DEPARTMENT of PARKS AND RECREATION PARKS, RECREATION AND TRAILS MASTER PLAN 2010 Last updated in November 2017 “Parks are a cherished resource for Sandpoint residents and outdoor recreation plays an important role in residents’ lives. The goals and policies in this plan seek to increase access to those existing parks, provide for more parks and create viable, multimodal connections between neighborhood parks. All participants in the planning process wanted nearby, accessible parks, recognizing the recreational, social and natural opportunities such features provide. Given the City’s prominent location on one of the region’s most beautiful lakes, goals in this plan support increased public access to the shoreline in the form of parks and trail systems, and an overall growth pattern respecting the importance of Lake Pend Oreille as a public space.” – Sandpoint Comprehensive Plan 2009 CITY OF SANDPOINT 1123 Lake Street Sandpoint, ID 83864 T 208.263.3613 F 208.263.3678 [email protected] www.cityofsandpoint.com ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Special Thanks We would like to thank the many citizens, staff and community groups who provided extensive input for the development of the Parks, Recreation and Trails Master Plan. The project was a true community effort, anticipating that this plan will meet the needs and desires of all residents of our growing city. City Staff Kim Woodruff, Parks and Recreation Director Jason Wiley, Recreation Supervisor Austin Hull, Parks Supervisor Kami Omodt, Parks and Recreation Administrative Assistant Tess Howell, Master Plan Coordinator Ketti Wehrle, Recreation Intern Jeremy Grimm, Planning Director Kody Van Dyk, Public Works Director Bruce Robertson, Enforcement Officer Mayor Gretchen Hellar City Council John Reuter, Council President Stephen Snedden Carrie Logan Marsha Oglivie Jamie Davis Justin Schuck Parks and Recreation Commission Sue Austin, Chair Wendy Nieman Colin Burnett Jim DuBuisson Ellie Engel Tom Albertson Gwen Victorson i Community Groups Idaho Conservation League Idaho Native Plant Society Kinderhaven North Idaho Bikeways Sandpoint Farmer’s Market Sandpoint Little League Sandpoint Senior Center Sandpoint Transition Initiative Supporting Partners Ashoka’s Community Greens CTA Architects Planning Team Mayor Gretchen Hellar Kim Woodruff, Parks and Recreation Director John Reuter, Council President Tess Howell, Master Plan Coordinator Kami Omodt, Administrative Assistant ii TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION A. Introduction 1 B. Functional Classifications Map 2 CHAPTER 2: PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT A. Introduction 3 B. Community Meetings 3 C. Resident Survey 4 D. Interest Group Meetings 5 E. Community Workshop 6 CHAPTER 3: SUSTAINABILITY AND ZERO WASTE A. Introduction 7 B. Storm Water 7 C. Soils 7 D. Vegetation and Community Gardens 8 E. Materials 8 F. Human Health and Well Being 9 G. Energy Independence 9 H. Urban Design and Green Building 9 I. Economic Sustainability 9 CHAPTER 4: PARK LAND NEEDS A. Introduction 10 B. Table 1 Park Inventory 11 C. Park Classifications 12 D. Level of Service Standard 12 E. Facilities Analysis 13 F. Population Density Analysis 15 G. Proximity Analysis 18 H. Park Land Needs Goals and Strategies 20 CHAPTER 5: PARK GOALS AND STRATEGIES A. Introduction 21 B. Community Parks 22 CITY BEACH – section updated last in 2017 22 COMMUNITY HALL 24 C. Neighborhood Parks 25 3rd AVENUE PIER 25 HICKORY STREET PARK 25 LAKEVIEW PARK 26 SAND CREEK LANDING 27 iii MAIN AND WASHINGTON EASEMENT 27 D. Special Use Areas 28 CITY BEACH MARINA 28 CITY HALL 28 CITY PARKING LOT 29 FARMIN PARK 29 JEFF JONES TOWN SQUARE 30 OLD 9TH GRADE CENTER 31 OUTDOOR SHOOTING RANGE 31 PINE STREET PARK 32 WAR MEMORIAL 33 WINDBAGFIELD………………………………………… PARK AND MARINA ..…………………………………..…… 34 SAND CREEK BOARDWALK 34 SAND CREEK PARK AND TRAIL 34 SPORTS COMPLEX 35 CENTENNIAL PARK 35 GREAT NORTHERN PARK 35 TRAVERS PARK 36 E. Natural Parks 37 HUMBIRD MILL PARK 37 MICKINNICK TRAIL HEAD 38 F. Recommended Parks – City Owned Land 39 CEDARS PARK 39 5TH AVENUE FROM LARCH TO CEDAR 39 ISLAND: MAIN AND BOYER 40 ISLAND: MAIN AND ELLA 40 ISLAND: MAIN AND FLORENCE 40 ISLAND: THE WHISTLE 40 ISLAND: MAIN STREET RIGHT-OF-WAY 41 GRAY WAY 41 STREET END RIGHT OF WAYS 42 Street End: Boyer 42 Street End: Ella 42 Street End: Euclid 43 CITY SEWER PLANT 43 G. Recommended Parks – Future Land Acquisition 43 LEE AND MITCHELL LAND 43 H. Recommended Special Interest Developments 44 BMX BIKE PATH 44 DOG-FRIENDLY PARKS 44 BIKE WAY AND WALKING PATH CONNECTIVITY 44 ART IN PARKS 44 CHAPTER 6: RECREATION 45 A. Introduction 45 iv B. Inventory of Programs Offered 45 C. Promotion, Marketing and Program Evaluation 47 D. Recreation Goals 48 CHAPTER 7: TRAILS 50 A. Introduction 50 B. Benefits 50 C. Trails and Pathways Defined 50 D. Existing Trails and Pathways 51 E. Recommended Trails and Pathways 53 F. Goals and Strategies 54 CHAPTER 8: IMPLEMENTATION 56 A. Introduction 56 B. Communication Plan 56 C. Staffing 56 D. Financing 56 E. City Reports 56 F. Legislation 56 G. Americans w/ Disabilities Act (ADA 56 APPENDICES Appendix A. Resident Survey 57 Appendix B. SurveyQuestions…………………………………………………………………………. Results 60 Appendix C. Survey Comment Responses 70 Appendix D. Community Meeting Posters 80 Poster from the July 2nd, 2009 80 PosterMeeting:... from………………………………………………………...………... the August 4th, 2009 Meeting 81 Appendix E. Radio Ads 82 Appendix F. Presentation Slides from Community Meetings 83 July 2nd, 2009 Community Meeting – Sustainability Presentation Slides 83 August 4th, 2009 Community Meeting – Future Park Ideas Presentation Slides 85 Appendix G. Interest Group Meeting Questions and Answers 87 Appendix H Community Workshop CTA Charrette Results 94 Appendix I. Comprehensive Plan – Recreation Chapter 96 v CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION A. Introduction In 2009, the City of Sandpoint updated its existing Comprehensive Plan, originally adopted in 1977. The Comprehensive Plan is intended to guide Sandpoint and its vicinity’s development and growth patterns for the next 20 years. As stated in the Comprehensive Plan, “participants in the comprehensive planning process indicated strong support for Sandpoint’s parks system. Parks and recreation facilities were consistently rated as top priorities; whether improvements to existing facilities, new, or expanded ones. Based on comments received, parks and recreation needs include more access to Lake Pend Oreille, more urban parks, and more viable, multimodal connections between existing and future parks.” An extensive outreach process was an integral part of the planning process to capture the preferences of Sandpoint residents. The City of Sandpoint Parks, Recreation and Trails Master Plan is a detailed expansion on the Recreation Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan, created to serve as a living, dynamic tool providing a vision for future operational and policy decisions. The planning process involved thorough public involvement in order to accurately meet the needs of the community. Parks are a cherished resource for Sandpoint residents and outdoor recreation plays an important role in residents’ lives. The goals and strategies in the Parks, Recreation and Trails Master Plan seek to increase access to those existing parks, provide for more parks, create viable, multimodal connections between neighborhoods and parks, and expand offered recreation programs. As parks and trails are maintained and upgraded and new ones are planned, all decisions will focus on sustainability. The driving force for this plan is to become zero-waste in the next 20 years. The goals and strategies defined in this document ensure that sustainability concerns are incorporated into the Parks and Recreation Department’s decision-making processes and daily activities/operations. Sustainability and zero-waste are thoroughly defined in Chapter 3. Given the City’s prominent location on one of the region’s most beautiful lakes, this plan also supports increased public access to the shoreline in the form of parks and trail systems, preserving and increasing water quality, and an overall growth pattern respecting the importance of Lake Pend Oreille as a public space. The planning area for this plan is consistent with the planning area used for the 2009 Sandpoint Comprehensive Plan update, which includes the entire City area and the Area of City Impact (ACI). A map of the City limit lines and ACI boundaries is included on the following page (page 2). 1 Figure 1. Department of Parks and Recreation logo Map 1. City boundary lines and Area of City Impact (ACI) 2 CHAPTER 2: PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT A. Introduction The Parks, Recreation and Trails Master Plan is based on an extensive public involvement process. This community input was used to assess community needs and desires and to develop goals to guide the planning effort. Many opportunities for public participation were available, including two community meetings, a resident survey, multiple interest group meetings, and a community workshop. B. Community Meetings Two public meetings were held at the Community Hall where specific recommendations and actions for improving and developing Sandpoint’s Park, Recreation, and Trails system were discussed. The meetings were advertised on local radio stations the day before and the day of each meeting. Posters were also hand delivered to local businesses and community bulletin boards/kiosks the week prior to each meeting. See Appendix D for poster details and Appendix E for radio advertisement details. Meeting #1 – July 2nd, 2009 The goal of this meeting was to introduce the goal of sustainability to the community, to find out likes and dislikes about our parks, and to determine trail needs within the community. A total of 18 people attended the meeting, which started at 6:30 pm and ran for about 90 minutes. To start the meeting, there was a brief presentation on sustainability. The presentation highlighted ways parks can become more sustainable and the environmentally friendly methods currently used in Sandpoint’s parks. To see the slides from this presentation, please see Appendix F. After the presentation the attendees broke into two groups – trails and parks. The parks group discussed wants and needs and determined top priorities for investment.