ROGER SCHULTZ COMMUNITY PARK MASTER PLAN AUGUST 2018 FINAL DRAFT Issued 8/3/2018 This document is best viewed in two-page mode. In Adobe Acrobat, click View - Page Display - Two Page View Show Cover Page in Two Page View ROGER SCHULTZ COMMUNITY PARK MASTER PLAN Prepared by: Manhattan Parks and Recreation in partnership with National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program August 2018 [this page intentionally left blank] Acknowledgments City Commission City of Manhattan Staff Linda Morse, Mayor Eddie Eastes, CPRP, Director of Parks and Recreation Mike Dodson, Mayor Pro-tem Wyatt Thompson, PLA, ASLA, CPSI, Assistant Director – primary author Usha Reddi Chandler Nyp, Intern Park Planner – concept graphics Wynn Butler Tim Kellams, Intern Park Planner – site analysis and planning Jared McKee Lesley Frohberg, Intern Park Planner – historical research Karen McCulloh (term expired) Maddie Salerno, Community Relations Intern – graphic design Jay Guarneri, Infrastructure Analyst – GIS mapping Parks & Recreation Advisory Board National Park Service Staff Ed Klimek, Chair Brian Leaders, PLA, RTCA Project Coordinator – technical assistance Mark Bachamp, Vice-chair Rachel Oestmann, RTCA Intern – GIS mapping Darell Edie Manhattan Parks and Recreation staff led this master plan study with Curt Herrman assistance from the National Park Service. MHKPRD was awarded a Dave Schafer technical assistance grant through the National Park Service Rivers, Trails Sue Maes and Conservation Assistance Program. Brian Leaders, RLA, served as the Elaine Johannes RTCA Project Coordinator, and provided invaluable insight throughout Linda Teener (term expired) this process. Refer to the appendix for information on the RTCA program. Brian Thomason (term expired) Marcia Rozell (term expired) Leah Fliter (term expired) Community Partners Patricia Hudgins (term expired) The planning effort also benefited from numerous community partners. David Dzewaltowski (term expired) The following individuals were instrumental to the success of this plan. Bruce McMillan (term expired) Details of their specific contributions are noted in the following chapters. Tim and Angie Schultz, Schultz Real Estate Development Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Diane Barker, Mike Haddock, and Valerie Wright, Kansas Native Plant Committee Society David Colburn, Chair Lisa Julian, Janet Stark, John Wolters, and the 2016 6th grade class at Brent Chamberlain, Vice-Chair Amanda Arnold Elementary School Paul Benne Aaron Apel and Mike Goodwin, Kansas Trails Council Jonathan Eden Lauren Ritterbush, Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Joseph Edmunds Social Work, Kansas State University Brian Hardeman Katie Kingery-Page and Lee Skabelund, Department of Landscape Karen Hawes Architecture, Kansas State University Julie Hettinger Carol Blocksome, Ryan Sharp, and Kyle Wait, Department of Adam Inman Horticulture and Natural Resources, Kansas State University Seth Scobee Jason Hartman, Kansas Forest Service Greg Kramos, US Fish & Wildlife Service Arts & Humanities Advisory Board Irene (Miller) Abramowitz and Vicki (Miller) Bronfman Aaron Oleen, Chair Julie Pentz, Vice-chair Rebecca Hackemann-Bahlmann Finally, this plan would not be possible without input from hundreds of Charlene Brownson Manhattan residents who participated in this planning process. Thank Dr. Michaeline Chance-Reay you for engaging with us online, at City Hall, and at the park. Wayne Goins Karen McCulloh Sujatha Prakash Hilary Wahlen Hannah Kleopfer (term expired) [this page intentionally left blank] TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: Introduction 1 CHAPTER 2: Park History 7 CHAPTER 3: Site Assessment 13 CHAPTER 4: Public Engagement 43 CHAPTER 5: Concept Design 53 CHAPTER 6: Final Concept 69 CHAPTER 7: Implementation 85 CHAPTER 8: Management Strategy 95 CHAPTER 9: Conclusion 105 Appendices 107 [this page intentionally left blank] CHAPTER 1: Introduction This park master plan is a long-range vision for the Roger Schultz Community Park (formerly known as the Park at Lee Mill Heights). The plan responds to the site’s natural and cultural resources and community-identified priorities. This document begins with the history of the site and its acquisition by the City of Manhattan for a new public park. Subsequent chapters describe the planning process, including community engagement efforts, site inventory and analysis, and concept development. The final chapters describe the plan’s recommendations, phased implementation strategy, and funding options. Roger Schultz Community Park Master Plan Page 1 Site Context The Roger Schultz Community Park is an undeveloped 93-acre park in the southwest quadrant of Manhattan, Kansas. The parkland is owned by the City of Manhattan and was annexed in 2015. The parkland was acquired through a combination purchase and land donation. Surrounding land uses include residential on the south and east (predominantly single family detached), rangeland to the north, and undeveloped land and some residential to the west. There are three public access points: from Miller Parkway, a major collector roadway that bisects the park; Loma Ridge Drive, a local street, on the east; and Hunter Drive, a local Figure 1: The park is an oasis of tallgrass prairie and street on the north. The site is comprised of rolling woodlands within the City of Manhattan. prairie with steep slopes and deep, wooded ravines. There is approximately 165 feet of elevation change on the site. Several high points offer stunning views of the park and the Kansas River Valley in the distance. Figure 2: Looking south into the park from Miller Parkway. Neighborhood Context The park is located in Lee Mill Heights, an affluent and rapidly growing neighborhood on the west side of Manhattan. Analysis completed as part of the 2014 Manhattan Urban Area Comprehensive Plan showed that residents of this area have limited access to parks and open spaces. Anneberg Park, to the north, and Warner Park, to the east, are both more than one and a half miles away, with limited walking potential for many residents. Using existing sidewalks and trails, approximately 420 residences are within ½ mile (10 minute walk). Approximately 970 residences are within 1-mile walk or bike ride to the park. With appropriate Figure 3: Entrance to the Lee Mill Heights neighborhood. planning, an additional 135 residences directly south of the park could also gain access. Many of these residents are families with young children. Due to topography of the area, many homes lack usable back yards for play and recreation. Roger Schultz Community Park Master Plan Page 2 GE CT E RID ESTON DG LE Legend Park Boundary Parcels Streets M I L L E R P K W Y Figure 4: Park Site Map LA DERA CIR LOM A RID GE D R L I C H E N L N 1 inch = 450 feet N LOCHENSHIRE CIR W I L ON D NT C VE A HA T C H H R I I HARLAND G E G HOLDEN H E L H A K N L D A HALVERSON N P D O R I I D G N E HADDON T E HIGHLAND GROVE STONE CREST STONE CREST STONE POINTE STONE L E CUMBERLAND D S STONEDALE C G E E N S I C T O N E NEMONT S STO TO H N I E G C H R L ES A T N D H U P STO R N NE G I RO E T V D E E B G R B E L E B R O O S K T O N KATES E G LEN N Legend M IL L UTH E SO G R A T P E ARKW A Y Park Boundary Parcels Anneberg TWIN OAKS Streets A N N Park A A N N N D E G B E ER E E B R R G S ANNEBERG O PARK AT N LEE MILL IDGE FOSSILRIDGE LR HEIGHTS SSI FO S H J A OS D EP LICHEN H O HUDSON W B R R A I D M G L B E O L M E PLUM W T A L H R E A STRATFORD IDG O I M C O K O D E N T LEYDEN RI T D E Figure 5: G E W H M I T I L N E L WOODDUCK E R T A P L A I A R FAIRMAN eighborhood Map CHENSH U L LO IR K E LOBDELL D E W Neighborhood Map N P A A Y S S AN LA AIRM LESMER U F SS AC LAKONIA LUSARDI LADASA L LE O E MILL P C A H R ARN O K L S E H MOCKERNUT I O E R E G G JOSEPH N LEO ID R NE R OK E E AKBRO A V OAKBROOK PEPPERTREE O N O W R R REATH D G O RK S A K E B P A W E L A O W A S U I D T L L F F W K HEMLOCK P R S WREATHEA A TH R NDS WI K GROVE UR FIRE FO TH MILL VALLEY O R N I F R E T H SO OINT SWEETGUM O U L P R TH MIL N M N ORT I H B L O NT MILL P I R B L MH R A ERS I T I K A A A PINEWOO M N N N O L H L N TR N E K R A E WHITE OOAK S A T E A MHERST A AMHERST LER PA M MIL RKW D IL AY LER BURTON PARKWAY 1 inch = 1,000 feet N ANDERSON SCENIC WREATH AMHERST PARK AT LEE MILL HEIGHTS MILLER PARKWAY 1/2 Mile (10 minute) aprox. 420 residences Figure 6: N 1 Mile (20 minute) Park Walkability Map aprox. 970 residences Park Walkability Map 1 inch = 1,000 feet [this page intentionally left blank] CHAPTER 2: Park History This chapter of the master plan provides a brief history of the parkland.