Brainstorming Workshop

Riverside Park Master Plan Community Board 7 meeting, May 18, 2015 Introduction The Riverside Park Conservancy is working with a team from the Parks Departments Planning and Parklands Division, led by Principal Urban Designer Charles McKinney (former Riverside Park Administrator and Parks Chief of Design) to prepare a Master Plan that will guide the next 20 years of City capital and expense budget projects as well as privately funded projects. Riverside Park has benefited enormously from the 1987 Master Plan for the park. Since then, our park partners, Community Boards, elected officials, the Parks Department, and the Riverside Park Conservancy, formerly the Riverside Park Fund, have accomplished most of the goals identified in the 1987 Plan. The plan will address issues such as: x Bicycle, pedestrian and runner circulation x Storm related flooding x Landscape health and beauty x Community health and fitness x River access and use x Facility condition and use x Park operation and security

Community Workshops We conducted two community workshops to find out what people were already working on, what problems they were facing and their wishes were. Some of the things people are most concerned about: x Pedestrian and bicycle conflicts x Park condition, horticulture and erosion x The Rotunda, the Soldiers and Sailors Monument x Restrooms x Updating active recreation facilities x Accommodating senior citizens x Park signage and communication x Access to the river and marina Tonight we will review some results from the Community Workshops: x Capital project requests x Circulation problems x New facility requests Next steps for the Planning team The planning team is examining the whole park, paying particular attention to the community concerns. Over the summer the team will prepare conceptual plans and budgets for projects and programs that accomplish community goals and restore the park.

1. Shared understanding of the park problems and community needs

2. Commitment to the proposed solutions, and to obtaining funding for them

3. Coordinated long-term effort between agencies, non-profit partners, community groups and elected officials to fund and implement projects

Success of the Master Plan depends on:

If we have a shared understanding of the problems and needed projects, it is easier to prioritize work and devise restoration programs. It is easier for elected officials to obtain capital project funding for projects if the logic and need are clear and the projects are broadly supported in the community.