REGIONAL PARKS INITIATIVE

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PROMOTING COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

5 cooperating municipalities focused on the PRIMARY MISSION

of improved active, outdoor recreation opportunities.

Friday

10 May 2013

RECREATION BENEFITS…

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• Families

• Fitness & Health

• Community Attachment

• Student Achievement

• School Sports

• Tourism

• Construction Trades

• College Courses

• Real Estate Values

The development of the Regional Parks will benefit you, your

family, your business/organization and your community.

THE NEED FOR THE “REGIONAL PARKS”

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Community discussions led to municipal

discussions…. and a vision based on

extended cooperation.

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THE NEED FOR THE “REGIONAL PARKS”

OUR COMMON GOALS…

1. Provide outstanding facilities, events & venues to residents and visitors.

2. Strategically partner w/ the business community to grow the parks.

3. Generate additional & sustainable

revenue to offset operational costs.

4. Showcase the region.

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1. Park Forest Community Swimming Pool Renewal

2. Wm. L. Welch Community Swimming Pool Renewal

3. Millbrook Marsh Nature Center – Educ. Bldg. Construction

4. John Hess Softball Complex Renewal - 21 acres

5. Oak Hall Regional Park, Phase 1 – 68 acres

6. Whitehall Road Regional Park, Phase 1– 100 acres

THE BENEFITS & COSTS…

For 2002 through 2013

Municipal Investment/Commitments $18,002,666.

State Grant Investments $ 1,801,166.

Private & Public Donations $ 1,088,000.

TOTAL $20,891,832. * * Plus loan interest through 2032

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THE RENEWED

JOHN HESS SOFTBALL FIELD COMPLEX

2011 2012 2013

Softball Fields in Service 3 4 4

Tournaments 7 9 10 Planned

Tournament Games 257 397 Pending

Total Teams (Tournaments + League Play)

1,482 1,488 Pending

Tournament Lodging Report

2009-2012 (Attached):

For 5 (of 9) reporting tournaments

in 2012, 48 teams confirmed their

commercial, weekend lodging in the

Centre Region.

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THE JOHN HESS SOFTBALL FIELD

COMPLEX

21

Acres

The Approved Master Site Plan

4 youth

fields

shown.

Optional

Plan w/

3 adult

fields.

OAK HALL REGIONAL PARK

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68 acres

The Approved

Master Site

Plan

OAK HALL – PHASE 1

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FULLY OPEN: Spring 2015

• Grading for all park facilities (Phase 1 and future)

• 4 All-Age Softball Fields (future lighting is planned on Field #OH-1)

• 8 bleacher sets (2 per field), benches, trash/recycling containers, drinking fountain.

• 1-mile, full-perimeter walking trail.

• Restroom Building (with septic field) & Concession Room

• Parking areas (crushed stone) w/ 6 LED lighting fixtures + 3 LED driveway fixtures

for operational and security lighting.

• Parks Maintenance Building (30' x 40', 2-bay)

• Park Water System.

• Fencing & backstops (black) for the 4 fields w/ safety netting.

• All plantings required by the Municipal Land Development Plan.

• Park Entrance Sign (by separate contract).

• Additional trees & site furnishings (benches, interpretive signs and upgrades).

Donations are solicited for these features.

Approved Project Budget: $3,779,528.

To build on the established and growing success of the Hess Field Complex events, in March three Priority Additions were requested for CPCVB Capital Funding Assistance:

1. Lighting the main softball field (Field #OH1) and the balance of the parking area lights.

Bid price: $210,366.

2. Full-length sideline fencing (6' high) on 3 of the ballfields for 1,206 linear feet (the sideline fencing on Field #OH1 is included in the current project).

Bid price: $32,250.

3. The Tournament Headquarters Building.

Bid price: $233,390.

Total Request: $476,006.

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OAK HALL – PHASE 1 REQUESTS

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WHITEHALL ROAD REGIONAL PARK

The Updated Master Site Plan – 100 acres

WHITEHALL ROAD REGIONAL PARK -

PHASE 1 PLANNING IN PROGRESS…

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Proposed Phase 1 Facilities (on 75-acre parcel):

• 7 rectangular fields + 1 rectangular practice field (all turf

fields, includes players benches and goals).

• 1 larger baseball field.

• Regional playground & basketball court.

• 1 large community pavilion.

• All grading, erosion / sediment control & stormwater mgmt.

for the 75-acre parcel.

• All parking & interior park roads.

• 1 building w/ flush toilets and a concessions stand.

• Perimeter trail and those interior walkways serving the

Phase I facilities.

ESTIMATED COST OF PHASE 1: $5,546,000.

PROJECTED OPENING: Fall 2015

FUTURE FUNDING CHALLENGES –

OPERATIONS & CAPITAL

Oak Hall Regional Park:

(in addition to the Priority Additions)

• Playground/Sprayground,

• Picnic Pavilion,

• Additional trees & other amenities,

• Dog park,

• Sledding hill & ice rink.

Whitehall Road Regional Park:

Future Phase facilities…

• 2 Synthetic Turf, Rectangular Sportfields, lighted

• 2 Proposed Buildings (Field Sports & Court Sports)

John Hess Softball Complex:

• Implement the Master Plan improvements

Centralized Parks Maintenance Facility

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THE BIG PICTURE (DEVELOPMENT)…

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DEVELOPMENT

COSTS TOTAL PHASE 1

OAK HALL $5.7 million $3.8 million

WHITEHALL ROAD $12.9 million $5.5 million

SUBTOTAL $18.6 million $9.3 million

HESS COMPLEX $2.9 million -

TOTAL COST $21.5 million

PHASE 1 FUNDING STRATEGY (at 2 parks)

$8.9m in Municipal Contributions plus Community Contributions and a

State Grant.

PHASE 2 DEVELOPMENT PLANS (at 3 parks)

By June 2014 the participating municipalities will discuss the funding of

the continued development of the 3 regional parks. Community

contributions will play a critical role.

AN EXCITING FUTURE…

Proceed with the approved timeline events.

Expand the partnership with the CPCVB.

Finalize a Priority Scheduling Policy for

contributors.

Finalize and open the Capital Campaign.

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ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION…

Municipal Requests for Oak Hall Reg. Park:

1. Sportfield Lighting for Field OH#1 $210,366

2. Baseline Fence Extensions – 3 fields $32,250

3. Tournament Headquarters Building $233,390

Initial CPCVB Response : (for Whitehall Road Reg. Park)

4. Focus on Synthetic Turf for one of the rectangular fields.

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A PARTNERSHIP OPTION…

The Regional Parks were planned to improve the

opportunities for an array of special interests – Softball,

Baseball, Soccer, Lacrosse, Football, Ultimate Frisbee,

Rugby, dog parks, etc. – a collection of boats in our harbor.

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Our joint challenge is to find the best way

to “Raise The Tide” for active recreation.