The Snelling Community Park and Playground Renovation Project

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1 The Snelling Community Park and Playground Renovation Project The Shelburne Community School is currently undergoing a renovation and redesign of The Snelling Community Park which serves as the school playground. After twenty years of continuous use, it has served the Shelburne students and community well, but is in need of replacement after safety concerns were raised and evaluated in The school has formed a playground committee that has a goal of thoughtfully expanding the functionality of the playground and park during the summer of 2015 to be a much more accessible and inclusive public space for the community as a whole. The playground currently supports the needs of 780 students throughout the school day. The Part 2 enrichment program, which services 100 participants use The Snelling Community Park after school and during the summer. The town s parks and recreations programs draw over 500 participants and their families throughout the year. This public space is the most used public space in the community. It is the only centrally located, walkable, playground (for ages 5 to 12 years ) in Shelburne. Local neighbors include Harrington Village and McCabe Circle, who are part of the Champlain Housing Trust, Housing Vermont and Cathedral Square Corporation. This site is also sidewalk accessible and used by the many families that are in the Commons at Shelburnewoods Mobile Home Park. As we approach the 25 th anniversary of the Americans with Disability Act this summer, the Shelburne Community School is committed to being listed as one of the few accessible playgrounds for the State of Vermont. Our goal is to provide ADA accessible equipment, walkways, ramps, wheelchair-friendly surfacing, benches, and shelters that will enhance the lives of all members of our Shelburne community regardless of age or ability. The process to date The Shelburne Community School board supported the replacement and voted to allocate funding of this project in the spring of An article in the Shelburne Community Newspaper described the project and invited community participation. On April 1, 2014, a public forum was held and feedback from community members was invited. A committee of parents and staff was formed to direct the project. After an initial review of the project the committee recommended additional funds and time to plan was needed. Immediate safety issues were able to be addressed as a short term fix through removal of unsafe equipment and repairs during the summer of In May of 2014, the committee met with Jeff Hodgson of Wagner Hodgson Landscape Architecture He developed a schematic plan incorporating natural elements, surrounding path, proper drainage, shelter, seating and traditional playground equipment. Mr. Hodgson has continued to make revisions and has provided valuable input. Dave Marshall of Civil Engineering Associates, Inc. has been instrumental in developing an engineering plan to address the drainage issues, permitting issues and boundary maps. Manny Dutra of Landshapes Landscape Design and Installation has helped to identify the specifications on the site work. The Shelburne Community School administration has provided regular updates and invited feedback through monthly newsletters ed to parents and accessible via the schools website. Presentations

2 were done during community soccer events, PTO meetings and to school faculty identifying committee members, presenting and inviting feedback on the Concept Plan. Brochures have been handed out during events and posted at the school with the Concept Plan. In the past few months, the committee has met with every grade level to update teachers on progress and invite feedback and concerns about meeting the needs of their student population. Special educators and guidance counselors were interviewed to understand their needs. Survey results are pending from the student population relating to play events and recreational options. Multiple presentations are being offered in the community. The Shelburne-Charlotte Rotary has scheduled a presentation in April The committee has requested a presentation to Wake Robin Retirement community. Champlain Housing Trust and the Cathedral Square Corporation have been contacted and invited to learn about the upcoming plans. Both of these organizations provide low income and/or senior housing within walking distance of the Snelling Community Park. Diane Snelling, Vermont State Senator and Joan Lenes, Vermont State Representative, visited the Snelling Community Park in July 2014 to review the initial Concept plan. This park was originally dedicated to Former Vermont Governor Richard Snelling and his wife Barbara, Former Lieutenant Governor, who are Diane Snelling s parents. A Request for Proposal was submitted in fall 2014 on behalf of the Shelburne Community School for playground equipment options and vendor selection. Numerous meetings with Town of Shelburne Staff including: Betsy Cieplicki, Director of Shelburne Parks and Recreation; Joe Coleangelo, Shelburne Town Manager; and Dean Pierce, Planning Director have been held to review the plan and ensure local permits are in place. Upcoming presentations to the town Development Review Board and Select board are also planned. Additionally, Dave Connery, Shelburne School Board Chair; Pati Beaumont, SCS Co-Principal; Alan Mihan, Athletic Director; and Dave Kelly, Maintenance Supervisor have all contributed input to the project.

3 How does this project support the Shelburne Village Plan? The Town of Shelburne updated the Shelburne Village Plan in 2006 and refined a number of objectives that support the development and growth of the Shelburne community. These meetings confirmed the continued applicability of the nine objectives articulated in the Shelburne Village Plan, as follows: To preserve the Village s historic structures To preserve the traditional residential character of the Village To reinforce the visual and functional cohesiveness of the Village To accommodate growth in the Village without disrupting the traditional qualities of the Village To improve the pedestrian and vehicular circulation within the Village To retain and enhance the pedestrian scale and character of the Village To recognize and strengthen the central functions of the Village To take advantage of the natural features in and near the Village To revive the Village Green as the focal point around which the Village is connected The renovation and redesign of The Snelling Community Park supports many of the objectives as part of the towns comprehensive plan. In keeping with the same site, the renovations will enhance the natural features of the area through thoughtful landscaping and the addition of trees. The park is pedestrian accessible via sidewalks and is centrally located within the Village of Shelburne. As a destination for students, participants in the town sports and recreations programs and community members, The Snelling Community Park draws members to the village for recreation, commerce and social functions which are core to connecting our community.

4 How does this project support the goals of the VT Statewide Comprehensive Recreation Plan (SCORP)? The Snelling Community Park project implements many of the VT SCORP goals for as identified by both user satisfaction and municipality ranking. Facilities for people with physical disabilities: Satisfaction with recreation facilities for people with disabilities was the lowest of all the resources/facilities asked about the 2011 Outdoor Recreation Demand Survey. Of the individuals who used these facilities, 70 percent rated them as not meeting their needs much or at all. pg. 97 The low satisfaction rating of recreation facilities for people with disabilities indicates that more needs to be done to address the needs of this user-group. The project at The Snelling Community Park has a significant focus on meeting the ADA accessibility needs and supporting this SCORP goal. Accessibility via a pathway, surfacing to islands of play, accessible equipment, features such as ground level panels and elevated sand tables not only provide ADA accessibility but also enable participants to be inclusive. The Snelling Community Park is also scheduled to be included in the list of VT ADA accessible parks as the ADA celebrates its 25th Anniversary this year. Hiking trails (cross country, ski/snowshoe trails, and picnic areas)...picnicking was the activity that the most Vermonters participated in, and picnic areas were judged with relatively high satisfaction (83 percent were somewhat or definitely satisfied with facilities). Municipalities rated picnic areas and shelters high on their list of priorities for investment. pg. 97 The Snelling Community Park project incorporates both an open pavilion that will serve as a shelter but also picnic tables that are accessible and designed to accommodate wheelchairs. Parks and open space Municipalities rated parks/open space as their highest priority. pg.97 The Snelling Community Park which is located at the Shelburne Community School is committed to maintaining the existing park location as an outdoor recreational space for the students and community members. It is the most used and the only free, year round, pedestrian accessible park and playground in the Shelburne community. Bike/pedestrian trails Baseball/softball fields, playgrounds, and bike/pedestrian trails were rated as high priority by municipalities, and given mid-range satisfaction scores by residents (about three-quarters of Vermonters needs were somewhat or definitely met by these recreation facilities/resources in the state) pg. 97 The Snelling Community Park renovations include new playground equipment. The existing wooden structure has reached the end of its useful life after having been used for 20 years and currently presents safety issues. The new equipment will be a significant upgrade to the park and will encompass multiple elements for climbing, swinging and sliding. The park will also include a new bike/pedestrian trail that will surround the play equipment and enable wheelchair access. Agency of Natural Resources staff, user groups, and recreation organizations have also identified a number of goals that also align with The Snelling Community Park project. Climate change and Other Air Pollution Effects The impact of climate change on Vermont outdoor recreation suggests an increase in temperature by the end of the century that will put a higher demand on warmer weather recreation resources. The Snelling Community Park is a year round facility with plans to incorporate a pavilion and trees (heat sinks) to provide sun shade. The site work that is planned will correct the current drainage issues and prevent erosion and storm water runoff. The location of The Snelling Community Park is pedestrian/bike accessible and is centrally located in the Village of Shelburne. Shelburne has a Village Plan and commitment to a walkable community thereby reducing emissions. Senior-friendly outdoor recreation facilities/resources In addition to the ADA accessibility that is incorporated into The Snelling Community Park project, many elements to address the needs mobility-impaired Senior Citizens which has been identified as an SCORP goal. (pg. 113) The smooth surfacing of the path encircling the park will enable wheelchair access and is

5 maintained/plowed by the Shelburne Community School. The entrance to the park is directly accessible via a paved parking lot. Benches, wheelchair accessible picnic tables and features such an elevated sand table and ground level panels enable inclusive elements for multi-generational participants. Youth involvement in outdoor recreation Now in its sixth year, the goals of Vermont s No Child Left Inside Initiative are to engage communities in outdoor activities that promote and restore good health for us, for the land, and for the air we breathe; encourage outdoor recreational, cultural, environmental, educational, social, and historical opportunities for children and families; and provide information about physical and natural features of parks, forests, wildlife and recreational opportunities. (pg. 114) The Snelling Community Park is located at the Shelburne Community School and is used daily by 780 students for recess, 100 children in the Part2 after school program and over 500 annual participants and their families in the Shelburne Town Parks and Recreations programs. The Snelling Community Park is also planning to incorporate a fit trail that will engage and encourage fitness for both students and community members. Elements such as trees, sand and boulders will incorporate a natural environment and allow opportunities for children and families to explore. Picnic tables, benches and sidewalk access to the central functions of the Village of Shelburne further connect the community. These are just some of the examples of how The Snelling Community Park fully supports the SCORP goal of youth involvement in outdoor recreation as the most used, free and accessible park in the community.