ERNSTBERGER ASSOCIATES

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1 HENDRICKS COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION Prepared by: R U N D E L L ERNSTBERGER ASSOCIATES URBAN DESIGN + LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Hendricks County, IN September 4, 2013

2 HENDRICKS COUNTY PARKS MISSION STATEMENT To lead in the protection of outstanding natural, historic and recreation areas, and linkages. To practice and promote the highest conservation ethics and provide environmental education opportunities to the community. To lead in enhancing quality of life and individual health while driving economic development to ensure a sustainable future for our community.

3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thank You! Special thanks to the W.S. Gibbs Master Plan project team, the Hendricks County Parks Department and Park Board, and the various contributors who sought to make this park another great amenity for the residents of Hendricks County. The guidence and input displayed is important in shaping the future of Hendricks County. Hendricks County Park Board Members and Staff Gary Emsweller William Roche Paul Miner Jim Holtsclaw Dennis Gibbs Stephanie Morrissette Jaime Bohler Smith Connie Landers Bob Niemeyer Jordan Tremper Kristin Clements-Effner Dean Brunner Jon Cain Jeff Rosemary Travis Dunn Linda Brunner Jana Gilbert Project Team RUNDELL ERNSTBERGER ASSOCIATES URBAN DESIGN + LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Project Team Lead: Rundell Ernstberger Associates Landscape Architecture and Land Planning Prepared For: Contributing Team Members: Axis Architecture and Interiors Architecture EcoLogic Ecological Analysis and Restoration Butler Fairman and Seufert Civil and Structural Engineering W.S. GIBBS MEMORIAL PARK MASTER PLAN STUDY

4 TABLE OF CONTENTS INFORMATION GATHERING Inventory 5 Analysis 13 DESIGN PROCESS Design Workshop 20 Concept Plan One 22 Concept Plan Two 24 Concept Plan Three 26 Design Sketches 28 Precedent Images 34 MASTER PLAN PROCESS Master Plan Summary 36 Master Plan 37 Implementation 42 Cost Opinion 42 Operations & Maintenance 43 Fundraising Opportunities 44 Revenue Opportunities 45 Community Benefi t 45 Phasing Strategy 46 APPENDIX Sustainability 47 Permitting 51

5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The following master plan is the culmination of a month-long community planning process to develop a collective vision for W.S. Gibbs Memorial Park. Envisioned as a centerpiece of the Hendricks County Parks system that will serve Hendricks County residents and visitors for many generations, the master plan contemplates a park designed in harmony with its natural systems, a place that accommodates a wide variety of community events and recreational activities unique to the region, a design that recalls the site s agricultural heritage while looking to its future as a key community recreational asset, and a place that promotes active healthy lifestyles for all ages. Land for W. S. Gibbs Memorial Park was acquired in January 2010 from John and Lydia Gibbs, lifelong Hendricks County residents whose family has farmed the property for multiple generations. The park is named after John s grandfather. The 140-acre park is located near the geographical center of Hendricks County in the southwest portion of Washington Township, a rapidly growing area of the county. The property is located on Gibbs Road, south of County Road 200 South. INVENTORY & ANALYSIS In late 2012 and early 2013 the design team began gathering information about the property to inform the development of the master plan. A public meeting was held on January 22, 2013, where an overview of site inventory and an analysis of that information was presented. Participants were encouraged to provide comments or additional information about the property and surrounding area that might be important to the development of the park, to develop their own understanding of the park s potential, and to stay engaged in the planning process. A project website was created where the project documents were posted for review and comment. DESIGN WORKSHOP On February 25-28, 2013, an intensive four-day design workshop was held to develop the collective community s vision for the future development of W.S. Gibbs Memorial Park. The workshop involved a series of interviews where public offi cials, private interests, and project stakeholders were asked to share big ideas and major design elements that should be considered in the park s development. A public meeting was also held the evening of February 26 th to provide an opportunity for the larger community to give input and comments on the future park s development. Input was also received via the project website and Facebook comments in the weeks leading up to the workshop. Common themes that emerged from community input include: Restore the park property to its natural state with a functioning and sustainable ecosystem by preserving and improving the woodland vegetation, stream corridor, and wetlands. Serve as a model green park with state-of-the-art green technology and sustainable design and development practices. Promote healthy lifestyles and active living with activities for all age groups. Celebrate the farming and agricultural heritage of Hendricks County. Celebrate arts and culture within the design. Provide unique opportunities and attractions that are not found in other regional parks. Provide space and facilities to support group activities, events, and festivals. Connect to and build upon regional trail systems. Provide opportunities for outdoor learning and environmental education. Specific design elements requested by the community include: Trails: paved, unpaved, rustic, walking, hiking, multi-use, cross-country, short & long-distance cycling circuits Multipurpose Building: restrooms, meeting rooms, kitchen, conference center, retreats, arts center, nature center, parks department & offi ces Maintenance Building Outdoor Events Space: amphitheater, bandshell, gazebo, lawn area, parking, festivals, large group events Open Lawn Areas: flexible space for informal play, sports Shelters and Pavilions Contemplative Spaces Sculpture Garden: art in the landscape (cultural park) Formal Gardens: fl owers, heirloom, victory, rose Water Feature: engaging, artistic Farmstead or Agriculture Center: farm-to-table, food hub, history of farming in Hendricks County, petting zoo, horse trail, hayrides, antique equipment, community gardens, orchards, beekeeping, sustainable practices Playgrounds: natural play, tree houses, multiple play areas with different themes Water Play/Spray Park Adult Playground: low impact exercise equipment, fi tness trail Active Play Courts: disc golf, bocce ball, shuffl eboard, horseshoes, tether ball, chess or table games, basketball, volleyball, sledding hill Adventure Play: ropes course, zip lines, adventure or obstacle courses Bike Adventure Course: cyclocross, crosscycle course, progressive bike course Green Design Features: permeable surfaces, green roofs, best management practices (BMPs), alternative energy Preserved or Enhanced Creek Corridor: stream bank restoration, water access, pool and riffl es Reforestation and Enhanced Woodland Plantings: invasive species removal, woodland edge and prairie restoration, native grasses, wildfl owers, native plant nursery Outdoor Learning: bird watching, classrooms, environmental education, integrated technology, Wifi, QR codes, geocaching between parks Topographical Variety and Earthforms Pond: fi shing, kayaks Security Features: two park entrances, access to center of park, cameras, sheriff substation The workshop culminated with the design team preparing three conceptual plans for the park based on this input. These conceptual plans were presented in a public meeting on the evening of February 28 th and then posted to the project website for two weeks following the workshop for additional review and comment. W.S. GIBBS MEMORIAL PARK MASTER PLAN STUDY

6 MASTER PLAN Following the Design Workshop, community input (including via social media and the project website) was used to assist Hendricks County Parks and Recreation (HCPR) and the design team to develop a Draft Master Plan by synthesizing the preferred concepts and design features into a single plan. A fi nal public meeting was held on May 21, 2013, to review the draft master plan and receive input prior to preparation of the fi nal master plan. The master plan includes the following primary design elements: 1 Community Gardens Historic Farmstead 3 Passive Open Lawn, Pond & Wetlands 4 5 Nature & Water Play High Ropes & Adventure Course Stream Restoration 4 7 Maintenance Facility 8 Adult Play & Playground 9 Park Center Formal Gardens Event Lawn Bicycle Adventure Course IMPLEMENTATION The W.S. Gibbs Park Master Plan is the first step in the process of transforming a collective vision for an innovative and dynamic community park into reality. The next step of implementing the master plan will require a planned and coordinated effort involving the Hendricks County Parks and Recreation Department, the county, adjacent community leaders, and the community as a whole. View looking southwest with the formal garden in the foreground, event lawn in the middleground, and the passive open lawn, pond and constructed wetlands in the background. A detailed implementation strategy that includes a cost opinion for each proposed area, potential funding sources, overview of operational and maintenance considerations, identification of potential revenue sources within the park, evaluation of the benefit that the proposed amenities will have on the community as a whole, and potential phasing strategies serves as a framework for implementing the master plan.

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