..­ .. NEIGHBORHOOD liliiii PARKS -_. REHABILITATION - PLAN: ~ 1997-2003 A NEEDS ASSESSMENT PROCESS AND CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR OMAHA'S NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS DEVELOPED BY THE CITY OF OMAHA DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION, AND PUBLIC PROPERTY AND RDG CROSE GARDNER SHUKERT NOVEMBER, 1997 PR250 TABLE OF INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND 1 NEIGHBORHOOD PARK CONTENTS REHABILITATION, 1986-96 3 AVAILABLE RESOURCES 6 THE PLANNING PROCESS 8 REHABILITATION PROGRAM AND BUDGET 13 CAPITAL SCHEDULE 14 APPENDIX 1 Roster ofProject Team APPENDIX 2 Parks Evaluated During Evaluation Process APPENDIX 3 Park Rehabilitation Program and Statements of Probable Costs APPENDIX 4 Park Evaluation Form APPENDIX 5 Park Evaluation Summary C> C>'" '" '" ~ 'E .~ '"""~ ~ ""c 2: i::'" " 2': ....)"'" ~ 2< ""'i' ..g .g "".~ ~'" ~ ~'.'-,''',- the largest number ofindividual open spaces of "l;f-'."-c_, all park categories in the city's system. The city has over 147 individual properties categorized as neighborhood parks, encompassing over 1,200 acres. These parks provide a wide varie­ ty ofrecreational facilities, including play equipment, picnic areas, ballfields, trails, basket­ ball and tennis courts, water recreation, and multi-use open space. However, the sheer number and dispersion ofthese £~cilities make § their maintenance and ongoing improvement a difficult challenge for the city's Parks, Recrea­ .. tion, and Public Property Department. In recognition ofthe need to rehabilitate the city's neighborhood parks in a systematic way, the Department ofParks, Recreation, and Pub­ lic Property established a specific funding cate­ gory for neighborhood parks within the Recre­ ation and Culture Bond funds authorized by Omaha's voters in 1986, 1992, and again in !iii 1996. Neighborhood park investment has been = guided by a series offive to six-year plans, eval­ uating neighborhood park conditions and pro­ gramming funds to those parks most in need of eighborhood parks are a critical rehabilitation. INTRODUCTION element ofthe City ofOmaha's N park and recreation system. This Neighborhood Park Rehabilitation Plan AND provides such a program to guide investments These parks provide basic recreational between 1997 and 2003. It is the result ofa BACKGROUND and open space service to citizens ofthe careful and thorough assessment ofneighbor­ city in locations near to home. In addi­ hood park rehabilitation needs. This document tion, the public space provided by examines the methodology and conclusions of neighborhood parks contributes strongly the process, and presents a seven year program to the value and livability ofsurrounding to guide strategic investments in Omaha's neighborhood parks. residential areas. In addition to their importance in providing lo­ cal services, neighborhood parks account for Neighbor1t<lOd Park Rehabilitation Plal1: 1997-2003 • 1 4 4 Neighborhood Park Projects Financed by NEIGHBORHOOD 1986 Recreation and Culture Bond Issue •~ or by the Municipal Infrastructure PARK Redevelopment Fund Ii­ ~ REHABILITATION: • BENSON LIONS • Playground Ii 1986-1996 • Walkways Ii • Ballfield improvements Ii • Landscaping ~ • BROWN ;:;,~ ~ • Playground and Fencing Ii Schroeder/Vogel Park. ~ • GIFFORD • Playground • SCHROEDER/VOGEL PARK • • Paths • Playground • • Basketball court resurfacing • KINGSWOOD • Landscaping • • Playground • Round rail fencing • • Drainage improvements • • SIGNAL HILLS • McKINLEY PARK • Playground • • Playground • MUllIldly Park. ~ • Walkways • TOMAHAWK PARK • Landscaping • Playground ~ eginning with the approval of • Walkways • MEMORIAL PARK • Retaining wall renovation • ~ the 1986 Recreation and Cul­ • Walkway improvements and rehabilitation. • Landscaping B ture bond issue, the City of • Omaha has carried out an aggressive • MILLARD HEIGHTS • TOWLPARK .. • Playground • Aeration system .. program ofneighborhood park rehabili­ • Walkways • Fountain tation that has touched all parts ofthe • Tree planting • New lagoon outflow stmcture .. community. Over the last ten years, 31 .. • MUNNELLY PARK • WALNUT GROVE .. neighborhood park and playground pro­ • Playground • Aeration system .. jects have been completed. In addition, • Picnic tables • Fountain • Round rail fencing • New lagoon outflow structure .. the city has completed rehabilitation of • Landscaping .. • Walkways many properties in its major park sys­ • YALE PARK .. tem. These larger facilities also serve as • New basketball court • NORTH OAKS • Playground .. neighborhood parks for their surround­ • Playground • Round rail fencing .. ing residential areas. • Landscaping • OAK HEIGHTS • • Playground • Nci)!.hbor/100d Park Rehauilitation Plan: 1997-2003 • 2 .. ~ •.'J •" ..• .. 'rz» • •.. Myntt ~ ..>\ ~'. Ifill Ifill i~:-~t:Wf~C - ... ..•~. IIiiit - Hill!! rnrk " Gr::j('e YOUng:i.'-~ft . ,"."~".,"" i<J~_\ IIiiit lOmahmill;,".:: * - C-.-'J9.m. --: ' A'" y_c"- ··V.i, .., _'. v U>."'1,v: 'MI... ~.k • .'........ ;"kY. ~ "', ..•. , ""iW!~ ,', Bowll~_".. ~..,.,_._ !o"I~.,_... ' ;," ..c. ""k''''i\!. ­liiill '... -,' 'Green .- ,nsun U'!"s,.. ..- \Vest J)odge Road m· ..,', M,:".~.,~~*, • .­ ".c~,·.-,·.,.+,~:iWeriWm' ~ y .­ ,wf OWI "i* .­ .f. Park ';. :f-- . *>P',k.. "; y.(' ..' " ... ' . 4 ... Dahlml'lQ Pllrk .­ "'" '.;o~'>'" _ ,_•.•.;:" .. !lili"""i\'.. T~r 'oge~" '<:Y,' KI~R';&xf""-­ "'1, .­ y. e,., .­ ;'1'r .­ .. ' --.. "--". .­ tEte :~ ~).1unneltj .­ "~"""""'<'* ~ np~k ~ W.lnutG,~, '. ~~ "'... ~ ~rdenl\ * SiRflsllnlk4' oak.' Helghb:. .' Mt Vernon . *. _.) ',,_ _ 'c' . ' lS Millal-d H~i¢1ts~ ,;--8 __ '._ Albright PlJ:rk .~·"-·······_·.···~·_····"'t····'''··''!fIft~7!l·_·"·,,· ..~.·,,,="i~""'~"~"'" ··",·i,·."'·,··,·····,,·.,"' ,,,,,.. ~,,,"""'" .. " ~,~ '1"1.'r NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS REHABILITATED, 1986-1997 NC(1.!.hh(lrh(l(ld J\rrk Rcl!ahililariIJl/ Plon: f l )IJ7-200.i ".i 4 4 Neighborhood Park Projects Financed by 4 1992 Recreation and Culture Bond Issue rJ;' ""-"" , • BEMIS PARK • New light fixtures , oj • CROWN POINT PARK , • Playground .. .. Basketball court resurfacing oj • Shelter oj .. Benches • Walkways .. .. Round rail fencing .. Dahlman Park Grace Young Park .. • DAHLMAN PARK .. • Playground .. .. Stairs and walkway rehabilitation • LAKE JAMES PARK • MOUNT VERNON GARDENS • Parking lot • Playground • Walkways .. .. Landscaping • New ballfield • Landscaping .. .. Round rail fencing .. Walkways • Portico improvements .. .. Benches and picnic tables .. New basketball court • Parking lot/roadway alignment .. Round rail fencing • Park graphics .. • DEWEYPARK .. Benches and picnic tables .. .. Retaining wall construction .. Landscaping • MYOTTPARK .. .. Repair and reroute ofwater line • Playground .. Sidewalk constntction • LEAVENWORTH PARK • Baseball field improvements .. .. New shelter .. • GRACE YOUNG PARK • Walkway • ALBRIGHT PARK (underway in 1997) .. • Playgronnd • Playground • Wnlks • MEADOW LANE PARK • Walks .. .. Basketball court resurfacing .. Landscaping • Ballfield improvements .. .. Stairs .. Basketball court resurfacing • Round rail fencing .. .. Benches and picnic tables .. Creek channelization • Parking lot .. .. Landscaping • Landscaping .. • MIAMIPARK • KEYSTONE PARK .. New basketball court • BOWLING GREEN PARK (underway in 1997) .. • Walkway system • Playground • New playground oil .. Benches .. Benches and picnic tables • Walks • Round rail fencing • Picnic area .. • Landscaping .. • Walkways • ERSKINE PARK (underway in 1997) oil • New playground constmction .. .. ~ .. .. NciJihborilOod Park Rehabilitatio" Pia,,: 1997-2003 • 4 • •~. evelopment ofa neighborhood Table 1 displays estimated available resources AVAILABLE park rehabilitation program be­ from Recreation and Culture bonds. D gins with a consideration of RESOURCES Landscape Funds available resources. This section presents the sources offunds and approximate Landscape funds are provided from a line item overall budgets available for park reha­ in the general fund budget ofthe Parks, Recre­ bilitation in Omaha. ation, and Public Property Department. lJ'" Recreation and Culture Bonds Sidewalk Funds ~ 1 The largest single funding source for neighbor­ This general fund line item provides the Public ~~> ' Works Department with resources for con­ ,,~f,." hood park rehabilitation is the city's Recreation and Culture general obligation bonds. Bond struction or rehabilitation ofsidewalks along proceeds from the 1992 and recently approved public properties. 1996 issues will provide substantial funding through 2001. Subsequent funding will be de­ Other Funding Sources pendent upon voter approval ofan additional bond issue. Bond funds for neighborhood Other funding mechanisms include: parks are allocated through five line items: • Neighborhood association contributions. As­ Gallagher Park. • Neighborhood park rehabilitation, providing for a sociations frequently contribute funds and in­ wide variety ofcapital projects in existing kind services toward the conservation ofparks parks, including new facilities and rehabilitation in their immediate areas. ---. ofexisting facilities such as ballfields, walkway reconstruction, court resurfacing, and other im­ • Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources Dis­ provements. trict. PMRNRD provides funding for drain­ ageway improvements and stabilization pro­ • Playground funds, providing a dedicated source jects. The District has also been an active offunds specifically for constructing new or partner with the city in trails development. upgrading ofplayground sites and equipment. • Private interest associations and constituen­ • Roads and Parking, similarly providing a dedi­ cies, such as