Meeting Minutes

                               

 

Meeting Date:  

 

September 19, 2006

Time:

 

7PM

Place:

 

Sheriff's Office Central District - Winter Haven

Attendees:

 

Bill Beasley, Deputy County Manager

Don Wilson, Polk County LS Director

Mike Callender, Polk County Parks Superintendent

John McKee, Senior Project Coordinator

Derek Harpe, Recreation Superintendent

Bob Wiedrich, Parks Senior Planner

Stan Hall , Parks Caretaker II

 

Subject:

 

Jan Phyl Park Neighborhood Meeting

Prepared By:

 

L. Potier-Brown

Date:

September 22, 2006

 

 

Mr. Wiedrich opened the meeting by introducing the Polk County Leisure Services team in attendance. He explained each team member’s role in the Leisure Services Division. He then introduced Ms. Potier-Brown from PBS&J.

 

Ms. Potier-Brown explained the evening’s agenda:

1.                  Present existing conditions of Jan Phyl Park through a series of photos.

2.                  Present constraints and opportunities of the Park through an aerial with graphics.

3.                  Ask for attendees to talk about the types of recreational facilities they would like in their neighborhood park.

 

Before Ms. Potier-Brown began her presentation, she asked the following questions of attendees:

1.                  How many people live in the surrounding neighborhood?

All attendees lived in adjacent neighborhoods, to the north, south or west.

2.                  How many people use the park- or your children use the park?

Most hands went up in agreement to their family using the park.

 

Ms. Potier-Brown presented the Existing Conditions photo board. She explained the purpose of each picture.  An example of explanations included:

·        This house is shown on this board because it is so visible, both to and from the park. 

·        There is an inconsistency in fencing on the park perimeter. I have shown this image as an example because the backyard fence is missing.

·        There are storage sheds located all around the ball fields. Too many. This image shows one of the many little storage sheds.

 

Ms. Potier-Brown then presented the Site Analysis - Opportunities and Constraints board.  The site analysis graphics included view arrows, water shed pathways, pedestrian circulation, internal vehicular circulation, area of concern, and concession building.  Opportunities and constraints were identified with numbered red circles as follows:

1. Existing Adjacent Residential

Constraints:

1.   Completely surround the park site.

2.   Prevent access into the park on 3 of 4 sides

3.   Light pollution from ball fields

Opportunities:

1.      Buffer views to and from the park

2.      Investigate pedestrian access

 

2. Existing Entry Drive

Constraints:

1.      330 linear feet owned by County

2.   Directly across from private residence

Opportunities:

1.      Develop interesting entry drive through a sequence of spaces

2.      Minimize residence impacts by relocating park entry

3.      Create safe pedestrian pathways/crosswalks

 

3. Existing Wooded Area

Opportunities:

1.      Develop into a park feature

2.      Buffer adjacent residents

3.      Utilize native plantings

4.      Develop a woodland walk

5.      Develop an interpretive nature trail

6.      Locate entry driveway

 

4. Existing Ball Fields

Constraints:

  1. Positioned incorrectly for daytime use
  2. Layout mixes pedestrian and vehicular usage
  3. Layout is inefficient for score keeping and equipment storage needs
  4. Drainage issues

Opportunities:

1.      Reposition fields for sun patterns

2.      Create a softball complex with internal pedestrian and external vehicular paths

3.      Relocate ball fields away from vehicular patterns

 

5. Existing Recreational Elements

Constraints:

  1. Facilities and equipment are not meeting park user needs
  2. Location of facilities/equipment constrained by safety issues

Opportunities:

1.      Reposition recreational elements

2.      Develop central complex with deliberate internal and external usage patterns

3.      Replace recreational facilities/elements based on park user preferences

 

6. Existing Concession Building

Constraints:

  1. Concession building appears dated and is inefficient
  2. Facilities layout is inefficient  to support players, crowds, and staff
  3. Concession building does not provide for equipment storage capacity
  4. Drainage issues

Opportunities:

1.      Relocate concession building as the central park element

2.      Develop central complex with deliberate internal and external  ped/vehicular movements

3.      Replace with a building capable of meeting food, storage, restroom and viewers needs

 

7. Existing Open Spaces

Constraints:

  1. Lacks canopy and vegetation
  2. Soils appear to be sandy
  3. Erosion resulting from runoff
  4. Lacking in diversity of use

Opportunities:

1.      Develop a classroom or community garden

2.      Re-introduce native plantings

3.      Redevelop into recreational usage

4.      Create diverse recreational opportunities

 

 

To encourage attendee discussion Ms. Potier-Brown asked ‘If you or your children use the park what type of recreational facilities and amenities do you want at the park?’ Neighbors responded with a list of items, documented on easel/paper, as follows :

-         Swings

-         Shuffleboard

-         Covered pavilion:

                                                                           i.            bar-b-que

                                                                         ii.            running water

                                                                        iii.            electricity

                                                                       iv.            screening

·           Plan for enough parking to accommodate soft-ball tournaments

·           Provide a skateboard park

·           Provide attractive fencing

·           Provide access into the park from the south-side

·           Add lighting:

-     along Coleman Rd.

-     to picnic areas

·        Creating a water feature with required retention area.

 

General Comments:

1.      Important to maintain vegetation – for security and appearances

2.      Provide timer’s on the ball field lights so that they turn off before 2AM.

3.      Provide on-site security staff day and night

4.      Provide buffers for the ball field loud speakers

5.      Enlist the neighborhood to keep up the park.

 

Mr. Wiedrich explained the process for developing a master plan.  He then discussed the upcoming 2nd Neighborhood Meeting (in approx. 60 days) during which several master plan concepts will be on display for public comment. While he was encouraging attendees to bring their neighbors to the next meeting, Ms. Potier-Brown handed-out comment forms with Mr. Wiedrich’s return address. Everyone in attendance took several comment forms home. They were reminded that the final date for receiving the comments was in 2 weeks: October 2, 2006.