SIMPSONWOOD PARK GWINNETT COUNTY DEPARTMENT of COMMUNITY SERVICES, PARKS & RECREATION PROJECT ADMINISTRATION SEPTEMBER, 2016 s i m p s o n w o o d p a r k m a s t e r p l a n r e p o r t j B + a p a r k d e s i g n s t u d i o Simpsonwood Park Simpsonwood Park Master Plan Gwinnett County, Georgia Prepared For: Gwinnett County Department of Community Services Parks & Recreation Project Administration 75 Langley Drive Lawrenceville, Georgia 30245-6900 Prepared By: jB+a Park Design Studio jB+a, inc. 2625 Cumberland Parkway Suite 150, Atlanta, Georgia 30339 and Wolverton & Associates, Inc. 6745 Sugarloaf Parkway Suite100 Duluth, GA 30097 September, 2016 s i m p s o n w o o d p a r k m a s t e r p l a n r e p o r t jB+a park design studio 1 Simpsonwood Park The Simpsonwood Park Master Plan was prepared with the participation and guidance of the Master Plan Steering Committee Members and Department Staff. We appreciate their time and efforts: Simpsonwood UMC Michelle Wehrheim City of Peachtree Corners Lorrie Christopher Jay Lowe United Peachtree Corners Civic Assn. Grey Terry Neighborhood Representatives Lauren Azoulai Naomi Obialor Lorrie Backer Pat O’Leary Julie Barnash Steve Ratchford Preston Chappell Brad Reid Robert Gates Anne Sheffield Nancy Geigler David Sprinkle Rodney Ho Joyce Teek Linda Hostinsky Mark Thornell Matt Houser Mike Verna David Jones Cindy Waldo Jody Meller Brett Wylie Renee Morehouse Thank you to the Gwinnett County Recreation Authority for their support: Chairman Charlie Underwood District 1: Brad Alexander Gene Callaway District 2: Robert Gates Jack Bolton District 3: Mike Korom Steve Flynt District 4: Lois Allen Eric Meyer s i m p s o n w o o d p a r k m a s t e r p l a n r e p o r t jB+a park design studio 2 Simpsonwood Park TABLE OF CONTENTS: SECTION 1.0 PROJECT GOALS / OBJECTIVES page 4 SECTION 2.0 PROJECT UNDERSTANDING page 5 SECTION 3.0 PROJECT APPROACH page 5 SECTION 4.0 SITE INVENTORY & ANALYSIS page 10 SECTION 5.0 PROGRAM OPTIONS page 12 SECTION 6.0 PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT page 16 6.1 Concept Development page 16 6.2 Preliminary Master Plan page 19 6.3 Preliminary Master Plan Drop-in Meeting page 22 6.4 Master Plan page 23 6.5 Presentation to Recreation Authority page 25 6.6 Program Elements page 25 SECTION 7.0 GRAPHICS A. Inventory & Analaysis - Soils Analysis page 37 B. Inventory & Analaysis - Slope Analysis page 39 C. Inventory & Analaysis - Vegetation Analysis page 41 D. Inventory & Analaysis - Opportunities / Constraints page 43 E. Concept 1 page 45 F. Concept 2 page 47 G. Concept 3 page 49 H. Preliminary Master Plan (10,000 sf Playground) page 51 I. Preliminary Master Plan (35,000 sf Playground) page 53 J. Preliminary Master Plan - Public Drop-in Meeting page 55 K. Final Master Plan (August 4, 2016) page 57 SECTION 8.0 APPENDICES A. Cost Estimate page 61 B. Community Input Tabulations & Comments page 69 C. Simpsonwood Base Site Plan page 81 D. 1938 Simpsonwood Park Aerial page 85 E. 1960 Simpsonwood Park Aerial page 89 F. 1972 Simpsonwood Park Aerial page 93 G. 2014 Simpsonwood Park Aerial page 97 H. Meeting Minutes page 101 J. Hydrological Assessment Report (Supplemental Report) I. Cultural Resources Investigation Report (Supplemental Report) K. Structual Assessment Report (Supplemental Report) s i m p s o n w o o d p a r k m a s t e r p l a n r e p o r t jB+a park design studio 3 Simpsonwood Park SECTION PROJECT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES 1.0 The 2007 Gwinnett County Capital Improvement Plan includes a prototype for Open Space Parks. Open Space Parks are generally large parcels of mostly undeveloped land that embody natural, scenic and cultural values, resources and land- scapes. These parks provide passive, non pro- grammed recreation opportunites in a managed environment. In order to serve a dual purpose of open space preservation / protection, Open Space parks are typically developed with only minimal amenities needed to provide public access for low-intensity and dispersed recreation. Open Space parks are designed for a maximum of 10 to 15% imper- vious surface coverage. Where possible, Open Space Parks should be located along and / or connected to the greenway system. The typical Open Space Park can include facili- ties and features similar to those found in Passive Community Parks, including but not limited to; playgrounds, picnic areas and pavilions, nature trails, paved multi-use trails, accessible public open space such as meadow or woodland, tennis, basketball and sand volleyball courts, disk golf course, dog park, irrigated turf field for informal non-organized sport and free play. Open Space Parks are increasingly popular amongst residents as they not only protect and conserve natural areas, but also provide for some level of public usage - particularly for un- structured and self-scheduled forms of recreation such as walking, hiking, riding, or nature enjoyment. The aquisition and development of open space parks has been a key thrust of the County in recent years. This report addresses the development of park services on the recently acquired 222.733 acre Simpsonwood Property in the recently formed City of Peachtree Corners. The goals driving this master plan include the following: • Realize goals of the 2007 Parks and Recreation Capital Improvement Plan. • Integrate a variety of diverse passive recreation activities which will serve a variety of age groups and abilities. • Establish appropriate facilities within a post demolition site. • Respect the constraints imposed by the impervious surface percentage limits. s i m p s o n w o o d p a r k m a s t e r p l a n r e p o r t jB+a park design studio 4 Simpsonwood Park SECTION PROJECT UNDERSTANDING 2.0 This project will require the development of a new Open Space Park master plan for Simpson- wood Park. The recently acquired 222.733 acres is located in the City of Peachtree Corners, the largest city located within Gwinnett County. The site is bounded by Johns Bridge Circle, several residential subdivision rear yards, and the Chat- tahoochee River which abuts the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. A large portion of the park site lies within the Chattahoochee River Corridor under MRPA (Metropolitan River Protection Act) regulatory control administered by the ARC (Atlanta Regional Commission) and local review authorities. The property was formerly owned by the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church and was used as a retreat / conference center. Several buildings that were used for this purpose have been demolished but the historic chapel will be retained on site. A major Gwin- nett County Sanitary Sewer Lift Station is located within the park boundaries; access to this location will need to be maintained. In addition, the park property has two dammed ponds whose history, prior to this master planning project, was unknown. The park property currently remains open to the public with limited vehicular access into the site. While there are no structured facilities for use, there are multiple natural surface trails that wind throughout the site and are used on a daily basis by the community. This park is to be utilized as a Open Space Park. While the exact mix of park amenities will be determined by working with a Citizen Steering Committee, the park may include any of the park elements as listed in the County description for an Open Space Park SECTION PROJECT APPROACH 3.0 Using a standard Master Planning project approach toward Simpsonwood Park, the project passed through a series of design stages before a final Master Plan was approved. The following represent the milestones completed along the way. • Notice to proceed issued to jB+a, inc. • Flyers advertising public meeting distributed, public meeting sign erected. s i m p s o n w o o d p a r k m a s t e r p l a n r e p o r t jB+a park design studio 5 Simpsonwood Park • Public Input meeting, Community Interest Forms and Steering Committee Membership applications distributed. • Steering Committee Scheduling Meeting • Steering Committee Park System Tour with Consultant and County Representatives • Steering Committee Park Site Walk • Presentation of Inventory & Analysis Graphics and Park Programming Discussion • Presentation of Concept Drawings to Steering Committee • Presentaion of Preliminary Master Plan and Cost Estimate to Steering Committee • * Public Drop in Meeting (Additional Meeting requested by Steering Committee) • Master Plan Presentation w/ phasing prioritization • Presentation to Gwinnett County Recreation Authority The following provides a brief description and timeline of sequence of Meetings. Refer to Appendix H - Meeting Minutes (Page 101) for more information on each meeting. Preparation of Base Information jB+a, inc. prepared AutoCAD base information utilizing GIS files and aerial photography obtained from Gwinnett County. Community Interest Meeting The initial Public Meeting was held at the Norcross High School Theater on November 12, 2015, with a presentation of the park boundary survey, 1938, 1955 , 1972, and 2014 aerial photographs, and a description of an Open Space Park as per the County Park Classification System. The master planning process and the role of a steering committee was explained. Community Interest form surveys and steering committee applications were distributed and collected. Refer to Appendix B - Community Input Tabulations & Comments (Page 69). Scheduling Meeting The Steering Committee members met with the Consultant and Gwinnett County Staff on January 28, 2016 to schedule all meetings for the Simpsonwood Park Master Planning Process.