City of Norcross PARKS MASTER PLAN January 2011 Prepared by: Acknowledgements Acknowledgements We would like to thank all of those who contributed to the development of the Parks Master Plan. This document is a product of the vision and dedication of Norcross staff, officials, and the project steering committee. We also extend our thanks to the many residents and organizations in Norcross who provided the valuable insights and opinions and whose feedback have made the Plan a document that embodies the core values and beliefs of the Norcross community. City Council Bucky Johnson, Mayor Ross Kaul, Mayor Pro Tem Charlie Riehm, Council Member David McLeroy, Council Member Craig Newton, Council Member Andrew Hixson, Council Member Steering Committee Arlene Beckles Andrew Hixson Ken Hixson Chris McCrary Brian Mock Jim Scarbrough Connie Weathers, Chair Project Consultants Southeastern Engineering, Inc. - Sean J. Murphy, RLA, ISA, LEED AP Monteith Brown Planning Consultants - Jean Monteith, BES, FCIP, RPP - Steve Langlois, BES, MCIP, RPP City of Norcross – Parks Master Plan (DRAFT) Page | i January 2011 Table of Contents Table of Contents Section Page Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................... iv Section 1: Introduction ....................................................................................................................1 1.1 Master Plan Purpose and Scope ................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Planning Process ........................................................................................................................ 2 1.3 Definitions ................................................................................................................................. 3 1.4 Report Organization .................................................................................................................. 4 Section 2: Community Profile & Context ..........................................................................................5 2.1 History of Norcross .................................................................................................................... 5 2.2 Related Planning Initiatives and Studies ................................................................................... 7 2.3 Responsibility for Parks, Green Space, and Trails ..................................................................... 7 2.4 Demographic Analysis ............................................................................................................... 8 2.5 Trends Affecting Parks and Open Space.................................................................................. 16 Section 3: Public Input ................................................................................................................... 24 3.1 Public Participation Process .................................................................................................... 24 3.2 Community Survey .................................................................................................................. 24 3.3 Youth Survey ........................................................................................................................... 34 3.4 Focus Groups & Key Informant Interviews.............................................................................. 40 3.5 Public Meetings ....................................................................................................................... 41 Section 4: A ‘Vision’ for Parks, Green Space, and Trails ................................................................... 42 4.1 Key Issues and Opportunities .................................................................................................. 42 4.2 Proposed Vision ....................................................................................................................... 44 Section 5: Inventory ...................................................................................................................... 47 5.1 Parks, Green Space, and Greenway Inventory ........................................................................ 47 5.2 Program Inventory .................................................................................................................. 60 Section 6: Park and Outdoor Facility Analysis ................................................................................. 61 6.1 Outdoor Facility Standards & Needs ....................................................................................... 61 6.2 Assessment of Existing Parks ................................................................................................... 72 6.3 Park Design & Programming Considerations .......................................................................... 86 6.4 Park System Concept ............................................................................................................... 88 6.5 Future Parkland Requirements ............................................................................................... 92 City of Norcross – Parks Master Plan (DRAFT) Page | ii January 2011 Table of Contents Section Page Section 7: Open Space & Natural Area Analysis .............................................................................. 98 7.1 The ‘Greening’ of Norcross ...................................................................................................... 98 7.2 Open Space & Natural Area Land Conservation.................................................................... 100 7.3 Growth Management Policies ............................................................................................... 102 7.4 Assessment of Existing City Owned Green Space for Park Usage ......................................... 102 7.5 Natural Features Review ....................................................................................................... 106 Section 8: Trail/Greenway Analysis .............................................................................................. 111 8.1 The Need for a Trails and Greenway System ........................................................................ 111 8.2 Trails and Greenway Context ................................................................................................ 112 8.3 Planning for Trails and Greenways ........................................................................................ 113 8.4 Connectivity Strategy ............................................................................................................ 116 Section 9: Implementation........................................................................................................... 123 9.1 Priority Recommendations .................................................................................................... 123 9.2 Funding Opportunities .......................................................................................................... 125 9.3 Monitoring and Updating the Plan ........................................................................................ 126 APPENDICES Appendix A: Community Survey Results Appendix B: Youth Survey Results Appendix C: Key Informant Interviews – Listing Appendix D: Public Meeting Notes Appendix E: Parcel Evaluation Sheets (under separate cover) City of Norcross – Parks Master Plan (DRAFT) Page | iii January 2011 Executive Summary Executive Summary In keeping with the City’s progressive approach to creating a livable community, Norcross embarked on the preparation of a Parks Master Plan to provide guidance for strategic phasing and spending that will address deficiencies and identify the key recreational needs as expressed by the residents. The prioritization of projects within the Master Plan allows for selective phasing and spending and helps to focus attention on key issues, rather than attempting to do all things for all people. The overwhelming opinion of the community is that the City has done an exceptional job with the recent redevelopments of Thrasher Park, Lillian Webb Park, and the downtown. Equally overwhelming was the identification of a significant shortfall in recreational opportunities southeast of Buford Highway. With significant population increases forecasted for the next twenty years, it is important that key issues and priorities be established and, where possible, addressed before opportunity for land acquisition or greenway development is no long possible and/or economical. The following is a summary of the five highest priorities identified in this Parks Master Plan, in order of priority for resource allocation and implementation. #1 – PARKLAND IN THE SOUTHEAST The focus group sessions, surveys, and inventory assessment all concluded that the number one priority was the need to address the absence of recreational facilities and/or space southeast of Buford Highway. While the existence of City-owned land on Mitchell Road is ideally located for meeting the geographic requirements of open space needs of residents in the area, there is a possibility that costly remedial measures may not justify the development of this site as an active park. If this is the case, the number one priority needs to be the securing of suitable land for active recreation opportunities, including soccer fields, play equipment, spray pad, picnic facilities, and trails for safe access