HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-12-074 - Southwest Optimist Park Skatepark LocationREPORT TO:
Community & Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING:
September 10, 2012
SUBMITTED BY:
Jim Witmer, Interim Deputy CAO( INS) (ext. 4657)
PREPARED BY: Dan Ritz, Supervisor of Design & Development (ext. 4348)
WARD(S) INVOLVED:
Ward 4
DATE OF REPORT:
August 20, 2012
REPORT NO.: INS-12-074
SUBJECT: SOUTHWEST OPTIMIST PARK SKATEPARK LOCATION
RECOMMENDATION:
That the approval of the Southwest Optimist Park skatepark be deferred and that staff
continue dialogue with the Southwest Optimist Club regarding the proposed on-site
location of the Southwest Optimist Park skatepark.
BACKGROUND:
In 2005, the Leisure Facilities Master Plan recommended that additional skatepark facilities be
developed in Kitchener to provide more opportunities for youth participation in skateboarding.
(Recommendation 28, Item 8)
In 2010, the Parks Strategic Plan further recommended that the City complete a site selection
study for two proposed skatepark locations and implement design/construction of the
skateparks through the ten-year capital budget. (Implementation Action 4.1.6)
Currently there are two permanent skateboard parks located in Kitchener (Kitchener Memorial
Auditorium Complex and McLennan Park) and one portable unit (Skatium) that is rotated to
community centres throughout the city.
Staff evaluated all city-owned sites to identify potential skatepark locations throughout
Kitchener. From this review, 19 potential sites were then evaluated against the established site
selection criteria and assigned a grade value of A, B or C. Four sites received an “A” grade and
were shortlisted for further detailed review and public and stakeholder feedback. Through a
weighted matrix analysis reviewing the site selection criteria in more detail, staff brought forward
two sites as potential skatepark locations, Fischer Park and Southwest Optimist Park.
During the public and stakeholder consultation phase of the planning study, staff met with the
past president of the Southwest Optimist (SWO) Club on two occasions. The first meeting was
at the public open house held in September 2010 at the Doon Pioneer Park Community Centre,
the second meeting was held in October 2011 in order to formally solicit feedback on the
proposed location. At each meeting, staff heard that the club was very supportive of youth
activities and had been a contributor to the original portable Skatium. The club also had concern
with vandalism to their clubhouse as that had been a previous issue. Loss of the small diamond
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adjacent to the clubhouse was also expressed as potentially having significant impact on the
cost of their kids’ baseball program.
On April 23, 2012, Council reviewed the completed Skatepark Planning Study (April 2012) and
approved the Fischer Park skatepark location for 2014/15 subject to final capital budget
approval. At the same meeting, the Southwest Optimist Park skatepark location was deferred
and staff was directed to further consult with the Southwest Optimist Club regarding the
proposed skatepark location and to report back on September 10, 2012.
REPORT:
Throughout the summer of 2012, staff has met with the Southwest Optimist Club on several
occasions and as result, two separate but related meetings and discussions have taken place:
i) Location of skatepark at SWO Park and its related impacts to the SWO Club.
ii) SWO Park usage agreement between the City and the SWO Club.
This report will specifically address the skatepark location and its related impacts to the club.
Following Council deferral on April 23, 2012, staff met with representatives from the SWO Club
to discuss the skatepark on-site location on two additional occasions:
Meeting: June 28, 2012
Staff and the Ward Councilor met with Joe St. John, president and three other representatives
of the Southwest Optimist Club at their club house clubhouse at the SWO Park.
Staff presented to the group a PowerPoint presentation of the skatepark study that was
presented to Council in April 2012 and the Council direction to further consult with the SWO
Club regarding the skatepark on-site location.
The SWO Club described some of their programing, specifically Blastball and T-Ball for area
youth that runs approximately 18 teams for two months in the spring/early summer at the SWO
Park and nearby school diamonds. The club also expressed some confusion regarding the
agreement between the City and SWO Club regarding field use and fees.
The following meeting actions were agreed upon:
Action 1. Staff and SWO Club to meet to discuss the expired April 10, 2001 park
use agreement aside from the skatepark discussion.
Action 2. Staff to bring back park concept plans and meet on July 24 with the larger
SWO Club membership.
Action 3. SWO Club members to meet and discuss their needs and long-term
vision of the park.
Meeting: July 24, 2012
Staff and the Ward Councilor met with the SWO larger membership and presented the
Skatepark Planning Study to the group and brought back two park concept plans (figures A & B)
for discussion. The park concept plans were presented to engage discussion regarding potential
skatepark locations and possible future upgrades to the sport fields and park features.
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Figure A – Short-Term Park Concept Plan Figure B – Long-Term Park Concept Plan
Comments from the SWO Club included:
Club feels very strongly about keeping the current T-ball diamond next to the club house.
They felt that the clubhouse could not structurally handle being moved, and so it was
requested that the clubhouse would remain in its current location.
Club currently utilizes space at SWO Park in addition to diamonds at local schools.
Ideally, the club wishes to have the Blastball and T-ball programs at SWO Park.
Parking is adequate and is well-used on evenings and weekends for tournaments.
The club explained that after the clubhouse was vandalized a number of years ago, they
were considered to be a high risk by their insurance provider and their premiums
increased. They fear that if a skatepark is located in close proximity to their clubhouse,
their premiums will increase, and they could be liable for skateboarder injuries.
The following meeting actions were agreed upon:
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Action 1. Staff to refine park concept plans and meet back on August 7.
Action 2. Club members to meet and discuss their needs and long-term vision.
Meeting: August 7, 2012 (cancelled)
On July 31, 2012 staff received a letter from SWO club responding that it is no longer necessary
to meet on August 7, 2012. (Attachment A). Staff followed up by phone to encourage on-going
discussions and forwarded the two updated park concept plans (figures C & D) to the club.
Figure C – Park Plan (Skatepark Homer Watson) Figure D – Park Plan (Skatepark Pioneer Dr.)
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Consultation Next Steps
Consultation with the SWO Club has been an open dialogue with staff bringing forward a variety
of options for the on-site location of the skatepark, in addition to ideas for the layout of the
overall park facilities. Through consultation to date, the club has communicated that the
clubhouse and Blastball & T-Ball program are vital to the success of the club. The SWO Club’s
mandate to provide affordable programing for the development of youth is noteworthy and the
City should continue to support the club’s endeavours at the SWO Park.
Notwithstanding the club’s concerns regarding vandalism and perceived risk/liability associated
with the skatepark, staff has confidence that a satisfactory solution for both the City and the club
can be achieved. Staff recommends that the approval of SWO Park skatepark be deferred and
that staff continue dialogue with the club, reporting back to committee at a later date.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
The development of the skateparks coincides with the community vision, “Together, we will build
an innovative, caring and vibrant Kitchener with safe and thriving neighbourhoods” by providing
valued services to the skateboarding youth and young adults of our community by enhancing
their “Quality of Life” through investment in leisure facilities.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Southwest Optimist Park Skatepark: 2016 - $50,000 (design), 2017 - $500,000 (construction)
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
As directed by Council, staff continues to consult with the Southwest Optimist Club regarding
proposed skatepark on-site locations and will consult with the park users, skateboarders and the
adjacent community during its normal skatepark design process.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY:
Jim Witmer, Interim Deputy CAO (Infrastructure Services Department)
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APPENDIX A – Letter SWO Club
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