 |
|
|
Executive Summary
Master Plan Goals
The goals of the Master Plan provided the foundation for the planning
efforts. The project goals were derived from the Park District's
Comprehensive Plan, Natural Resources Management Plan, and
Sustainable Practices Program, as well as from Patron concerns and
interests. The Master Plan aims to highlight the park's natural
features while fostering traditional recreation activities in appropriate
areas. The goals are as follows:
Recreation
- Provide opportunities for self-directed active recreation activities
via existing tennis courts.
- Foster passive recreation such as picnicking, walking, jogging,
and wildlife watching through loop trail and viewing areas.
- Use environmentally friendly materials in construction or
improvement of the parks built resources.
Environmental Education
- Develop an interpretive sign system that helps Patrons
understand the park's ecological systems and natural history.
- Create a playground area that allows children to learn about
nature through tactile and physical activities.
Public Access
- Develop a trail network that fosters observation, to connect to
neighborhood context, and enjoyment of the park's natural areas,
while protecting fragile resources.
- Create seating or other quiet areas that allow contemplation and
enjoyment of the parks' natural features.
- Provide for safe use of the park. Maintain visibility along paths
and structures for safety.
Habitat Conservation, Restoration, and Enhancement
- Move and/or locate new recreational amenities in locations that
protect natural resources.
- Protect, restore, and expand native plant communities and
wildlife populations found in the park. Camas wildflowers and
Oregon white oak trees are the primary conservation targets.
Remove invasive species.
- Expand specific natural areas into wet areas of park where they
were historically found.
Water Management
- Provide drainage of neighborhood stormwater via existing stream
in northern portion of park.
- Improve water quality through vegetative shading of stream and
wetlands.
- Minimize use of impervious surfaces. Where hard surfaces are
necessary consider alternatives such as pervious pavement or
boardwalk materials.
Key Elements Of The Approved Master Plan
The publicly preferred and approved Master Plan aims to turn Camille
Park into a "Nature Place" where Patrons can be immersed in the
park's natural features while enjoying the more active recreational
amenities of a developed park. The plan takes advantage of the
site's topography by highlighting the natural features like the trees
and wetlands, while locating recreational amenities in higher, less
sensitive, and more accessible areas. Key changes to the park
include:
- Expansion and enhancement of natural areas.
The park has a wealth of unique native plant communities such as a
camas wildflower meadow with a canopy of Oregon white oaks.
These areas will receive an increased level of care. Additional wet
areas that are currently maintained as turf will be returned to more
natural wetland areas.
- Consolidation of picnic areas and addition of shelter.
In order to provide a higher level of service, to protect Oregon white
oak trees, and reduce conflicts with neighbors, the current picnic
areas will be consolidated in the southeast corner of the park. A
shelter will expand the usable season for the picnic area and
potentially provide rental revenue for maintenance upkeep.
- Removal of the basketball court.
The current basketball court is at the bottom of a slope. Water and
sediment run across it for much of the year, making the court difficult
to use and a challenge to maintain. Because there is not a suitable
location for it in the park, when the basketball court wears out, it will
be removed to protect natural resources. Park District energies used
to maintain the court will be re-invested elsewhere in the park.
Several sets of covered basketball courts are located at adjacent
school properties and are open to the public when school is not in
session.
- Installation of a loop trail.
Adding additional hard surface trails in the park to make a loop trail
will benefit Patrons' strong interest in walking in the park throughout
the year. The trail will also protect existing habitat areas of the park
by keeping Patrons from trampling fragile resources. In addition,
discussions about extending soft surface trails out of the park will be
held with neighboring property owners.
Description Of Overall Costs
The proposed improvements to the park included in this master plan
are estimated to cost $507,000. Changes are expected to be
implemented in phases over time, as funds are available. Each
phase will require the development of more detailed design work to
determine needs and actual costs. Therefore these estimates are
preliminary, but provide an insight into the costs relative to the
design. Cost estimates are made in 2007 dollars.
- Trail Phase: $207,000
- Play equipment/area: $144,000
- Signage: $24,000
- Habitat enhancement areas: $24,000
- Picnic shelter & site improvements: $108,000
Detailed information on project costs can be found here.
|
