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Home My WebLink AboutINS-15-057 - Upper Canada Park & Grand River Park Funding Staff Reporrt LR infrastructure s �1C�'S D!C�partl'xient wmkitchener ca REPORT TO: Community & Infrastructure Services Committee DATE OF MEETING: September 21, 2015 SUBMITTED BY: Greg Hummel, Acting Director of Operations (741-2600, 4598) PREPARED BY: Dan Ritz, Supervisor Design & Development (741-2600, 4348) WARD(S) INVOLVED: All DATE OF REPORT: September 11, 2015 REPORT NO.: INS-15-057 SUBJECT: Upper Canada Park & Grand River Park Funding RECOMMENDATION: That the 2015 District Park Development capital funding of $1,423,000 held in abeyance be applied to the Upper Canada Park project Priority 1 in the amount of $523,000 and $900,000 be applied to Grand River Parks project as described in Funding Scenario A of Infrastructure Services report INS-15-057; and That funds for the Upper Canada Park project Priority 2(A) as defined in the Upper Canada Park Master Plan be referred to the 2016-2025 capital budget and forecast; and That Upper Canada Park project Priority 2(B) and 3, currently unfunded, be referred to future capital budget processes, Leisure Facilities Master Plan updates, and Development Charges bylaw reviews; and further That funding for the Grand River Park project be referred to the 2016-2025 capital budget process and upcoming Development Charges bylaw reviews for the design and development of a future Riverside Park location. BACKGROUND: During the 2015 capital budget process, staff provided the following issue papers in regard to the Upper Canada District Park project: a) 4 - District Parks - Upper Canada Park (FIN-56 of FSC-15-027, February 23/15) b) Cap 09 - Upper Canada Park (CAP-124 of FCS-15-002, January 12/15) At Finance and Corporate Services Committee meeting on February 23, 2015, the following motion was brought forward: "That the funding identified in the 2015 Capital Budget and Forecast for the District Park Development, be approved but held in abeyance pending a report being provided by June 2015 examining the Upper Canada Park project and the Grand River Park project with possible recommendations and timelines for moving forward with both proposals." ***This information is available in accessible formats upon request. *** Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance. 8b - 1 The Parks Strategic Plan (2010) provides guidelines for the Grand River corridor and outlines additional information and direction for the potential acquisition of floodplain land and the associated planning for the development of a future Riverside Park. The Plan identifies seven (7) areas along the Grand River corridor that have the potential to be linked with and expand upon existing public open spaces to develop a contiguous public open space and parkland along the Grand River. Note: To remain consistent with the terminology found within the Parks Strategic Plan the term "Grand River Park"and the term "Riverside Park"used throughout this report, are considered one and the same." The Grand River Corridor Land Acquisition Fund has been established and has a balance of $1,051,683.94 as of August 1, 2015 with an annual capital budget infusion of $100,000. While this fund will be used primarily to acquire lands along the Grand River corridor including high priority lands for a Riverside Park, it is not intended to fund the development of a future park. At present, there is no capital budget allocation for the design and construction of a Riverside Park estimated at $3M to $5M. A potential Riverside Park may range in size from 30 to 50 hectares with park development costs ranging from $85,000 to $100,000 per hectare. REPORT: Staff recognizes that the Upper Canada Park re-development and the future Riverside Park development are both commendable projects that will bring tremendous value to the citizens of Kitchener. The sportsfields at Upper Canada Park have not seen significant improvements since its construction in 1986, while other district park facilities have been upgraded and improved. The Riverside Park project is long outstanding and will provide an opportunity for Kitchener to look towards the Grand River as a major community resource. At Finance and Corporate Services Committee meeting on February 23, 2015 the following District Park Development ten-year capital budget was submitted and ultimately approved: s!DUlre crI Fuindling 2015 2016 20117 016 20110 2020 20211 2022 2,023 2024 Totals C/C 240 I40 n40 14 i51 154 157 IG 154 25.1 1,718 X -120 102 i"i"i 110, 115 117 in 20 10111 756 IR IFS 000 000 F18 S-F18 DGA 400 700 i„'100 Table 1:2015-2024 District Park Capital Budget Forecast The District Park general provision typically addresses annual upgrades to sportsfields and related district park amenities. Historically this account has addressed field, court and lighting improvements to Budd Park, Peter Hallman Ballyard, Joe Thompson Park, Kaufmann Park, Lions Park, Breithaupt Park, etc. Unfortunately, the District Park general provision C/C and DC funding cannot support on its own, large rehabilitations such as the Southwest Optimist Sportsfields ($2.4M) or new city-wide park endeavours such as the Grand River Park project ($3-5M). 8b - 2 In order to move both projects forward, staff has outlined the following two funding scenarios for consideration: Funding Scenario A Southwest Optimist Sportsfields (Priority 1 — Upper Canada Park Master Plan) $1.5M A portion of the 2015 District Park general provision funding of $1.4M held in abeyance would be released in the amount of $523,000 for a total 2015-16 capital project value of $1.5M to address the sportfield upgrades only. The redevelopment of the Southwest Optimist Sportsfields would address aging park infrastructure through field re-alignment, sport lighting and improving field conditions. A2 diamonds would also be upgraded to premier Al diamonds. Work would include the regrading & realignment of diamonds, fencing, infields, turf, irrigation and lighting. The reduced $1.5M total funding would not include supporting infrastructure such as parking lot improvements, maintenance compound and pedestrian pathways within the sportfield zone. Funding Source 11 2017 2017 2018 2019 2020+ 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Total District Park C/C 243 143 386 District Park DC -120 109 $1.5M of District Park Funding -11 t roved in the a previously pp Parkland Res. 0 ' t 0 2015-2024 Capital Budget Fed Gas Tax 400 700 1,100 TOTALS %523 952 1475 Table 2: Upper Canada Park(Funding Scenario A) Grand River Park (Riverside Park) $4.4M A portion of the 2015 District Park general provision funding of $1.4M held in abeyance would be allocated towards the Riverside Park project for 2015 in the amount of$900,000. In addition, capital budget adjustments in the amount of $0.25M (2016) and the introduction of $3.24M (2025) pending a future Development Charges Bylaw Review would provide a total commitment of$4.4M to the Riverside Park project. D Funding Source /��i 2017 2018 2019! 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 J oi�i� Total District Park C/C 250 442 692 District Park DC $0.25 proposed adjustments to 2798 2798 be introduced in the 2016- Parkland Res. 900 900 2025 Capita) Budget process Fed Gas Tax TOTAL 900 Lis X240 4390 Table 3: and River Park(Funding Scenario A) $3.24M of proposed new $0.9M of District Park Funding Capital Funding(C/C& DC)to previously approved in the be introduced in the 2016- 2015-2024 Capital Budget 2025 Capital Budget process Funding in 2015/16 would allow the City to begin a master plan process and initiate a capital balance for preliminary park works for a future but currently unidentified Riverside Park site. 8b - 3 Funding Scenario B Southwest Optimist Sportsfields (Priority 1 — Upper Canada Park Master Plan) $2.4M The entire 2015 District Park general provision funding of $1.4M held in abeyance would be released in the amount of $1,423,000 to address the Priority 1 of the Upper Canada Park Master Plan for a total 2015-16 capital project value in the amount of $2.4M. Redevelopment would include a completed Southwest Optimist Sportfields upgrade including the regrading & realignment of diamonds, fencing, infields, turf, irrigation and lighting. In addition it would include supporting infrastructure such as parking lot improvements, maintenance compound and pedestrian pathways within the sportfield zone. Funding Source 2017 2018 2019 2020' 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Total District Park C/C 243 143 ,----------------�� 386 District Park DC -120 109 r $2.4M of District Park Funding -11 a previously approved in the Parkland Res. 900 r 900 2015-2024 Capital Budget Fed Gas Tax 400 700 .......... 1,100 TOTALS '142 2375 Table 4: Upper Canada Park(Funding Scenario B) Grand River Park (Riverside Park) $3.5M Capital budget adjustments in the amount of $0.25M (2016) and the introduction of $3.24M (2025) pending a future Development Charges Bylaw Review would provide a total initial commitment of$3.5M to the Riverside Park project. Funding Source 2015 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Total District Park C/C 250 442 692 District Park DC 2798 2798 Parkland Res. Fed Gas Tax TOTALS 2 3244 3490 Table 5: Grand River Park(Funding Scenario B) $0.25 proposed adjustments to $3.24M of proposed new be introduced in the 2016- Capital Funding(C/C& DC)to 2025 Capital Budget process be introduced in the 2016- 2025 Capital Budget process Funding in 2016 would be sufficient for the city to begin studies and a master plan process for a future but currently unidentified Riverside Park site. In order to move both priorities forward, staff recommends Funding Scenario A in the amount of $1.5 for Upper Canada Park for the development of the Southwest Optimist Sportsfields and $4.4M for Riverside Park for the future development of the Grand River Park. 8b - 4 ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN: The development of both the Riverside Park and Upper Canada Park addresses the community priorities: Environment & Neighbouhoods. These strategic directions encourage us to balance the needs of a growing city with the need to provide safe neighbourhood programs & amenities and access & integration of natural areas. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: Refer to funding tables in Report section for additional detail. Funding Scenario A (Staff Recommendation) Upper Canada Park Project (reduced work scope) $1.5M Riverside Park Project $4.4M Funding Scenario B Upper Canada Park Project (reduced work scope) $2.4M Riverside Park Project $3.5M COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: The development of both the Riverside Park and Upper Canada Park will/have utilized the four themes of the Community Engagement Strategy (inform, consult, collaborate, entrust). The Upper Canada Park underwent a full Master Plan process in 2015 which can be found in Report# INS-15-014. The future Riverside Park Master Plan will engage community input once a suitable site has been determined, acquired and/or partnerships developed. CONCLUSION: The creation of Riverside Park contributes to place making and city identification. An identifiable Riverside Park would provide unique settings for memorable experience and natural scenery that residents and visitors can identify with. The redevelopment of the Upper Canada Park will address aging park infrastructure, increased demand for ball diamonds and inefficient/undersized diamonds supporting community use and sportfield delivery. Both projects contribute to improving the health of the physical and social environment through expanded recreational opportunities and enhanced natural areas conservation. ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Dev Tyagi, Deputy CAO, Infrastructure Services Department 8b - 5