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895 E Maintenance & Needs Assessment Table 6. City of Yelm parks - maintenance requirements • Activity Frequency _ Aerator Maintenance twice per year Clean Tables and Grilis once per week Garbage Removal daily GraffitiNandalism Repair as necessary Litter Pick-Up (including in ponds) 2-3 days per week Mowing (seasonal) daily Mulch replacement (including mixing and hauling) once per year Parking Lot Maintenance weekly Pruning (seasonal) monthly Trail Maintenance and Repair monthly, or as necessary Weeding, including wet cells (seasonal) weekly Activity Frequency Building Maintenance monthly, or as necessary Clean Tables and Grills once per week Garbage Removal daily GraffitiNandalism Repair as necessary Litter Pick-Up 2-3 days per week Mowing (seasonal) daily Parking ~ot Maintenance monthly Playground Equipment Maintenance & Check daily, with written report Pressure Washing (concrete surfaces) monthly, or as necessary Pruning (seasonal) annually Restrooms Maintenance twice daily Draft Yelm Parks & Recreation Plan - May 2008 28 Weeding bi-monthly • Activity ` Frequency Garbage Removal daily GraffitiNandalism Repair as necessary Irrigation Maintenance and Repair weekly Kiosk Maintenance weekly Litter Pick-Up as necessary Mowing (seasonal) weekly Parking Lot Maintenance monthly • ~ Activity Frequency (estirnated) Aeration (sports fields only) every 6 weeks Fertilization (sports fields only) every 6 weeks Garbage Removai daily GraffitiNandalism Repair as necessary Irrigation Maintenance and Repair weekly Litter Pick-Up daily Mowing (seasonal) 2-3 days per week, peak season Mulch replacement (including mixing and hauling) once per year Parking Lot Maintenance weekly Pruning (seasonal) twice per year Top Dressing (sports field only) every 6 weeks Turf Management (seasonal) 2-3 days per week, peak season Weeding bi-monthly Note: As Longmire Community Park was not yet open at the time this informatron was obtained, maintenance requirements for this park were estimated. Source: City of Yelm Publrc Works Department. Draft Yelm Parks & Recreation Plan - May 2008 29 Level of Service Level of service standards (LOS) for parks and recreation is generally described by the National Recreation & Parks Association (NRPA) on the basis of acres of parkland 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 parkland open space for every 1,000 residents.1z The 2007 population for the City of Yelm and its surrounding Urban Growth Area (UGA) was 6,035 residents (4,845 within the City limits; 1,190 within the UGA).13 At the time of this writing, the City of Yelm owned a total of 23.45 acres dedicated to parks, all of those acres developed for park use with plans for the addition of amenities in the future such as bathrooms, play equipment, and park furnishings. In addition, there are 3.29 miles of paved trail in Yelm and its UGA (upon completion of the funded Yelm Prairie Line Trail within Yelm city limits). The portion of trail from Rhoton Rd. to the Yelm City limit line will share right-of-way (ROWj with the rail line. Acreage in Table 7. below includes the entire ROW acreage where the trail is not planning to share ROW with rail. Where it is expected to share ROW with rail, only the portion actually used for trail (10 ft. trail plus 2 ft. on each side of trail) is included in the acreage figures. Using the rather broad NRPA standard and assuming the minimum standards for developed parkland (6.25) per 1,000 residents, the current level of service for the City of Yelm and surrounding UGA population is 9.4 acres per 1,000 including parkland and trail corridor open space (see Table 7, below). Table 7. City of Yelm existing level of service - in acres per 1,000 population. . Parkland (all developed) 23.45 3.9 Acres/1,000 Residents Trail 33 (3.29 miles) 5.5 acres of trail/open space/1000 Total Parkland and Trail 56.45 acres 9.4 acres/1,000 Residents ~Z Municipal Research & Services Center of Washington. 1994. Level of Service Standards - Measures for Maintaining the Quality of Community Life. Report No. 31. 13 Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) Population & Employment Forecast Work Program, 2004-2005, 2007 Draft Yelm Parks & Recreation Plan - May 2008 30 NEEDS ASSESSMENT ~ 3 + ~ ~ aa € rs a; E >I: ~ 889~i~~ €€t~¢ ~ ~~~~~~~a~~3 + ~ d,e,~ Meeting public needs for parks, trails and recreation ~E~ ~~`~~~~~~~~~~f,; 3~ services is largely influenced by community values, 5' availability of funds, priorities, and administrative capacity for maintaining healthy parks and recreation ~ facilities. The identification, measurement and g ° ~ ~~r ~ ~ ~.j a' ~ projection of recreation demand are the key factors for ~ ~ p~~, ~~~a establishing recreation policy and determining ~ ° , ~ ~~QF~ allocations of funding for acquisition of needed park land ~,e~~~ ' i~~~g ~ ~,~zz<; and development of recreation facilities. .s~: ~e°'' . . . . ~a~ Longmire Community Park Statistical Sources In late 1998/early 1999, a community Parks and Recreation survey was conducted in Yelm and the surrounding area, followed by public meetings in late winter and spring of 1999, to help identify demand and needs for additional public recreation facilities in the City. Progress has been made since 1999 to address public concerns for needed recreational facilities. Walking trails have been added at Cochrane Memorial Park, and four new athletic fields completed at Longmire Community Park. More recent public comments received by the City for the Environmental Impact Statement Scope of Work for the Thurston Highlands Master Planned Community (May 2006) highlight specific interests in or concems about potential parks and recreation facilities/open space that would be an asset to the greater Yelm eommunity. These include: • Desire to see protection of native plant communities, tree groves and vegetative buffers, • Development of ball fields, swimming pool(s), community center, parks, bike/pedestrian trails, water features and gardens. City of Yelm Parks Survey 2008 Parks surveys were distributed in City water bills in March 2008. A strong response by citizens identified the following summary preferences. (Complete results of the survey are induded in Appendiz C.) Results show a strong preference for: • Setting aside or acquiring land for a special use park • Building connected trails, bicycle routes and sidewalks • Placing restrooms in all parks Response to preferences specific to: • Indoor facilities showed a very strong desire for a swimming pool, followed by a youth center, and then basketball and aerobic facilities Draft Yelm Parks & Recreatron Plan - May 2008 3~ • Outdoor facilities responses showed strong support for walking trails/bicycte paths/sidewalk connections, foltowed by support for more playgrounds, and then picnic areas A question about athletic field needs showed a preference for baseball fields, followed by soccer fields and then football, and outdoor basketball Draft Yelm Parks & Recreation Plan - May 2008 32 Current Participation and Demand Park Land - Inciuding Trails The current developed and useable parkland available for recreation activities in the City of Yelm is 23.45 acres in three separate park locations, which amounts to 3.9 acres per 1,000 population level of service (based on the City of Yelm and UGA 2007 population of 6,035). With trail area added this jumps to 9.4 acres/1000 population (56.45 total acres funded or already developed). The combination of parks and trails means the existing level is 3.15 acres/1000 residents more than National Recreational Park Association minimum standards (6.25 acres/1000 population). It should be noted that this minimum standard of 6.25 acres per 1,000 residents addresses broad categories of park acreage, and does not usually specify recreation facilities, multi-jurisdictional recreation assets - such as at schools, private recreation service providers, or recreation participation rates. An example of variable specific community needs is illustrated in Table 8 and Table 12. These show that due to the volume of participation in team sports in the Yelm area - even with four new facilities completed in 2008 - there are additional sport facility needs. Active Facilities Among Yelm community sports groups the highest demand for recreation facilities is outdoor athletic fields (baseball, football, soccer and softball}. Longmire Community Park (completed March 2008) adds three Little League-sized baseball fields and one soccer/football field for public use. Currently, the demand for these facilities is met primarily through use of fields at local public schools and, secondarily, through use of two privately owned fields (for baseball). Indoor athletic activity (youth basketball) currently meets the needs of the program through use of Yelm Community Schools qymnasiums, and does not experience any challenges with scheduling space for games or practices.' 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 open for use by the public. Frequency or limitation of use of these facilities by community sports groups is influenced by a number of important factors: • Number of participants in each community sports organization • Number and size of facilities 14 Personal communication with Beth Daniel, Olympia YMCA Downtown Branch, Coardinator of YMCA Basketball League, January 3, 2007. Draft Yelm Parks & Recreation Plan - May 2008 33 • Condition and/or availability of facilities • Level of use of recreation facilities by a particular school/private entity (i.e. priority user) • Game/practice schedule and length of season for each activity • Convenience of location. The following is a list of Yelm community youth league sports groups participation levels, and estimated facilities required to meet recreational needs. Draft Yelm Parks & Recreation Plan - May 2008 34 Table 8. City of Yelm - community youth league sports groups participation levels and needs (2006). . . . • . . Baseball 6 yrs-14 yrs 700-80015 Mar-Aug 4 min. Basketbali 6 yrs-15 yrs 100-110 Dec-Feb 2-3 Football 6 yrs-14 yrs 200+/-16 Aug-Oct 3-4 Soccer 4 yrs-19 yrs 600+/- Apr-Oct 5(can have two half fields) Softball 8 yrs-16 yrs 75+l-~~ Mar-Jun 2 Source: Yelm Public Works Department ~ Common challenges among groups participating in outdoor recreation activities on athletic fields accentuate the demand for more of these types of facilities. These challenges include: • Overlapping of common use of fields between different sports groups (e.g., soccer and football overlapping Aug-Oct, or baseball and softball competing for the same fields Mar-Jun) • Overlapping of different leagues within a certain sports group (e.g., Little League and Cal Ripken League competing for use of the same baseball fields) • Condition of facilities reducing effectiveness of play (e.g., tearing up of field surface by football teams, subsequently unsuitable for soccer games or other football games) • Lack of availability of facilities for team practices once season begins (i.e., fields occupied more often for games) • Individual select teams (not part of any league) competing for game and practice space • Inability of specific sports groups to host major events such as tournaments (lost opportunity for exposure, fundraising) • Certain school fields closed to community groups and/or field use taken up by school team schedules for practices and games (i.e., community groups' schedules squeezed by priority users). Passive Facilities As indicated in the survey results, as well as by frequent inquiries made at the Yelm Chamber of Commerce and with the Yelm Parks Advisory Board, a strong interest appears to exist for both passive and indoor recreation facilities. Following is a list of these facilities: • Playgrounds (two playgrounds currently exists in City parks - at Yelm City Park and at F ~ Longmire Community Park) ' > .~z~ ' ~ ' ~ y. ~ , ~ §9 , ~ . _ ~ . ~E, Cochrane Memona! Park Personal communication with Julie Shipe, Nisqually Basin Little League, v ice rresioenu ~ reasurer, ~anuary ~uv i. Participation has tended to fluctuate over the last several years, as participants move from league to league, which may take them to other parts of the County. 16 Personal communication with Michael Westfall, Black Hills Football League, Coordinator, November 22, 2006, and Skeeter Cordova, Thurston County Youth Football League, Coordinator, January 3, 2007. Personal communication with Janet Creeder, Thurston County Fast Pitch Association, Coordinator, January 3, 2007, and Janine Thompson, South Puget Sound youth Softball Association, Coordinatar, January 3, 2007. Draft Yelm Parks & Recreation Plan - May 2008 35 • Trails (found at one park - Cochrane Memorial Park - and at the trailhead of the Yelm-Tenino Trail which will be expanded to include the Yelm Prairie Line trail - 1.1 mile extension from SR 510 to Canal Rd. using funds appropriated by the State in 2407 (provisions for easily accessible connections with the future Yelm Loop non-motorized facilities with trails to encourage use - will be important); perimeter trail planned for Longmire Community Park) • Swimming pool (closest facility is at the YMCA Briggs Community Branch, approximately 15 miles to the west) • Community center to accommodate all age groups (closest facility is located in Olympia, approximately 20 miles to the west). Projected Needs and Priorities Park Land - City of Yelm and Surrounding Urban Growth Area (UGA) As described previously, National Recreation & Park Association standards broadly recommend at least 6.25 acres of parkland for every 1,000 residents. With developed parks and funded or developed trail corridor area included, Yelm is currently exceeding its acreage/1000 residents by 3.2/1000 residents. Using the 2007 population (6035) for the City of Yelm and its surrounding UGA, Yelm currently has 9.4 acres/1004 residents (56.45 acres developed or for which funding has been secured). The following table indicates parkland requirements for the present population (2007 level) and for projected populations for the City (including master planned community area) and its Urban Growth Area. Table 9. shows the amount of park land to be secured for development within the time frames indicated. Acres required or developed for each timeframe beyond 2007 assume the City has achieved its acquisition/development objective for the previous time period using 6.25 acres/1000 population. Table 9. City of YeIm/UGA park land acquisition requirements (park only): 2007-2030. . . . ~ . . . ~ ~ . • 20~7 6,035 56 38 0 2010 8,400 56 50 0 2015 12,200 56 76 20(by 2015) 2020 16,600 76 104 28 (by 2020} 2025 20,000 104 125 21 (by 2025) 2030 24,100 125 151 26 (by 2030) . . . • ~ . • . . ~ ~ . . Source: Thurston Regiona! PJanning Counci! (TRPC) Populatron & Employment Forecast Work Program, 2004-2005. 2007 Draft Yelm Parks & Recreation Plan - May 2008 36 Park Land - Master Planned Community Using the broad National Recreation & Park Association minimum standards of 6.25 acres of parkland for every 1,000 residents, the following table indicates parkland requirements based on the master planned community population projections through the year 2030. These added facilities would become part of the Yelm park and recreation network available to all. Table 10. Thurston Highlands Master Planned Community park land needs . . 2008 0 0 2009 773 4.8 2010 1,900 11.8 2015 4, 460 27.8 2020 6, 980 43.6 2025 8, 950 55.93 2030 10,880 68 • • ' ~ • ~ 1 1 • Source: Thurston Regional Planning Councrl (TRPC) Population & Employment Forecast Work Program, 2004-2005, 2007 A substantial amount of land would be set aside for park and/or recreation facility development and would satisfy NRPA standards for both the master planned community area and the City of Yelm. Careful planning would be required to address resident needs; 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. All of this is subject to the approval and development of the master planned community. Facilities National Recreation and Park standards for recreation activities/facilities have been devised as a guide and address minimum - not maximum - goals to be achieved. Standards should be carefully interpreted according to the area(s) in which they are applied and to specific demands of the community. When determining current needs for athletic facilities in urban areas, for example, NRPA standards recommend a minimum of one Little League-sized baseball field per 5,000 residents. The same holds true for a softball field.18 Under current (2007) population levels in the City of Yelm and its surrounding Urban Growth Area, this translates into one to two baseball fields to serve area participants. However, an assessment of the current needs of 700-800 youth baseball participants in two different leagues competing for both game times and practices indicates that this number of fields would definitely not be sufficient to meet the current demand. The same would hold true for soccer fields, for which the NRPA standard of one field per 10,000 population would not be adequate to serve 600+ members spanning 4 years to 19 years in age, over three different seasons. Demand for softball fields is different, due to a much smaller number of participants in the Yelm area. However, one or two field(s) is likely not sufficient, 18 Lancaster, R.A. (Ed.). (1990). Recreation, Park and Open Space Standards and Guidelines. National Recreation and Pazk Association. Ashburn, VA. Draft Yelm Parks & Recreation Plan - May 2008 37 when taking into account future population projections of the City of Yelm with the master planned community and the UGA area. The following table identifies the number of recreation facilities and associated approximate number of acres needed to meet levels of service for the City of Yelm, the master planned community and surrounding UGA, based on NRPA standards for facility needs in urban areas. As stated above, this table should be used only as a guide in determining demands for each type of facility, and should be considered - for most facilities listed - the absolute minimum. Draft Yelm Parks & Recreation Plan - May 2008 38 Tabie 13. City of Yelm, master planned community and UGA area - projected recreation facility minimum needs and recommended space requirements (in acres). i ~ ~ ~ . . ~ ~ . . . . . . . ~ Baseball 2 3 5 2 3 4 4 5 1 er 5,000 3.5 ac 3.5 ac 5.25 ac 7 ac 7 ac 8.75 ac Basketball 2 1 6 2 3 4 4 5 1 er 5,000 0.2 ac 0.2 ac 0.3 ac 0.4 ac 0.4 ac 0.5 ac Football 1 1 2 1 1 2 2 3 1 er 70 000 1.5 ac 1.5 ac 1.5 ac 3.0 ac 3.0 ac 4.5 ac Picnic Shelter 3 1 0 4 6 8 10 12 1 er 2,000 0.09 ac 0.12 ac 0.18 ac 0.24 ac 0.30 ac 0.36 ac Playground 6 1 8 8 12 16 20 24 1 er 1,000 0.66 ac 0.88 ac 1.32 ac 1.76 ac 2.2 ac 2.64 ac Soccer 1 1 2 1 2 2 2 3 1 er 10,000 1.7 ac 1.7 ac 3.4 ac 3.4 ac 3.4 ac 5.1 ac Softball 2 0 7 2 3 4 4 5 1 er 5,000 3.0 ac 3.0 ac 4.5 ac 6.0 ac 6.0 ac 7.5 ac Tennis 3 0 6 4 6 8 10 12 7 er 2,000 0.51 ac 0.68 ac 1.02 ac 1.36 ac 1.7 ac 2.04 ac Trail, Bike - 8ft 2 mi. 3 mi. 5 mi. 6 mi. 8 mi. 9 mi. 1 mile er 2,600 1.9 ac 2.8 ac 4.75 ac 5.7 ac 7.6 ac 8.5 ac Trail, Walking - 4ft 3 mi. 4 mi. 6 mi. 8 mi. 10 mi. 12 mi. 1 mile er 2,000 1.4 ac 2.0 ac 2.9 ac 3.9 ac 2.8 ac 5.7 ac Volleyball 2 2 3 4 4 5 7 er 5,000 0.1 ac 0.1 ac 0.15 ac 0.2 ac 0.2 ac 0.25 ac . ~ Security in Parks Both active and passive park facilities should be safe and secure spaces for visitors. This will occur through a variety of ineans. 1) Parks will be designed to be as safe and secure as possible with appropriate landscaping and amenity design that allows easy surveillance from street edges and surrounding properties. 2) Parks will be located and designed in ways that encourage adjacent property surveillance. This is sometimes called "community policing" and refers to the natural surveillance that can occur with activity adjacent to park edges such as residential or office/commercial areas. Residents or visitors to the adjacent areas will provide "eyes on the park" and can help to keep park areas safe from vandalism and crime. 3) Police surveillance can help keep park areas safe and vandal free. Parks designed for easy law enforcement surveillance - and equipment such as surveillance cameras where possible, will be important. However, it should be acknowledged that police surveillance adds to the cost of maintaining a safe and secure parks system. Consequently, as much safety and security should be built into the design of parks, development encouraged adjacent to parks, and increases in police surveillance cost expected as the park system expands. Draft Yelm Parks & Recreation Plan - May 2008 3g