Visitor's Bureau Meeting Presentation

REGIONAL PARKS INITIATIVE PROMOTING COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Friday 10 May 2013

5 cooperating municipalities focused on the PRIMARY MISSION of improved active, outdoor recreation opportunities.

1

RECREATION BENEFITS… • 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.

2

THE NEED FOR THE “REGIONAL PARKS” Community discussions led to municipal discussions…. and a vision based on extended cooperation.

3

THE NEED FOR THE “REGIONAL PARKS”

4

OUR COMMON GOALS‌

1.

2.

3.

4.

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

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

Generate additional & sustainable revenue to offset operational costs.

Showcase the region.

5

THE BENEFITS & COSTS… 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Park Forest Community Swimming Pool Renewal Wm. L. Welch Community Swimming Pool Renewal Millbrook Marsh Nature Center – Educ. Bldg. Construction John Hess Softball Complex Renewal - 21 acres Oak Hall Regional Park, Phase 1 – 68 acres Whitehall Road Regional Park, Phase 1– 100 acres For 2002 through 2013 Municipal Investment/Commitments State Grant Investments Private & Public Donations TOTAL

$18,002,666. $ 1,801,166. $ 1,088,000. $20,891,832. *

* Plus loan interest through 2032 6

THE RENEWED JOHN HESS SOFTBALL FIELD COMPLEX 2011

2012

2013

Softball Fields in Service

3

4

4

Tournaments

7

9

10 Planned

257

397

Pending

1,482

1,488

Pending

Tournament Games Total Teams (Tournaments + League Play)

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.

7

THE JOHN HESS SOFTBALL FIELD COMPLEX The Approved Master Site Plan

21 Acres

4 youth fields shown.

Optional Plan w/ 3 adult fields.

8

OAK HALL REGIONAL PARK

The Approved Master Site Plan 68 acres

9

OAK HALL – PHASE 1 • 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.

FULLY OPEN: Spring 2015 10

OAK HALL – PHASE 1 REQUESTS 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.

11

WHITEHALL ROAD REGIONAL PARK

The Updated Master Site Plan – 100 acres 12

WHITEHALL ROAD REGIONAL PARK PHASE 1 PLANNING IN PROGRESS… 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

13

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 14

THE BIG PICTURE (DEVELOPMENT)…

DEVELOPMENT COSTS

TOTAL

PHASE 1

$5.7 million

$3.8 million

WHITEHALL ROAD

$12.9 million

$5.5 million

SUBTOTAL

$18.6 million

$9.3 million

$2.9 million

-

OAK HALL

HESS COMPLEX 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.

15

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. 

16

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.

17

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.

Our joint challenge is to find the best way to “Raise The Tide” for active recreation.

18