure a plan that looked not only to the immediate concerns and conditions, an historian investigated the history of the parks and contributed insight into the city’s development. Through- out the entire process, public participation and input was sought. Informa- tional open houses were held to solicit reactions and confirm trends. Hudson Park Board–City of Hudson Summary The Concept The Master Plan seeks to develop a cohesive open space, park and trail system. The first step in achieving this goal is to establish a template for open space based on the natural system connectivity occurring in the Hudson watersheds and the human connectivity desired between activity nodes and neighborhoods throughout the community. Within this tem- plate for open space, three concepts emerge as guiding principles of this system, park use and expansion, connectivity, and image. These areas address the detail and development of the overall system. Park Use Designation and Expansion - investigates the existing land holdings and how they should be developed and expanded in the fu- ture. In addition, the plan promotes centralization for a majority of the active recreational uses, and the decentralization of mixed-use parks and preserved open space. Each