HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark Guidelines & GapsPark Service Gaps and Standards
2/9/06
Attachment B
Pa~k Guidelines and Gaps
Page 1
Par Service Guidelines
The National Recreation and Pazk Association (NRPA) has established national
gui lines for quantities of pazk and recreation facilities according to population,,~ggesting that
thes guidelines should be adapted to individual municipalities. The City of Bp.u'i°dei°Parks and
Recreation Department used the NRPA guidelines as a starting point, and tt~ considered
Boulder's unique geography, recreation preferences, and other circums „``"" ch as the high
cost of land. M:~ ~'~r ~ ~
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The guidelines listed below aze used to evaluate if park service~ m existi
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neighborhoods aze sufficient in quantity and quality; to determis~~ need for new ~r~cs to
serve new or redeveloping residential or commercial areas; and'to momtor progress"m meeting
departmental goals. They are intentionally flexible to allo~>flie city ~p~espond to opportunities
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and constraints. ~~~~ >
Types of Parks
Pocket Parks and Urban Plazas
Boulder's pazk system includes ° arks, which.aie typically smaller than 3
acres and serve residents living within a.25 ='~ice. Urban plazas aze ofren
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smaller hazdscaped and landscaped spaces tha~ro~e ope~4$ space for surrounding residences,
offices, and commercial buildings. Pocket pazl~d urban plazas will be acquired when lazger
pazcels aze not available or when unique oppo rties present themselves.
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Characteristics of Pocket~,,~dr ''` ~~ ~`
L Smaller than 3 a`~~s ~„~ ~ ~~
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2. Easily access at~ ~~~ul borhood
3. Often include seati ~~,"'d/or children's play area
4. Generall~ si for pa`~~;°°~ ~~gcit ac6ve) recreation
5. Expet~&i~e' ~~."~", tain d"~`~o size, materials, and features
Char er-stics of Urk~ii Plazas:
1. ,~~`~ all urban sp~ce, often with a higher amenity level (hazdscaped areas, street
~hings, p;l~ntings, etc)
2. Oft~~x~,~rrouiided by buildings and uses that help generate activity
3. Considered outdoor "rooms" for passive recreation and civic uses
4. Attra~tive and usable to a wide range of people
5. Include flexible space that can be used for outdoor festivals, mazkets, and other public
events
6. Expensive to build and maintain due to high amenity level and size.
Neighborhood Parks
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2/9/06
Neighborhood parks often are considered the most fundamental park type in a city's park
system because they provide a focal points for neighborhood identities, gathering places for
friends and family, opportunities far informal play, and natural settings for quiet reflection.
Historically, Boulder's neighborhood parks aze 5 acres or larger. With limited availability of
lazger pazcels, future sites between 3 and 5 acres will be considered only when larger sites cannot
be'acquired. The department develops specific features for individual pazks on the basis of a
design process that includes extensive neighborhood participation.
Characteristics of Neighborhood Parks: ~''<~ ..
1. Typically 5 acres or lazger f"~
2. Typically serve residents living within easy walking and biking disE~qae (.5 mile).
3. Offer non ro rammed outdoor s ace includin aths seatin azeas, ' F~es to icnic and
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play catch, children's play azeas, and landscaping that enhancer~ and pres~~ the sites'
natural chazacter. r~ ~'~~~~"'
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Characteristics of 5maller Neighborhood Parks:
1. Minimum of 3 acres =~
2. Flat, grassy, fle~hle use space of at least 1 acxe thatis not pro~unmed fox acrive
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recreation use or used for stormwater detention
2. Area for children's playground equipment F,
3. Areas for sitting, picnicking
4. Easily accessible to neighbors by sidewalks and/or paths 5
CommunityParks ` '~"~~``:4`~'"''"
Community parks aze lazger than 50 acres ~id incl~tcle a mix of active and passive pazk
areas and active recreation facilities, such as co~rts and formal sports fields. They include
playgrounds and picnic facilities.,$oulder's co jivanunity pazk guidelines are met by East Boulder
S„e
Community Pazk, Foothills Gc~ft~ity Pazk, a~ ~-Iarlow Platts Community Pazk. The
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department plans additio~ devel`'t~~ment at Easi Boulder and Foothills. No addirional
community park sites ar~~lannedhrtl~st~k.~ie department remains open to future possibilities.
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City Parks
City park&§erWe the enfiFe community. They provide space for high-intensity recreational
facilities, aa~e~1 as na[tiual azeas and features typical of neighborhood and community pazks.
Valmont~ity Park and the Area III site meet the city's guideline for city pazks. Part of Valmont
City ~a~c has been deva~ioped, and the Area III site will be held in reserve to meet long-term
recrea~i~ needs. No-additional city pazk sites are planned, though the department is open to
future possitiilities. ,
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Park Guidelines:
Park Type Size Walking Distance Amount/1000 Population
(acres) (miles)
Pocket Park < 3 .25 mile 1.5 acre/ 1,000
Neighborhood Park > 5* .5 mile 1.5 acre/ 1,000
Community Park > 50 3.5 miles** 1.5 acre/ 1,000
City Park 100-300 n/a 100-300 acres total
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2/9/06
* Smal[er neighborhood parks will be considered if guidelines can be met (see above).
** Residents living within .5 mile of a community park are considered to have their
neighborhood park needs met.
Gaps in Boulder's Park System
There aze approximately 178 acres of undeveloped pazkland in the system. This includes
28 acres of neighborhood and pocket parks, 35 acres of community pazks, and 115 acres of city
pazk at Valmont. There aze also 191 acres of city park land in Area III in reserv _e~ ~`~future
consideration. Due to funding constraints, pazk development has not kept pac~ivith residential
development in certain parts of the city. Underserved azeas are located pri in the
northernmost part of the city (see Park Services Map). Completion of $Q~ developed
pazks will meet the departmenYs service guidelines in most of the ex~ng und , Td aceas,
and will provide additional pazks in well-served areas. Exception -' cli3de azeas n "w Vista
High School and CU, where land is scazce and joint-use agree ts with the Bouldor Valley
School District (BVSD) aze in piace to help mitigate needs, and sev~areas in Gunbarrel,
which will be addressed as Gunbarrel redevelops. ~. ,,
The 2005 Pazks and Recreation Survey confirmed ~~ idents place a high priority on
completing undeveloped pazk sites: Developing neighborhoo `'~ wa,s the highest priority,
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followed by developing pocket pazks. The third most important p r~ was to finish developing
East Boulder Community Pazk. ~,a
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Park Needs in Developing Areas ~, ,- ~~•
Due to the high price and lack of avail~le ` d to develop in Boulder, future growth
generally will take place in infill sites that are ~~ ently zoned for housing, including
commercial and industrial areas. ~ezoning and~development of infill sites may require the city
to acquire and develop new ~. ~~` s for urba~~ien space and recreation. Infill developments
may have an even greate~~eed th~ other nei~borhoods for pazks and urban green space
because of higher de ~~.~ore ''~ ~~~~"'quare mile) with more vertical development (multi-
story housing, often fnixe '~j ~3io~ng over offices or commercial space). New infill housing
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will include a vaziety of ho es and a range of prices, including more affordable units
than in most B, r~~°` , ighborU~~: With smaller housing lots, more young singles and seniors,
and families`Ti`ving i er" twmes, infill developments will need public spaces for residents
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to play aa~i~ relax. Thes~tes may not be lazge enough to provide a neighborhood pazk of 5 or
more ~ es, so smaller {eighborhood pazks, pocket pazks, or urban plazas will be considered. The
~
de ~'~"' ~.will explo~creative ways to acquire, develop, and maintain these smaller
neighbor~ ~~azks,;pocket pazks, and urban plazas.
The ar~ ~here significant change is anricipated aze Gunbarrel and the Transit VIllage.
Gunbarrel has`b~een through a planning process where thexe is an identified pazk need. The next
step will be to identify where and how it will occur.
Future Population Projections and Park Needs
Current population projections estimate a population in Boulder of 124,400 (Area I and
II) by the yeaz 2030. The current park acreage (developed and undeveloped) exceeds the
departmenYs guidelines established for park acreage per 1,000 residents and meets the guidelines
for this projected population. However, the geographic distribution of the city's pazk land may
Park Service Gaps and Standards
2/9/06
Page 4
need adjustment to meet future community needs. Through the city's area planning and
subcommunity planning processes, future pazk needs in new and redeveloping neighborhoods
will continue to be addressed. Subcommunity and azea plans address planning issues at a detailed
]evei and explore new land use ideas, including specific park needs, for an entire subcommunity,
specific azeas, or neighborhoods.
When Specific Needs Cau't be Met
New pazk locations are determined on the basis of an evaluation of factors~ifsaach as the
distance to the nearest pocket, neighborhood, or community pazk, the availabifity of a suitable
pazk site, the nature and density of the surrounding neighborhood, access tQ~en
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Space/Mountain Parks lands, the availability of private homeowner ass~atitr, ~arks, and
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competing community goals for suitable pazcels. Where acquisition ~mddition `~" land is not
feasible, the department will explore collaborations such as long-~te~p ~ease agree~tivith
BVSD, private schools, churches, or child caze centers; street cltSsures or transportahon nght-of-
way "vacations" [or easements?]; joint development of priva~eSy-o~vaed property; use of indoor
spaces, terraces, and rooftops; and designs that increase t,l~~effective capacity of smaller spaces.
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