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New Dow Park taking its shape
  
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By KOSAKU NARIOKA
People may see more water features in a renovated Dow Park.
In addition to a relocated skate park and a detention facility, a pond and an amphitheater with a splash pad were some of the most popular features among the members of the Deer Park City Council and representatives from the city’s Parks and Recreation Department as they gave feedback to the presentation last month, made by the consultants developing the master plan for renovation of the park.
Lloyd Lentz, of Knudson & Associates, said based on the feedback, the firm will develop a preliminary plan and bring it back to the city for a review. All three concepts of the master plan the firm revealed at the workshop showed a gazebo, a pavilion and the rose garden in one form or the other. An open play space and a new tree line at top of bank on the west side also earned some popularity.
Lentz said the storm water management is very important and as its recreational utilization, “it would be cool to have a pond.” He added when it comes to a pond for fishing, “ideally” he would like to see a 2-acre pond to have enough volume of water to avoid a temperature problem and a minimum depth of 6 feet to keep fish habitat and some room for sedimentation over time.
The current swale that runs east to west and connects into the adjacent concrete drainage channel on the west side of the park is “not flowing correctly and does not provide adequate drainage for the 40 acre park,” according to the site analysis by the firm.
“However, with re-grading and widening of the swale, some planting design practices applied to the embankments, this could become an excellent focal point for the park, creating an almost native stream like effect as it bisects the park,” the analysis read.
The analysis also pointed out “a lack of identity” of the park, leading potentially to relocating the park’s entrance and parking to the south end. The amphitheater with a splash pad, the entrance and parking space would replace baseball fields which are expected to relocate to other part of town.
Chris McBride, of Knudson & Associates, said he understands the city has concerns about the current skate park’s location and proposed to move it to the south side, adjacent to parking space. He added the facility itself would upgrade to “a new age skate park.”
Lentz said the master plan would be phased with a total cost of anywhere from $2 million to $5 million.
Asked by Mayor Wayne Riddle how much money the city has for the Dow Park renovation, City Manager Ronald V. Crabtree said it has about $460,000 from the bonds authorized in 2000, but they need to look beyond that for a total development of the site since the city could do only the minimum with the $460,000. Crabtree mentioned 4B sales tax or another bond as a potential source of funding.
The city manager said when the city presents the 4B proposition, which failed back in May, again to the community, the city staff wants to have a plan to show what, for example, 4B sales tax can support.
He said if 4B is not acceptable, the city can present the plan in the future bond program that would probably be more focused on the development of the existing park areas and other quality of life and infrastructure projects. He said the city is completing the final phase of the capital programs funded by the bond authorized in 2000.
In addition to a relocated skate park and a detention facility, a pond and an amphitheater with a splash pad were some of the most popular features among the members of the Deer Park City Council and representatives from the city’s Parks and Recreation Department as they gave feedback to the presentation last month, made by the consultants developing the master plan for renovation of the park.
Lloyd Lentz, of Knudson & Associates, said based on the feedback, the firm will develop a preliminary plan and bring it back to the city for a review. All three concepts of the master plan the firm revealed at the workshop showed a gazebo, a pavilion and the rose garden in one form or the other. An open play space and a new tree line at top of bank on the west side also earned some popularity.
Lentz said the storm water management is very important and as its recreational utilization, “it would be cool to have a pond.” He added when it comes to a pond for fishing, “ideally” he would like to see a 2-acre pond to have enough volume of water to avoid a temperature problem and a minimum depth of 6 feet to keep fish habitat and some room for sedimentation over time.
The current swale that runs east to west and connects into the adjacent concrete drainage channel on the west side of the park is “not flowing correctly and does not provide adequate drainage for the 40 acre park,” according to the site analysis by the firm.
“However, with re-grading and widening of the swale, some planting design practices applied to the embankments, this could become an excellent focal point for the park, creating an almost native stream like effect as it bisects the park,” the analysis read.
The analysis also pointed out “a lack of identity” of the park, leading potentially to relocating the park’s entrance and parking to the south end. The amphitheater with a splash pad, the entrance and parking space would replace baseball fields which are expected to relocate to other part of town.
Chris McBride, of Knudson & Associates, said he understands the city has concerns about the current skate park’s location and proposed to move it to the south side, adjacent to parking space. He added the facility itself would upgrade to “a new age skate park.”
Lentz said the master plan would be phased with a total cost of anywhere from $2 million to $5 million.
Asked by Mayor Wayne Riddle how much money the city has for the Dow Park renovation, City Manager Ronald V. Crabtree said it has about $460,000 from the bonds authorized in 2000, but they need to look beyond that for a total development of the site since the city could do only the minimum with the $460,000. Crabtree mentioned 4B sales tax or another bond as a potential source of funding.
The city manager said when the city presents the 4B proposition, which failed back in May, again to the community, the city staff wants to have a plan to show what, for example, 4B sales tax can support.
He said if 4B is not acceptable, the city can present the plan in the future bond program that would probably be more focused on the development of the existing park areas and other quality of life and infrastructure projects. He said the city is completing the final phase of the capital programs funded by the bond authorized in 2000.
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