3.15 ParksRec 0610083.15
Parks and Recreation
This section summarizes the Thurston Highlands Master Planned Community Parks & Recreation Technical Report (R.W. Droll Landscape Architect, October 2007). The technical report provides
a comprehensive program inventory of park land and facilities within the City of Yelm; recreation services, budgets, maintenance requirements, and a determination of level of service;
a needs assessment, including current needs and demands, and projected needs and priorities; and parks and trails classifications and options. Information in the technical report updates
and enhances elements of the City of Yelm Parks & Recreation Plan (1999), and will be used by City decision makers while reviewing the Thurston Highlands Master Planned Community proposal
to determine park, recreation, and open space requirements to be concurrently developed with the project.
Affected Environment
The current inventory of public parks, recreation facilities, recreation programs and level of service provided by or in association with the City of Yelm is first described to establish
the baseline against which existing demand can be evaluated, and future demand can be projected.
City Parks. There are currently three parks – totaling 23.45 acres – in various states of use and/or improvement owned by the City of Yelm. Of this total, 10.08 acres are fully developed.
Two of these parks (Cochrane Memorial Park and Yelm City Park) have facilities that provide a range of features for mostly passive recreational use (e.g., picnic shelters and tables,
barbeque grills, trails, seating areas, performance stage, playground, water features, information kiosk, restrooms); some active recreational use (e.g., open play areas, skate court);
and other recreational opportunities (e.g., kitchen facility, vendor stalls, veterans’ memorial sites).
Figure 3.15-1. City of Yelm Existing Parks and Trails (R.W. Droll, October 2007).
The official opening of Longmire Community Park occurred in April 2008. It is predominantly an active recreation facility, with three Little League regulation-size baseball fields,
one soccer/football field, a paved parking lot with 135+ spaces, a trail system, and accent landscaping around the parking lot. Sani-cans are installed to serve the needs of park users.
Picnic areas and a trail system are planned to be phased-in over the next several years (personal communication with Tim Peterson, Public Works Director, City of Yelm Public Works Department,
November 2006 and June 2007).
The City of Yelm does not presently have a Parks and Recreation Department. Administration of park planning, park maintenance and facility improvements are performed by the Public Works
Department. The primary recreation service provider for activities taking place on City park property is the Parks Advisory Committee, a seven-member volunteer group created to advise
the Yelm City Council on matters related to City Parks.
Trails. Existing trails within the study area include Yelm-Tenino Trail, and the Yelm Prairie Line Trail project. The Yelm-Tenino Trail is approximately 14.5 miles in length. It extends
east-west between Yelm, Rainier and Tenino, and serves as a regional connector. Completed in late 2004, the trail complements a regional trails system that intersects with the 22-mile
long Chehalis-Western Trail, and provides a major non-motorized transportation link to the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater area. It includes a 10-foot wide, asphalt-paved surface for pedestrians,
bicyclists and other non-motorized vehicle uses. The Yelm trailhead originates near City Hall, and includes parking, benches and an information kiosk. Though the Yelm-Tenino Trail and
trailhead are owned and managed by Thurston County, the trailhead is maintained mostly by the City of Yelm Public Works Department (personal communication with Tim Peterson, Public Works
Director, City of Yelm Public Works Department, November 2006). The Yelm Prairie Line Trail project will ultimately be an extension of the Yelm-Tenino Trail. It is an on-going project
in a City-owned rail corridor approximately 4.5 miles long, of which the first phase (1.6 miles) is completed. This trail extends in a northeasterly direction from the Yelm-Tenino Trail
trailhead behind City Hall, through the heart of downtown, along N.P. Road SE and rail line, to its endpoint at the existing Centralia Power Canal. This trail will have the same features
(10-foot wide asphalt-paved surface and carousels) and uses (non-motorized only) as the Yelm-Tenino Trail.
Indoor Facilities. The City of Yelm does not own or operate any indoor recreation facilities at the present time. The only indoor recreational facilities in the community are within
local schools (listed in Table 3.15-1 below).
Schools. Due to a significant shortage of City recreational facilities and fields, Yelm Community Schools serves as the primary venue for Yelm area community sports organizations. Typically,
a limited number of school facility fields are available at any given time, though priority is always given to school programs. Some facilities have even greater limitations (for example,
only making available practice areas – not playing fields – for use by community sports groups). Sports organizations reserve available space with the School District, and subsequently
arrange their schedules with other local sports groups to meet their needs. Due to the limitations of school facilities, some sports organizations are required to travel outside of the
Yelm area (e.g., to Lacey and Olympia) to find available field space.
Table 3.51-1 describes existing school recreation facilities, most of which currently serve the needs of local community sports organizations.
Table 3.15-1. Yelm Community Schools – existing recreation facilities in 2006 (Yelm Community Schools, Facilities Department; and R.W. Droll, October 2007).
Name
Facilities
Fort Stevens Elementary School
Two Little League size baseball fields, one open play field (used for soccer), one dirt surface walking track, one playground with multiple play apparatus and swing sets, one full-sized
gymnasium with vinyl composition tile (VCT) flooring.
Lackamas Elementary School
One open play field (used for PE classes and soccer practice), one covered asphalt surface play area, one playground with play apparatus, one half-sized gymnasium with wood flooring
Note: one swing set to be added in 2007.
McKenna Elementary School
One playground with play apparatus, one separate swing set (to be relocated to playground), one full-sized gymnasium (no bleachers) with Mondo (soft rubber) flooring.
Note: one Little League baseball field to be added at future date.
Mill Pond Elementary School
Two fast pitch softball fields (to be shared with Ridgeline Middle School users), one playground with multiple play apparatus, one asphalt surface basketball court area with four hoops,
one full-sized gymnasium (no bleachers) with rubberized flooring.
Prairie Elementary School
One large play field (used for football and soccer), one 4 to 5-ft wide asphalt surface walking track, two fast pitch softball fields, one open play field (used for young age-group
soccer), two playgrounds (both with play apparatus and one with swings), one covered asphalt surface play area, one asphalt surface basketball court area with two hoops, one full-sized
gym with wood flooring.
Southworth Elementary School
One open play field (used for young age-group soccer), one baseball field (non-regulation size), one playground with multiple play apparatus and swing sets, one asphalt surface play
court, one covered asphalt surface play area, one full-sized gymnasium with rubberized flooring (no bleachers).
Ridgeline Middle School
One full-sized main gymnasium with wood flooring, one full-sized gymnasium (no bleachers), with Mondo flooring sharing of two fast pitch softball fields with Mill Pond Elementary School
(see above), one weight room.
Note: one soccer field, one combination football/soccer field and one running track to be added at future date.
Yelm Middle School
Two fast pitch softball fields, one open play field (used for soccer), one soccer field surrounded by an engineered surface running track, four asphalt surface basketball courts with
six hoops (at three out of four courts), one football field, one baseball field, one full-sized gymnasium with wood flooring, one weight room.
Yelm High School
One combination football/soccer stadium with bleachers and lighting, one rubber surface running track in stadium, one fast pitch softball field, one varsity baseball field, one open
play field (used for football practice), one junior varsity soccer field, one ‘events’ field (used for soccer or football and for field events such as javelin throw and shot put), six
asphalt surface tennis courts, two full-sized gymnasiums with wood flooring, one weight room.
Yelm Extension School
No recreation facilities on-site.
Community sports groups also use certain non-recreational spaces creatively to help meet their athletic needs. For example, a grassy open space inside the paved bus loop at Southworth
Elementary School is used as a practice area for soccer and t-ball, as well as a playing field for U-5 (early age group) soccer games (personal communication with Chris Hansen, Yelm
Community Schools; and with Deb Matthews, Coordinator, Prairie Soccer Club). Table 3.15-2 describes user groups, limiting factors and other uses of recreation facilities and spaces at
Yelm Community Schools.
Table 3.15-2. Yelm Community Schools – recreation facilities use by community sports groups (Yelm Community Schools, Facilities Department; and R.W. Droll, October 2007).
Facility
Community Group Uses
Limiting Factors
Specific/Other Uses
Fort Stevens Elementary School
Baseball, soccer practice, walking, indoor basketball and other activities
Availability of fields and gym space; one field not lined or irrigated.
Dirt track used for exercise; field used for soccer practice, sometimes for baseball.
Lackamas Elementary School
Soccer practice
Small site with little space available for organized sports; gym use for school only; field not lined for games or irrigated.
Open field used occasionally for soccer practice only (no games).
McKenna Elementary School
Indoor basketball and other activities
Availability of gym space; baseball field not yet built.
Mill Pond Elementary School
Soccer, softball
Availability; softball fields shared with adjacent middle school.
Bus parking lot used for special events (e.g. pit stop for Seattle-to-Portland Bike Tour).
Prairie Elementary School
Football, soccer, softball, walking/
running, basketball
Availability of fields and gym space.
Large field used for both youth football and soccer games.
Southworth Elementary School
Baseball, soccer,
t-ball
Fields not lined for games or irrigated.
Grassy area inside bus loop used for youth age soccer and t-ball; bus loop used for charity walking events.
Ridgeline Middle School
Indoor basketball and other activities
Availability of gym space and weight room; softball fields shared with adjacent elementary school; football/soccer fields and track not yet built.
Yelm Middle School
Baseball, football, soccer, softball
Availability of fields, gym space and weight room: football and baseball fields closed November to March
All fields used extensively by community groups.
Yelm High School
Football, soccer, softball, track, indoor basketball and other activities
Availability of fields, gym space and weight room; several facilities strictly for school use only or closed to community Nov to Apr.
Stadium field used for semi-pro football (South Sound Shockers) and regional events (sports jamborees); track used for charitable events.
Other Recreational Facilities. Other recreational facilities within the study area include privately-owned and operated Little League baseball fields; camp, conference and retreat centers;
golf courses; gymnastics and fitness centers; and a bowling alley. Ownership, use, and features of each of these facilities are described in the Thurston Highlands Master Planned Community
Parks & Recreation Technical Report (R.W. Droll, October 2007).
Existing Level of Service. The City of Yelm Comprehensive Plan, Parks and Open Space element (Chapter VII), establishes a level of service for neighborhood and community park and recreation
facilities of 5 acres of land per 1,000 population (Chapter VII, Section 4, Action Program). The National Recreation & Park Association (NRPA) also describes level of service standards
for parks and recreation on the basis of acres of park land per a fixed number of residents, within a specified jurisdiction or service area. These standards were developed based on
recommendations and experiences of park/recreation professionals (as opposed to systematic research), and thus have essentially remained over the years reliable, with little variation.
In general, NRPA suggests that communities should provide anywhere from 6.25 to 10.5 acres of developed park land open space for every 1,000 residents (Municipal Research & Services
Center of Washington 1994). The 2005 population for the City of Yelm and its surrounding Urban Growth Area (UGA) was 5,590 residents (4,455 within the City limits; 1,135 within the UGA
(Thurston Regional Planning Council website). At the time of this writing, the City of Yelm owned a total of 23.45 acres dedicated to parks, all of which are either developed or under
development for park use.
Using the rather broad (and more conservative) NRPA standard and assuming the minimum standards for developed park land (6.25) per 1,000 residents, and assuming all 23.45 acres as developed,
the current park/recreation land level of service within the City of Yelm and surrounding UGA population is 4.19 acres per 1,000 residents – significantly short of the minimum NRPA standards,
but closer to the City’s existing LOS standard of 5 acres/1,000 population (see Table 3.15-3).
Table 3.15-3. City of Yelm/UGA park land needs: 2005 – 2030 (Thurston Regional Planning Council and R.W. Droll, October 2007).
Year
Population
Total Acres Needed
(6.25 Acres/1,000 Residents)
Total Acres Needed
(10.5 Acres/1,000 Residents)
2005
5,590
35.0
59.0
2010
6,590
41.0
69.0
2015
7,690
48.0
81.0
2020
9,100
57.0
96.0
2025
10,330
65.0
109.0
2030
11,480
72.0
121.0
It should be noted that these standards of 6.25 acres or 10.5 acres per 1,000 residents address broad categories of park acreage, and do not usually include specific recreation facilities,
multi-jurisdictional recreation assets, private recreation service providers, or recreation participation rates. The City of Yelm may wish at any time to increase or decrease the level
of service to a higher or lower ratio. This may be done on the merits of community values and sustainable public support for recreation services and benefits offered by City parks.
Current Participation and Demand. Among Yelm community sports groups, the highest demand for recreation facilities is outdoor athletic fields (baseball, football, soccer and softball).
The recently-completed Longmire Community Park now offers three Little League-sized baseball fields and one soccer/football field for public use. Prior to the availability of these fields,
the demand for these facilities was met primarily through use of fields at local public schools and, secondarily, through use of two privately-owned baseball fields.
Indoor athletic activity (youth basketball) currently meets the needs of their program through use of Yelm Community Schools gymnasiums, and does not experience any challenges with
scheduling space for games or practices (personal communication with Beth Daniel, Olympia YMCA Downtown Branch). Adequate outdoor basketball facilities, however, are limited on school
grounds, and exist at only one City park (half court at Yelm City Park). Use of gymnasiums for basketball activity is thus dependent on whether schools are available for use by the public.
Potential Impacts During Construction
Full Build-Out Conceptual Land Use Alternatives
The proposed Master Planned Community under any of the conceptual land use alternatives would make sites ranging in size from one-half acre to 5 acres for new park and trail construction
in and around neighborhoods within the development. Depending on the timing between park construction and neighborhood development around these park and trail locations, there may or
may not be construction-related impacts to park or trail users. More than likely, it will be residents of newly-established neighborhoods that would experience impacts associated with
new park and trail construction. This would occur in the form of noise and dust generated by construction equipment. There would also likely be visual impacts typically associated with
construction at park or trail sites. These impacts would include temporary chain link perimeter fencing, plastic erosion control or tree protection fencing; construction debris; large
piles of material (such as rock, soil, and stumps); dirt on roadways; and machinery, vehicles or temporary field office facilities often associated with a construction staging area.
Phase 1 Development Concept
The proposed Regional Sports Complex, approximately 87 acres in size in the northern portion of the Master Planned Community, would be the predominant park/recreational facility to
be constructed within the Phase 1 development area, and within the project as a whole. It would, therefore, have the most significant potential for construction impacts associated with
park and recreational facilities. Similar impacts to those described above for neighborhood parks and trails would occur during construction of the Regional Sports Complex, but on a
larger scale and for a longer period of time. Construction impacts (primarily aesthetic impacts) associated with the Regional Sports Complex would be visible to passers-by traveling
on the Boulevard through Thurston Highlands, and to rural residential properties north of the site, in
addition to residents of Thurston Highlands. Depending on the timing of uses developed on the proposed public service sites adjoining the Regional Sports Complex (e.g., one or more schools),
these uses could also be exposed to the temporary construction impacts of the Regional Sports Complex.
It is anticipated that the Regional Sports Complex would be constructed in phases, rather than all at one time. The timing of each phase of construction would be dependent on a number
of factors – both within the Thurston Highland Master Planned Community, and in the community at large. Within the Highlands, increases in population stemming from phased residential
development, construction of a school (with potential needs for additional recreation facilities), and development of public services such as police and fire protection would be likely
factors in the timing of construction phases of the Regional Sports Complex. In the greater community, increased pressure on local schools for recreational needs and surges in participation
rates in community sports organizations (due to population increases and/or rising interest) also would be factors in the timing of construction phases of the Regional Sports Complex.
Phased construction activity would prolong the exposure of residents and passers-by to noise and visual impacts associated with development of this facility.
No Action Alternative
Under the No Action Alternative, the Thurston Highlands site would temporarily remain undeveloped. Therefore, no park or trail-reated construction impacts would be anticipated if this
alternative were selected.
Potential Developed-Condition Impacts
Full Build-Out Conceptual Land Use Alternatives
Using both the NRPA minimum and maximum standards of acres of park land for every 1,000 residents, Table 3.15-4 indicates park land requirements for the population projections associated
with the three conceptual land use alternatives for development of the Thurston Highlands Master Planned Community at full build-out.
Table 3.15-4. Thurston Highlands Master Planned Community park land needs – project build-out, each conceptual land use alternative (R.W. Droll, October 2007).
Thurston Highlands
Projected
Population
Total Park Acres Needed (6.25/1,000)
Total Park Acres Needed (10.5/1,000)
Preferred Alternative
12,548
78.4
131.8
Traditional Development Alternative
13,859
86.6
145.5
Urban Village Alternative
10,998
68.7
115.5
No Action Alternative
0
0
0
Under any conceptual land use alternative, the proposal includes setting aside a substantial amount of land for park and/or recreation facility development, sufficient to satisfy NRPA
standards for both the Thurston Highlands Master Planned Community and the City of Yelm. Careful planning would be required to address the needs of residents: active versus passive recreational
use of land; access to/from park site(s); aesthetics; and budgeting for maintenance, repairs and potential upgrades to any facility.
Table 3.15-5 identifies the number of active recreational facilities and associated approximate number of acres of land needed to meet levels of service for the Thurston Highlands Master
Planned Community, based on NRPA standards for facility needs in urban areas. NRPA standards have been devised as a guide, and address minimum, not maximum, goals to be achieved. Therefore,
this table should be used only as a guide in determining demands for each facility, and should be considered – for most facilities listed – the absolute minimum.
Table 3.15-5. Thurston Highlands Master Planned Community – projected active recreation facility minimum needs and recommended space requirements (R.W. Droll, October 2007).
Preferred Alternative
# of Facilities and
Acres Req’d
Traditional Development Alternative
# of Facilities and
Acres Req’d
UrbanVillage Alternative
# of Facilities and
Acres Req’d
Baseball
(1 per 5,000)
3
5.25 ac
3
5.25 ac
3
5.25 ac
Basketball
(1 per 5,000)
3
0.3 ac
3
0.3 ac
3
0.3 ac
Football
(1 per 10,000)
2
3.0 ac
2
3.0 ac
2
3.0 ac
Picnic Shelter
(1 per 2,000)
6
0.18 ac
7
0.21 ac
5
0.15 ac
Playground
(1 per 1,000)
12
1.32 ac
14
1.54 ac
11
1.21 ac
Soccer
(1 per 10,000)
2
3.4 ac
2
3.4 ac
2
3.4 ac
Softball
(1 per 5,000)
3
4.5 ac
3
4.5 ac
3
4.5 ac
Tennis
(1 per 2,000)
7
1.19 ac
7
1.19 ac
6
1.02 ac
Trail, Bike
(1 mile per 2,600)
4.8 mi.
4.7 ac
5.3 mi.
5.1 ac
4.2 mi.
4.1 ac
Trail, Walking
(1 mi. per 2,000)
6.3 mi.
3.1 ac
6.7 mi.
3.3 ac
5.5 mi.
2.8 ac
Volleyball
(1 per 5,000)
3
0.3 ac
3
0.3 ac
3
0.3 ac
Total Required:
27.25 ac
28.10 ac
26.05 ac
Fiscal Analysis. Table 3.15-6 identifies the estimated costs of park and recreation facilities, by park classification, as well as estimates of annual maintenance costs. This table
should be used only as a guide in determining the approximate costs associated with each facility.
Table 3.15-6. Capital development projections, by park classification (R.W. Droll, October 2007).
Park Classification
Cost/Acre
(in 000’s)
Estimated Annual Maintenance Cost/Acre
(in 000’s)
Mini Parks
$ 70 - $ 125
$ 6 - $ 8
Neighborhood Parks
$ 95 - $ 140
$ 6 - $ 12
Special Use Parks (e.g., Regional Sports Complex)
$ 150 - $ 180
Varies, depending on programs
Trails & Pathways
$ 20 - $ 40 per LF
Varies, depending on type of trail
Phase 1 Development Concept
Using the same NRPA standards, Table 3.15-7 indicates park land requirements for the projected population of conceptual Phase 1 development within the Master Planned Community (in 1-year
increments), through the year 2012.
Table 3.15-7. Thurston Highlands Master Planned Community park land needs, Phase 1: 2008–2012 (R.W. Droll, October 2007).
Year
Projected
Population
Total Acres Needed
(6.25 Acres/1,000 Residents)
Total Acres Needed
(10.5 Acres/1,000 Residents)
2008
0
0
0
2009
773
4.8
8.2
2010
1,546
9.7
16.2
2011
2,319
14.5
24.3
2012
3,093
19.3
32.5
Total land area to be acquired or developed by 2012, at 6.25/1,000: approximately 20 acres
Total land area to be acquired or developed by 2012, at 10.5/1,000: approximately 33 acres
No Action Alternative
Under the No Action Alternative, the Thurston Highlands site would temporarily remain undeveloped. Therefore, there would be no resident population, and no demand for parks, trails,
or recreation facilities on the site.
Mitigation Measures
Incorporated Plan Features. Each conceptual land use alternative includes a proposal for a number of mini parks (to serve specific neighborhoods), neighborhood parks (to serve several
different neighborhoods), and an 87-acre Regional Sports Complex (to serve all Thurston Highlands residents as well as the greater community).
Mini parks would be incorporated as an open space requirement of the neighborhood or subdivision that the park will serve (personal communication with Grant Beck, Community Development
Director, City of Yelm, May 2007). Most likely, the Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs) of each neighborhood development would impose measures to maintain
mini parks, as well as to minimize the impacts of park construction, upgrades or repairs on existing homes and residents within the neighborhood the park would serve.
It is anticipated that Thurston Highlands, L.L.C. would deed the neighborhood parks to the City of Yelm, for City ownership and maintenance. Mini parks would be owned and maintained
by the homeowners’ association. The Regional Sports Complex would also be deeded to the City, with a joint public/private partnership for operations. Under a new City of Yelm Parks and
Recreation Department, the City would control use of the athletic fields (i.e., be responsible for scheduling use and maintenance), parking and outdoor amenities (like landscaping).
Commercial recreation facilities (like a YMCA, batting cages, anything for-profit) would remain private enterprise (personal communication with Grant Beck, Community Development Director,
City of Yelm, May 2007).
Proposed open space not associated with specific types of parks would provide additional recreational opportunities that would partially satisfy park land requirements under the City’s
current level of service standard of 5 acres/1,000 population or NRPA standards (6.25 to 10.5 acres/1,000 population).
Wetlands, wetland buffers, and an area of mature forest habitat to be preserved in various locations within the Thurston Highlands Master Planned Community would provide additional
passive open space for specific neighborhoods, or in certain areas near the perimeter of the site. These areas would not be counted toward park and recreation land requirements to serve
the resident population of the Master Planned Community.
Applicable Regulations. The City of Yelm is currently studying alternatives for the financial support of new park construction, as well as maintenance and upgrades to existing parks
and recreation facilities. The Thurston Highlands Fiscal Analysis of Development Alternatives (Property Counselors, April 2008) provides additional information on this subject.
Other Possible Mitigation Measures. The City of Yelm intends to maintain close coordination between development approvals for lot applications within the Thurston Highlands Master Planned
Community, and the amount of park land needed (as determined by the NRPA population level of service standard).
Significant Unavoidable Adverse Impacts
No significant unavoidable adverse impacts to parks or recreational facilities are anticipated with the proposed Master Planned Community, due to the City requirement to provide park
land and recreational improvements concurrent with phased implementation of the project.