Appendix G – Recreation Facilities Plan GOVERNOR ALFRED E. SMITH/ SUNKEN MEADOW STATE PARK RECREATION FACILITIES PLAN Prepared for: New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Planning Prepared by: Cashin Associates, P.C. Engineering‐Planning‐ Construction Management 1200 Veterans Memorial Highway DECEMBER 2012 GOVERNOR ALFRED E. SMITH/ SUNKEN MEADOW STATE PARK RECREATION FACILITIES PLAN Prepared for: New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Planning Prepared by: Cashin Associates, P.C. Engineering‐Planning‐ Construction Management 1200 Veterans Memorial Highway, Hauppauge, NY 11788 (631) 348 ‐ 7600 Gregory T. Greene Director of Environmental Programs Nancy Lenz Landscape Architect, RLA Elizabeth Moskalenko Intern Landscape Architect DECEMBER 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..… Es‐i Description, Purpose, and Guiding Principles………………………………………………………………….……………………………………..…. Es‐i Methodology…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Es‐ii Summary of Needs and Trends………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Es‐ii Recommendations…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Es‐ii INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 1 New York State Master Plan Process…………………………………………………………………………….……………………………………………... 1 SMSP Vision and Goals………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……….. 2 History of the Park………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……. 2 Benefits of Recreation………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………. 5 CORP Identified Benefits……………..…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 5 Benefits for Youth……………………….………………………………………………………………………..……………………………….………. 6 Recreation Needs Assessment Methodology……………………………………………………………………………………………………….………. 7 Recreation Needs Assessment Goals and Objectives…………………………………………………………………………………………..……….. 7 RECREATIONAL NEEDS AND TRENDS……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 8 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 8 New York State Surveys……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..… 9 New York State Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan…………………………………………………………….. 9 NYS OPRHP 2004 General Public Outdoor Recreation Survey………………………………………………………………………. 12 Nationally Conducted Surveys……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 14 U.S. FWS 2006 National Surveys of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife Associated Recreation................…………….. 14 U.S. Forest Service National Survey on Recreation and the Environment ……………………………………………………. 17 Private Group and Agency Survey and Findings…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 19 National Sporting Goods Association Survey………………………………………………………………………………………………… 19 2011 Outdoor Foundation Survey………………………………………………………………………………………………………………... 21 2006 Open Space and Recreation Strategic Master Plan for Brookline, MA…………………………………………………. 29 Research Studies on the Role Ethnicity and Race Play in Recreation……………………………………………………………. 33 Current Recreational Facility and Activity Trends in the United States…………………………………………………………. 34 Park User Feedback……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 34 iDecember 2012 Governor Alfred E. Smith/ Sunken Meadow State Park Recreation Facilities Plan Table of Contents Park Management Knowledge……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 35 Summary of Trends and Needs Applicable to SMSP…………………………………………………………………………………………………... 35 SUNKEN MEADOW STATE PARK USER ANALYSIS………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 37 Sunken Meadow State Park Patron Demographics…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 37 Major Draw Communities……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 37 Demographics and their Affect on Recreation Trends and Needs…………………………………………………………………. 37 Organized User Groups……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………... 41 SMSP Usage Assessment……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 41 EXISTING AREA RECREATIONAL FACILITIES………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 42 Sunken Meadow State Park……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 42 Existing Recreation Facilities………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 43 Existing Attendant Facilities…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 49 Surrounding Facilities Assessment…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 51 Local Parks with Similar Characteristics………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 52 Resources of Local Parks………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 55 Implications for SMSP…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 58 RECREATION NEEDS IDENTIFICATION…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 59 New Usages……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 59 Facilities……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 59 Permitted Activities……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 64 High Intensity Court Activities………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 64 Low Intensity Court Activities………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 65 Expanded Uses…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 65 Area Development……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 65 Recreation Facilities…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 70 DESIGN CONSIDERATION FOR RECREATIONAL UPGRADES……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 72 Recommended Park Design Criteria. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 72 ADA Compliance and Universal Design……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 73 Stormwater Management…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 74 Trail Design………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 75 Signage………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 75 Projected Flood Levels……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 77 December 2012 Governor Alfred E. Smith/ Sunken Meadow State Park Recreation Facilities Plan Table of Contents RECREATION FACILITIES DESIGN STRATEGIES……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 78 Introduction. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 78 Parking Strategies. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 78 Concepts Behind Design Strategies………………………………………………………………………………………………….…..………. 79 Design Strategies……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………..………. 80 The Trail Network..…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..… 81 Future Area Development………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………... 84 Central Area Development………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..… 84 Field 1 Area Development………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….… 84 Field 4 Area Development……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 86 Field 5 Area Development……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 88 Major Component Phasing…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……. 89 REFERENCES……………………………….……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..… 90 ADDITIONAL RESOURCES………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……………..……………………………….. 93 APPENDIX I………………….………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………….……………………………………….. i APPENDIX II…………………..…………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………..………………………………………… viii TRAIL SYSTEM MAP………………….……………………………………………………………………………………….…………..………………………………… Back Cover December 2012 Governor Alfred E. Smith/ Sunken Meadow State Park Recreation Facilities Plan EXECUTIVE SUMMARY DESCRIPTION, PURPOSE, AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES Governor Alfred E. Smith / Sunken Meadow State Park The guiding principles for the SMSP Recreation Facilities Plan (SMSP) is located on the north shore of Long Island in the are as follows: Town of Smithtown. The state park consists of over 1,287 • ACCESSIBLE: as a state park all main areas and acres with approximately 2.5 miles of shoreline access. It access routes should be ADA compliant serves as both a recreational location for local Long Island • APPROPRIATE: facilities and activities should be residents and a recreational destination for distant users, allowed in the park only when they are particularly from New York City. The park has from 1.5 to compatible with existing amenities and 2.5 million visitors annually, with most patrons coming to geography of the park, and harmonious with picnic, walk, jog, fish, and swim. patron general interests • BENEFICIAL: the layout and facilities of the park The primary purpose of the SMSP Recreation Facilities Plan is should provide for the mind and body with to explore the potential for developing new recreation social, educational, and physical facilities that will address current user needs and trends and opportunities improve upon existing recreational uses to enhance patron • COHESIVE: the pedestrian, vehicular, and experience. bicyclist access and network of roads and trails must be safe, accessible, and The SMSP Recreation Facilities Plan includes an overall park incorporate connections to the various vision description, historical analysis, national and local destinations throughout the park recreational trends and needs review, an ADA accessibility • CONTEMPORARY: enhancement and expansion analysis for walkways and amenities, a conditions should respond to national and local trends assessment of all recreational facilities and attendant • FLEXIBLE: designated recreation facilities should facilities, and a park‐wide activity network layout.