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Item 7BCity of Southlake, Texas c M E M O R A N D U M November 27, 2007 TO: Shana Yelverton, City Manager FROM: Steve Polasek, Director of Community Services Approve Royal and Annie Smith Park design SUBJECT: ________________________________________________________________ Action Requested: City Council approval of design for Royal and Annie Smith Park. Background Information: In July 2006, City Council approved an agreement with Halff and Associates for the architectural design and engineering for improvements to Royal and Annie Smith Park. A workgroup comprised of three Parks Board members and City staff worked with the consultants on the conceptual designs and a SPIN meeting was held on July 26 to review the plans with neighbors. Public comment was overwhelmingly positive. Royal and Annie Smith park is a 13.2 acre neighborhood park located in the western portion of Southlake off of Johnson Road. The park design is in keeping with the natural landscape and provides for a playground, pavilion/overlook area, parking, trail expansion, future landscape additions, and outdoor learning area. Materials selected are intended to blend with the site and planned park uses are relatively low impact (picnics, playground, walking, open space) Financial Considerations: The currently approved project construction budget is $324,000 to accommodate the implementation of site work, pavilion, and a playground (Phase I and II A) as part of the initial phase of construction. Other phases of the project (II B, C, and D) would be completed using in-house resources with the crushed granite parking area (II B) and extension of the trail (II D) completed in conjunction with the initial phase of construction. Staff has also received verbal approval from the Keller ISD to provide an additional walkway access point to the park from the school parking area directly to the west. Financial Impact: The financial impact resulting from increased maintenance has been accounted for within existing operational line items. Citizen Input/ Board Review: P&Z reviewed and approved (7-0) at their November 8, 2007  meeting. Shana Yelverton, City Manager Meeting Date – December 4, 2007 Page 2 SPDC reviewed and recommended approval (6-0) at their  September 4, 2007 meeting. Parks Board reviewed and recommended approval (8-0) at their  August 13, 2007 meeting. SPIN meeting conducted July 26, 2007 generating favorable  comments on the design from neighbors. Parks Board workgroup participation in the development of the  conceptual plans. Legal Review: Not applicable. Alternatives: City Council review and consideration. Supporting Documents: Supporting documents include:  Conceptual design components  Cost estimate  SPIN comments Staff Recommendation: City Council approval of the design for Royal and Annie Smith Park. Shana Yelverton, City Manager Meeting Date – December 4, 2007 Page 3 Shana Yelverton, City Manager Meeting Date – December 4, 2007 Page 4 Shana Yelverton, City Manager Meeting Date – December 4, 2007 Page 5 Shana Yelverton, City Manager Meeting Date – December 4, 2007 Page 6 Shana Yelverton, City Manager Meeting Date – December 4, 2007 Page 7 Shana Yelverton, City Manager Meeting Date – December 4, 2007 Page 8 Shana Yelverton, City Manager Meeting Date – December 4, 2007 Page 9 Shana Yelverton, City Manager Meeting Date – December 4, 2007 Page 10 SPIN Comments and Questions Concept Design for Royal and Annie Smith Park July 26, 2007 1.What is the time frame? 2.When the City bought the property, there was an informal agreement with the Keller ISD to provide access and parking in the area south of Florence Elementary. Is that agreement still in place? 3.Can the future sidewalk connection shown on the southwest corner of the park be re-routed to funnel people away from private property? 4.Can the City do something about the traffic on Johnson Rd? Can extra signs or speed bumps be installed to reduce speed near park entrance? 5.Citizens expressed that they like the large stones at the Vermillion (south) entrance to the park to keep traffic out of the park at night 6.Will the underbrush be cleared out and the trees pruned? 7.Don’t get rid of the blackberry bushes! 8.What will the playground look like? 9.Will there be fabric or metal shade structure over the playground? 10.What will the park hours be? 11.Will there be signage telling about the history of the land? 12.Will the Bob Jones Nature Center be involved in signage and ecological aspects of the park – there is lots of wildlife there. 13.Could the future trail connection be located farther north, closer to the school? The existing connection is difficult to use 14.“This is a great design” 15.Will the City keep the wooden sign on the south side that was installed by developer? 16.There is concern for safety of children due to the number of people that walk their dogs and don’t clean up after them. Can the City do anything about this? 17.“This is an ideal use for the land”