FARMINGTON -- In a work session about a new master plan for Creekside Park, city aldermen came to the consensus that a new pavilion for concerts and other events should be one of the first priorities for improvements in the future.
Tentatively, a new pavilion would be located near Broyles Street and behind Kum & Go gas station. The proposal shows the pavilion would be built between two large trees with a large, grassy area in front of the pavilion. Two other priorities are basketball and tennis courts.
The pavilion is one of many amenities proposed in a master site plan created by Alta Planning and Design of Bentonville. Erin Rushing, project manager, presented the plan to Farmington City Council at its August meeting. Rushing attended the work session to answer questions.
Alta's master plan included areas set aside for an apple orchard, a public works facility on vacant park land, several smaller playgrounds, new walking trails, basketball and tennis courts, open play areas, a splash pad and a dog park.
Rushing provided another map at the Nov. 30 work session that had removed several of the new items, leaving more open areas. The revised map also removes several smaller parking lots located at the end of dead-end streets around Creekside Park. Parking lots accessible from Broyles Street also have been eliminated from the master plan. A dog park is still included in the plan, as well as the existing playground and walking trail.
One major change is that a public works facility will not be built in an open area on the east side of Broyles Street behind Robb Street, according to Mayor Ernie Penn.
"Absolutely, it will not be there," Penn said later.
In August, several property owners along Robb Street appealed to the City Council, asking it to find another site for a new public works facility. Residents pointed out many children live on Robb Street and the families were looking forward to using the land as a park.
Instead, the city now is discussing whether to move the location for a public works facility to the other side of Broyles Street. This is still part of Creekside Park but, as Penn pointed out at the work session, the area has a thicket of trees that would provide a buffer between a public works facility and houses nearby. Only two houses would be able to see the facility and the city would install a fence or plant trees to hide the building.
Penn told Council members he had a "hard time" spending city money to purchase new land for a new public works building when the city has vacant land available at the park. He also pointed out the park requires a lot of work by public works employees and it would be beneficial to have the facility near the park.
Penn said he believes the west side of Broyles would have the last amount of impact on the neighborhood for a public works facility but wants to "seriously" look at the idea before going forward with it.
Rushing said his firm's plan shows that a pavilion would probably cost around $200,000, including electrical work and all other components. Council members agreed that any improvements to the park would also require parking lots nearby. One idea was to relocate the current basketball courts and expand that area to provide parking for a new pavilion. If the city later builds additional basketball and tennis courts, it also would have to install parking nearby.
"The big deal is that parking is going to have to go along with everything," Penn said.
Penn suggested contracting with an engineer to look at the topography of the land to see the best fit for certain amenities. Penn said he wants to review the city's finances at the end of the year to determine what reserve funds could be allocated for improvements to Creekside Park. Ideally, the city could find matching grants to supplement reserve funds.
Floyd Shelley, public works director, said his suggestion is to select one or two priorities and complete those, and not worry about the rest of the park.
"Let's focus on that and get it done," Shelley said. "After we finish one, we may change our mind about the next one."
Shelley noted it could take one or two years to finish one project, by time the city looks at engineering, applies for grants and saves money.
Melissa McCarville said City Hall receives request for tennis courts more than any other facility. Rushing said two tennis courts probably would cost about $100,000 and a basketball court would cost $45,000.
The aldermen briefly discussed possible options to pay for projects. Penn, for example, asked what they thought about asking for a sales tax increase.
Council member Brenda Cunningham said she opposed asking for a sales tax increase at this time. Possibly later, she said, after the city had made some improvements to the park.
Other options, would be a short-term bank loan or a grant to match existing reserve funds.
"We could borrow $500,000 and do some damage to the park," said Alderman Bobby Morgan.
Penn said he preferred to use city money, instead of seeking a tax increase or borrowing money.
For now, the city's 2016 budget does not include any improvements to Creekside Park.
General News on 12/16/2015