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Memorial Park A community recreation plan for the City of York, Pennsylvania Master Plan October 2007

Memorial Park - City of York, Pennsylvania · and philanthropy of Bob Hoffman. Bob Hoffman ... Today Memorial Park totals 74 acres and is located entirely within the City of York

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Page 1: Memorial Park - City of York, Pennsylvania · and philanthropy of Bob Hoffman. Bob Hoffman ... Today Memorial Park totals 74 acres and is located entirely within the City of York

Memorial Park

A community recreation plan for the City of York, Pennsylvania

Master Plan

October 2007

Page 2: Memorial Park - City of York, Pennsylvania · and philanthropy of Bob Hoffman. Bob Hoffman ... Today Memorial Park totals 74 acres and is located entirely within the City of York
Page 3: Memorial Park - City of York, Pennsylvania · and philanthropy of Bob Hoffman. Bob Hoffman ... Today Memorial Park totals 74 acres and is located entirely within the City of York

Master PlanMemorial ParkAcknowledgments

Memorial Park Advisory CommitteeMemorial Park Advisory CommitteeMemorial Park Advisory CommitteeMemorial Park Advisory CommitteeMemorial Park Advisory Committee

Frank Dittenhafer, Murphy Dittenhafer Architects, Co-ChairmanMike Heine, Fulton Bank, Co-Chairman

George Andrews, York Catholic High SchoolMichael Black, Citizens Bank

Matt DeRose, York County Convention and Visitors BureauAnn Druck, York County Convention and Visitors Bureau

James E. Gross, City of YorkPhil Harman, White Rose Softball League

Rick Hollinger, York City Recreation CorporationDonald Knaub, Veterans Park Neighborhood Association

Tom Landis, Recreation and Park Superintendent City of YorkGeorge MacDonald, Bob Hoffman Foundation

Dennis Malat, Veterans Park Neighborhood AssociationScott Simonds, Penn State York

City of YorkCity of YorkCity of YorkCity of YorkCity of York

John S. Brenner, MayorJames E. Gross, Director Department of Public Works

ConsultantsConsultantsConsultantsConsultantsConsultants

Yost Strodoski MearsToole Recreation Planning

October 2007October 2007October 2007October 2007October 2007

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Page 5: Memorial Park - City of York, Pennsylvania · and philanthropy of Bob Hoffman. Bob Hoffman ... Today Memorial Park totals 74 acres and is located entirely within the City of York

Master PlanMemorial ParkTable of Contents

Introduction................................................1Introduction................................................1Introduction................................................1Introduction................................................1Introduction................................................1

Thew Planning Process.................................2Thew Planning Process.................................2Thew Planning Process.................................2Thew Planning Process.................................2Thew Planning Process.................................2

Guiding Principles.........................................3Guiding Principles.........................................3Guiding Principles.........................................3Guiding Principles.........................................3Guiding Principles.........................................3

Memoiral Park Master Plan ..........................4Memoiral Park Master Plan ..........................4Memoiral Park Master Plan ..........................4Memoiral Park Master Plan ..........................4Memoiral Park Master Plan ..........................4

Community Park Area............................7Community Park Area............................7Community Park Area............................7Community Park Area............................7Community Park Area............................7

Entrance Plaza......................................9Entrance Plaza......................................9Entrance Plaza......................................9Entrance Plaza......................................9Entrance Plaza......................................9

Softball Complex.....................................11Softball Complex.....................................11Softball Complex.....................................11Softball Complex.....................................11Softball Complex.....................................11

Stadium.................................................13Stadium.................................................13Stadium.................................................13Stadium.................................................13Stadium.................................................13

Sports Court Area................................15Sports Court Area................................15Sports Court Area................................15Sports Court Area................................15Sports Court Area................................15

Veterans Memorial.................................17Veterans Memorial.................................17Veterans Memorial.................................17Veterans Memorial.................................17Veterans Memorial.................................17

Stream Corridor/Broad Street Greenway ............19Stream Corridor/Broad Street Greenway ............19Stream Corridor/Broad Street Greenway ............19Stream Corridor/Broad Street Greenway ............19Stream Corridor/Broad Street Greenway ............19

Penn State University Improvements.............21Penn State University Improvements.............21Penn State University Improvements.............21Penn State University Improvements.............21Penn State University Improvements.............21

York Catholic High School Improvements...........23York Catholic High School Improvements...........23York Catholic High School Improvements...........23York Catholic High School Improvements...........23York Catholic High School Improvements...........23

Additional Design Considerations...................24Additional Design Considerations...................24Additional Design Considerations...................24Additional Design Considerations...................24Additional Design Considerations...................24

Park Improvement Guidelines..........................25Park Improvement Guidelines..........................25Park Improvement Guidelines..........................25Park Improvement Guidelines..........................25Park Improvement Guidelines..........................25

Cost Analysis .....................................31Cost Analysis .....................................31Cost Analysis .....................................31Cost Analysis .....................................31Cost Analysis .....................................31

Strategic Operations and Management Plan..........33Strategic Operations and Management Plan..........33Strategic Operations and Management Plan..........33Strategic Operations and Management Plan..........33Strategic Operations and Management Plan..........33

Recommendations .................................36Recommendations .................................36Recommendations .................................36Recommendations .................................36Recommendations .................................36

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IntroductionCreating a Vision for Memorial Park.........................PurposeIn 2004 Mayor John Brenner appointed a Task Forceto develop a strategic plan for Memorial Park toensure widespread community use and enjoyment ofthe park and increase sports tourism. The TaskForce Report recognized Memorial Park as a uniquecity asset and provided the following vision:

This Memorial Park Master Plan was determined tobe one of the first steps toward achieving the TaskForce’s vision for Memorial Park.

Background and HistoryMemorial Park was originally acquired in 1943 bythe Spring Garden Memorial Park Association. The124 acre park was located in both Spring GardenTownship and the City of York. In 1953 MemorialPark was transferred to the City of York.

Significant in the parks history was the influenceand philanthropy of Bob Hoffman. Bob Hoffmanwas known as the Father of World Weight Liftingand was the founder of York Barbell Corporation.Hoffman provided funding over many years for thedevelopment and operation of Hoffman MemorialStadium, as part of Memorial Park, which wascomprised of seven softball fields including the BobHoffman Stadium dedicated on August 30, 1979.

Hoffman aspired to promote the City of York as the“Softball Capital of the World” and to this dayYork’s Memorial Park is widely recognized as asoftball tournament destination. For a time, BobHoffman stadium was the home of the York WhiteRose minor league baseball team. Brooks Robinson,of Baltimore Orioles fame, made his professionalbaseball debut in the stadium in 1955.

Today Memorial Park totals 74 acres and is locatedentirely within the City of York. The park currentlyoffers a diverse array of active recreation facilitiesdominated by softball facilities and the York City IceArena. The evolution of the park over time hasresulted in some haphazard development, functionalchallenges, and safety concerns. Wear and tear andthe lack of investment have taken a toll on the ballfields and support facilities.

The Memorial Park Complex will regainand, eventually, surpass its former reputationand status as a premier softball complex.Through systematic planning with an eye toself-sustainability, the park will become avital and revenue-generating city asset thatwill, over time, offer an expanded scope ofrecreational activities and events. Throughsound governance, the development ofpartnerships which will promote use of thepark, and dedicated marketing efforts thiscomplex will become a hub of activity in thecity, serving neighborhood residents, PennState-York and York Catholic students andstaff, York County residents and visitorswho will enjoy its activities and events andbring revenue to the surrounding area.

This vision for the complex will unfold inphases:

Restoration of the park as a premierathletic complex with facilities andamenities that will promote softball, icehockey, and volleyball activity.

Expansion of athletic venues to includenew trends in recreation programmingthat will make the complex attractive todiverse age groups.

Evolution of the complex into a venuethat offers, in addition to sportingactivities, other events and activities thatappeal to diverse audiences and increaserevenue potential.

Source: Memorial Park Task Force Report, November 2004

1

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The master plan for Memorial Park was developedusing a four part public participation process thatincluded:

An advisory committee.

Key person interviews.

User work forums – (Softball Forum, SportsUsers Forum, and Community Leaders Forum).

Two public meetings to gather community andneighbor input.

The planning process included an evaluation ofexisting site conditions, a softball field capacityanalysis, a parking needs evaluation, and explorationof alternate conceptual designs.

Design ObjectivesThe following design objectives were identifiedbased on the findings and input from the publicparticipation process. The objectives guided thedevelopment of the Memorial Park Master Plan:

Integrate typical community park facilities(trails, picnic pavilions, basketball courts) intoMemorial Park to provide additional recreationopportunities for neighbors and City residents.

Maintain the green area along Edgar Street asopen space and integrate improvements desiredby the neighborhood.

Maximize the park for softball and improvethese facilities for league and tournament use tocontinue the tradition and provide uniquefacilities that make the park special.

Locate additional park entrances.

Clarify and improve the entry sequence into thepark.

Highlight and recognize the memorials and givethem a home in the park.

Maximize the number of softball fields.

Create hubs of activities.

Organize the parking – locate parking to conve-niently serve facilities.

Maintain a “green” corridor along Edgar Streetand Poor House Run.

Integrate trails, plazas, gathering areas through-out the park.

2

The Planning Process

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The following guiding principles were developed asthe foundation for the recommendations for thestrategic revitalization, management, and operationof Memorial Park. The guiding principles shouldserve as the foundation for all future actions anddecision-making.

1. Memorial Park is a regional park and a regionalasset. It benefits the City of York and the Yorkregion of southcentral Pennsylvania.

2. The City cannot undertake the rehabilitation andmanagement of the park over time on its own.

3. Neither can the City completely turn over theresponsibility for the park to others.

4. Stewardship for the park needs to be cultivatedwith many partners working cooperativelywith the City.

5. Public/private partnerships are the primary forcethat will drive the future success of MemorialPark. Civic responsibility nurtured among theCity, the private sector, and the community willbe the key to revitalizing this park as a vibrantpublic space that enhances the quality of lifeand contributes to the economic vitality of York.The fact that civic interest and support forMemorial Park is already underway is evident inthe private funding and involvement of commu-nity leaders in this park master plan. Otherevidence of public support for the park includethe construction of the Ice Arena and thepending skate park.

6. Strong leadership is needed from both the Cityof York and the private sector.

7. The revitalization of Memorial Park should bedirectly connected to the overall economicdevelopment planning for the City of York andthe region.

8. Memorial Park has to serve a broad base of parkvisitors including the neighbors, city residentsfrom all areas of York, visitors from outside theCity, and tourists coming for events and overnight stays.

9. The park needs to be managed as both a civicspace and as a business.

10. Creative innovative measures need to bedeveloped and implemented to rehabilitate andoperate the park.

11. The City needs a point person to act in a strongleadership capacity to lead the way in creatingthe future Memorial Park.

12. A single entity needs to be put in to place inorder to cultivate, sustain, and recognizepartners.

Guiding Principles

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4

The master plan for Memorial Park responds to thefindings of the planning process. Input from thepublic and diverse user groups was integrated intothe design. Existing and future use patterns andspatial relationships were evaluated and thefunctional aspects of maintenance, stormwatermanagement, emergency access, and proximity of

Memorial Park Master Plansupport facilities were considered. The master planpromotes a vision for a premier recreation facility.The following pages describe the master plan,separated into nine use areas. These descriptions arefollowed by park improvement guidelines anddevelopment cost summary.

Penn StateYork

YorkCatholic

HS

Edgar St.

NORTH

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5

Memorial ParkMaster Plan

Prepared for:

Prepared by:

The Cityof York,Pennsylvania

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Page 12: Memorial Park - City of York, Pennsylvania · and philanthropy of Bob Hoffman. Bob Hoffman ... Today Memorial Park totals 74 acres and is located entirely within the City of York

Community Park AreaLocation and Existing Features The communitypark area is located between Edgar Street andVander Avenue west of the Rockdale Avenue. PoorHouse Run traverses the area and mature trees existalong the stream corridor creating a scenic, peacefulsetting for informal recreation activities. Recreationamenities include a playground and scattered picnictables. This area of the park contains the York CityDepartment of Public Works, Bureau of Recreation& Parks maintenance facility and the leased Roll-R-Way Family Skating Center, which are slated toremain.

Softball Fields Two softball fields are locatedon the eastern side of the stream corridor. Thefields have 60-75’ baselines and 325’ outfields.The southern field has a short right field.Lighting is not proposed for these fields andtemporary outfield fencing will be used to allowuse of the lawn area between the fields forvarious activities.

Multi-Purpose Field A 225’x360’ multipur-pose field is developed between the two softballfields which overlaps the northern field. Thefield size will accommodate soccer, lacrosse,and football. The preferred north-south orienta-tion is provided.

Trail A trail is developed somewhat parallel tothe stream which is part of the Broad StreetGreenway (page 19) Two pedestrian bridges areprovided to cross Poor House Run linking thecommunity park area and the neighborhood tothe west to the York Catholic High Schoolcampus. The trail extends to the north toBoundary Avenue and continues as the BroadStreet Greenway on the Hanna Penn MiddleSchool property. The trail continues to thesouth, along Poor House Run, across RockdaleAvenue, and through Memorial Park. Benchesshould be located at convenient intervals alongthe trail.

Parking A small 18 space parking area isproposed off of Sampson Avenue. The parkingarea should be curbed to limit vehicular accessonto the adjacent softball field.

Stream Enhancements Poor House Run is inpoor condition throughout the park site withincised banks from erosion, evidence of dump-ing, and little vegetative buffer to filter runoffentering the stream. The master plan suggestsadditional tree, shrubs, and streambank vegeta-tion along the stream to enhance soil stabiliza-tion, provide shade, and filter runoff (see page17). Mowing to the stream edge should cease.Wildflower and meadow planting should bedeveloped within 20 feet of the top of streambank.

Proposed Recreation Enhancements The commu-nity park area is developed with traditional recre-ation amenities desired by residents of the nearbyneighborhoods. The area is envisioned as a neigh-borhood destination for leisure activities.

Playground The existing playground is ex-panded and has age-segregated play equipment,benches, and a nearby pavilion offers shadedseating for caregivers.

Half-Court Basketball Courts Adjacent to theplayground and a small picnic pavilion are twohalf-court basketball courts developed side byside for recreational play. The basketball courtsare open and visible to Edgar Street and con-structed with a north-south orientation.

Picnic Pavilions Three picnic pavilions arelocated throughout the western portion of theCommunity Park Area. The pavilions are small(24’x24’) for family and small group use. Thecentral pavilion includes restrooms.

7

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Issues and OpportunitiesOptions were explored for relocating the maint-enance facility off site which is preferred if anappropriate site can be found (page 24).Removal of the maintenance facility wouldprovide a location for parking convenient to theRoll-R-Way Family Skating Center and commu-nity park area facilities. If the maintenancefacility remains, fence and vegetative screeningshould be developed to visually separatefunctional and storage areas from public useareas.

Environmental permits will be required tocomplete riparian enhancements to Poor HouseRun and install the pedestrian bridge.

Minimal grading will be required to accommo-date the proposed improvements.

Community Park AreaPlayground Area

Half-Court Basketball Court Area

Picnic Pavilion

Softball Field

Multipurpose Field

Trail

Stream Enhancements

Parking

8

B

C

A

D

E

F

G

H

BC

A

DE

FG

H

D

The southern softball field is developed with ashort right field and is in close proximity to themaintenance facility and stream. Fencing heightshould be extended to protect surrounding areasfrom foul balls.

CC

F

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Entrance PlazaLocation and Existing Features The entranceplaza is centrally located within the park site,generally between the stadium, proposed four fieldsoftball pinwheel, and the York City Ice Arena.Currently this area is developed as a parking lot withamenities such as a miniature golf course, battingcages, playground, picnic pavilion, restrooms, andstadium concession stand surrounding the edge ofthe pavement. The area is haphazardly developedand vehicular traffic travels through the area to theeastern most fields, creating a dangerous situation.

Central Play Area A “York Themed” play areais centrally located within the plaza. Theplayground is envisioned as a dynamic destina-tion play area with custom sculpture, expansiveage segregated play apparatus, splash pad, andareas for watching the play activities. Themesthat relate to York’s recreation or industrialheritage, Bob Hoffman, etc. should be creativelyincorporated into the play area. The play areashould be developed as the visual center piece ofthe park.

Visitor Service Amenities Visitor serviceamenities will be housed in the stadium building(page 13) and accessed from the plaza. Visitoramenities would include restrooms, first aidstation, umpire headquarters, concession stand,tournament check-in/information booth, andticket booth for the stadium.

Batting Cages Four batting cages are located onthe northern side of the entrance plaza.

Softball Field One lighted softball field islocated east of the entrance plaza.

Parking A parking area sized to accommodate160 cars with a drop-off area is developedadjacent to the entrance plaza.

Information Kiosk An information kioskshould be developed at the drop-off area whichprovides a map of the park site showing loca-tions of amenities and trail length, tournamentschedules and upcoming events calendar, parkpolicies, and other information.

Amenities Site amenities such as benches, trashreceptacles, bike racks, and water fountainsshould be located throughout this central areafor the convenience of the park visitor.

Pavement Decorative unit pavers are suggestedfor the plaza pavement. Unit pavers that are drylaid can be removed and replaced so that utilitiescan be readily accessed and serviced.

Plaza Plaza areas should be generous in sizeand scaled to accommodate high attendance attournaments and special events.

Proposed Recreation EnhancementsThe entrance plaza is developed as the central hub ofthe park. The primary visitor amenities are located inthis area and other recreation facilities radiate fromthis main plaza.

9

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Entrance PlazaCentral Play AreaVisitor ServiceAmenitiesBatting Cages

Landscaping Landscaping areas should beincorporated into the entrance plaza to provideopportunities for colorful planting beds, toseparate use areas and traffic flow corridors, andto create a comfortable, human scaleenvironment.

Issues and OpportunitiesDevelopment of the entry plaza visitor serviceamenities must be coordinated with the designof the stadium building.

The plaza offers opportunities for small kiosksto be located as a revenue stream from busi-nesses such as gourmet coffee, ice cream,tournament souvenirs, etc.

The batting cages could be developed with opennets so that they offer spectator value and add tothe dynamic activities of the park hub. Alterna-tively, the batting cages could be developedwithin an all-season structure as a trainingfacility, in which case, the location could bemoved to the rear of the Ice Arena (page 24).The all-season structure may present an addi-tional revenue stream for the park.

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Softball Field

Parking

Information KioskB

C

A D

E

F

B

CA

D

D

E

F

D

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Softball ComplexLocation and Existing Features The softballcomplex is located in the eastern most portion of thepark. Existing facilities include five softball fields,stormwater detention basin, and parking. Access isfrom the existing central parking area. Currentlyaccess from Albemarle Street crosses Penn StateYork campus, which is gated off, limiting vehicularaccess to the park from the east.

Proposed Recreation Enhancements The softballcomplex provides an efficient pinwheel configura-tion with a central hub area for team and visitoramenities.

Softball Fields Four lighted softball fields (60’-75’ baseline and 300’ outfield) are developed ina pinwheel configuration with a central plazaand support building. The softball fields will bedeveloped with the full complement of amenitiesfor tournament play including dugouts, bleach-ers, electronic scoreboards, warning tracks, hosebibs for maintenance and irrigation, and fullfield fencing.

Central Plaza A plaza is created central to thefour fields. The plaza pavement provides areasfor bleaches and informal spectators seating andaccess to the central support building. The plazashould be developed to complement the func-tions of the entrance plaza (page 9).

Support Building The central support buildinghouses restrooms, concessions, and an announc-ers’ booth. The central support building shouldbe developed to complement the stadiumbuilding (page 13) and provide needed facilitiesin close proximity to the fields.

Pavilions Four small (24’x24’) pavilions arelocated to the east and south of the softballfields and parking. These pavilions are sized toaccommodate a team and function as a staging

area for tournament teams and as traditionalpicnic shelters.

Parking Parking areas surround the four softballfields at the perimeter of the park property. Theeastern parking area accommodates 180 cars andfive buses. Access to this parking area is fromAlbemarle Street. The northeast parking areaaccommodates 80 cars with primary access froma proposed extension of Dallas Street. EastSpringettsbury Avenue is extended along thenorthern boundary of the park site between YorkCatholic High School and the park to connectwith the Dallas Street extension. A parking areafor 140 cars and an overflow parking area on theturf of the stormwater management facilityaccommodates approximately 140 additional cars.Handicap parking spaces and an emergencyvehicle space should be designated for each field.Vehicle drop-off areas associated with the parkingareas provide convenient access to the fields forplayers, spectators, and equipment drop-off.

Playground A playground geared toward theneeds of younger children (ages two to five) islocated along the eastern property line as acomplement to the softball complex and picnicpavilions. Pavement markings and signs areproposed to promote safe crossing of the parkingarea to access the playground and pavilions.

Stormwater Management The stormwatermanagement facility for the park is locatedparallel to the extension of East SpringettsburyAvenue and adjacent parking area. Stormwaterflowing through the site and from park areas willbe managed in this facility. The west side of thefacility should have shallow slopes to accommo-date overflow turf parking. The side slopes of thefacility should create a safe condition in a publicsetting.

Landscaping Landscaping is provided surround-ing the softball fields to separate the parking andfields. Deciduous trees in islands within theparking areas provide shade and cool the pave-ment areas. Perimeter use areas with picnicpavilions and the playground are planted toprovide shade and create a human scale locale forrecreation.

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Softball ComplexSoftball Field

Central Plaza

Support Building

Parking

Playground

Stormwater Management

Issues and OpportunitiesExtensions of East Springettsbury Avenue andDallas Street will require the approval of theCity and the cooperation of adjacent landown-ers.

Coordination with Penn State University will berequired to open the Albemarle Street entranceto the park.

Engineering studies will be necessary to deter-mine if the designated stormwater managementfacility is adequate in size to manage stormwateras necessary. Creative solutions such as under-ground detention beneath parking areas andinfiltration beds may be necessary to supplementthe stormwater management facility.

12

BC

A D

E

F

B

C

A

D

E

F

AA

AD

D

Two of the proposed softball fields are devel-oped with recommended solar orientations andthe other two fields will have playing limitationsduring portions of the day due to the location ofthe sun. Lights on these fields will maximizetheir use.

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StadiumLocation and Existing Features The BobHoffman Stadium is in the center of the park,adjacent to the existing large parking area. Thestadium field is surrounded within a walled area.The wall of brick piers and concrete panels sur-rounds the field and limits visual and physicalaccess. Concession stand, ticket booth, and bleach-ers surround the stadium softball field. The stadiumsetting, although in disrepair, presents a formalimage of an older ball park.

Proposed Recreation Enhancements BobHoffman Stadium is renovated as the premiersoftball field of the park. It will be used for leagueplay and as the championship field for tournaments.

Bob Hoffman Stadium Bob Hoffman Stadiumsoftball field will be slightly shifted in locationto provide the optimum solar orientation and tocreate plaza area surrounding the field. Thefield will be developed with a full complementof field amenities befitting the championshipfield to include dugouts, bleachers, electronicscoreboard, warning track, hose bibs for mainte-nance and irrigation, and full field fencing.

Stadium Wall The stadium wall has beenmodified to provide visual access to the field byremoving the concrete panels. The brick piersshould be stabilized and repointed and ironfence sections inserted to replace the panels.

Stadium Plaza Plazas areas surround the fieldto accommodate bleachers and access betweenthe spectator areas and support amenities. Theoutfield hill is retained in the design and a plazadeveloped beyond the outfield for elevatedviewing. The generous plaza areas provideopportunities for kiosk sales and special eventactivities. Areas for café seating should beaccommodated adjacent to the stadium building.Informal picnic areas with tables should belocated throughout the plaza with trees andlandscaped beds.

Stadium Building The stadium buildingprovides stadium-side access to concessions,restrooms, announcers’ booth, and ticket booth.

13

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StadiumStadium Plaza

Stadium Building

Stadium Wall

Softball Field

Parking

Issues and OpportunitiesThe stadium building could be developed toaccommodate a leased restaurant(s) and otherpotential revenue sources that complement thepark use.

Development of the stadium building amenitiesmust be coordinated with the entrance plazabuilding functions.

The plaza area encompasses an expansive spacefor sales kiosk, landscape areas, and othercompatible features.

The existing wall surrounding the stadium is indisrepair. An evaluation should be completed todetermine if the piers can be repaired andretained as proposed or must be rebuilt.

14

B

C

A

D

E

B

C

A

D

E

A

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Sports Court AreaLocation and Existing Features The sports courtarea is located south of Bob Hoffman Stadium, westof the old soapbox derby track, and south of thePenn State University York campus (PSU) parkingarea associated with the Pullo Family PerformingArts Center. The area is currently a softball field.Adjacent to the area, to the west, is the existing YorkCity mulch and yard waste area and Poor HouseRun.

Proposed Recreation Enhancements The sportscourt area includes athletic courts, the Reid MenzerMemorial Skatepark, and facilities to support leagueand informal play.

Basketball Courts Three lighted basketballcourts in the sports court area have seating andviewing areas for socializing. The courts havevisual access from the special events corridorand the PSU parking area. The courts areconstructed with the preferred north-southorientation.

Sand Volleyball Courts Four lighted sandvolleyball courts are provided in a bank forleague play. The adjacent lawn accommodatesviewing the court area through site grading.

Open Lawn An open lawn separates the courtsand the Reid Menzer Memorial Skatepark and issurrounded by a walking trail. The lawn pro-vides an area for special events and informal usesuch as frisbee or bocce.

Landscaping Landscaping buffers the westernedge of the sports court area. It screens thesports court area from the York City mulch andyard waste area.

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Sports CourtsReid Menzer Memorial Skatepark

Basketball Courts

Volleyball Courts

Open Lawn

Trails

Special Events Corridor

Issues and OpportunitiesThe York City mulch and yard waste area shouldbe relocated, if an opportunity emerges to do so.A location without potential conflicts withpublic recreation uses and the potential offlooding of Poor House Run is preferred (page24).

Visual access to the skate park and courts shouldbe maximized through the implementation of thedetailed design. Open visual access will en-hance monitoring of the area and safety of users.

Shared parking with the Pullo Family Perform-ing Arts Center should be explored with PSU. Awalkway and steps are proposed to facilitate theconnection from the parking area to the sportscourt area.

Reid Menzer Memorial Skate ParkThe Reid Menzer Memorial Skatepark is a newstate-of-the-art skate park currently under construc-tion. The concrete skate park area will be over20,000 square feet in size and combine bowl andstreet elements. The skatepark was designed incooperation with area youth. Communityfundraising is underway. The skatepark is adjacentto the stadium plaza with access from the formersoapbox derby track. The grade rises on the southside of the facility providing lawn seating forspectators.

16

B

C

AD

B

C

A

D

E

F

E

F

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Veterans MemorialLocation and Existing Features Currently, theVeteran’s Memorial area is south of the intersectionof Vander Avenue and Rockdale Avenue. Thevarious memorials are randomly placed. A garden inthe shape of a star highlights the area.

Garden and Water Feature A colorful gardenand water feature is suggested as a visual featureto enhance the entry into the park. The waterfeature is envisioned as a fountain that creates adynamic centerpiece of the garden and memorialarea.

York City Ice Arena The York City Ice Arenais a significant facility within Memorial Park,providing two indoor ice rinks, meeting/partyrooms, concession area, and large communityroom. Enhancements to the facility are pro-posed to improve its function and expand its usewithin the park. A vehicular drop-off area iscreated, separate from the one-way parkingaccess drive, that is now in front of the building.Aesthetic enhancements are proposed for theYork City Ice Arena and Roll-R-Way FamilySkating Center façades to tie these buildings tothe other park buildings. Parking north of theIce Arena is maintained and the rear parkingarea is realigned to be parallel with the buildingto provide space for the adjacent softball field.Walkways link the Ice Arena to the entranceplaza and stadium.

Park Entry Sequence The park entry circula-tion patterns are improved to direct visitors todestinations within the park. A “T” intersectionat Rockdale Avenue and Vander Avenue willenable traffic to flow to the south to the mainpark parking area and Ice Arena or to the northfor parking along East Springettsbury Avenue.Directional signs guide visitors to their destina-tions. A central parking area on the south side ofthe Ice Arena accommodates 160 cars andprovides a drop-off at the entrance plaza. Thelawn area between the entry/exit drives of theparking area is designated as a stormwatermanagement facility to supplement the facilitylocated along East Springettsbury Avenue.

Proposed Recreation Enhancements The memori-als are relocated to a more prominent setting at theterminus of Vander Avenue and incorporated into alandscaped walkway. The Veteran’s Memorial areais developed as a passive garden space to enhancethe entrance to Memorial Park and provide a promi-nent location for the veterans memorials located inthe park. The space is also designed as a plaza forVeteran’s Day celebrations and a connection be-tween the York City Ice Arena and Roll-R-WayFamily Skating Center.

Memorial Walk A memorial walk withstations for individual memorial elementsencircles a garden and extends along the lawn infront of the York City Ice Arena. Interpretativedisplays are incorporated into the walkway,which provide information about the memorialsand the history of Memorial Park. A centralplaza area spans between the York City IceArena and the Roll-R-Way Family SkatingCenter providing access between the twofacilities and creating a space for Veterans Dayceremonies.

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Veterans MemorialMemorial Walk

Garden and Water Feature

York City Ice Arena

Park Entry Sequence

Stormwater Management

Issues and OpportunitiesThere are several memorials in the park that areslated to be relocated to the memorial walk.Additional areas along the walk should bedesignated for future memorials.

The Veterans Memorial area of the park offers aprominent location for garden development.Gardens add color and interest to a park but canoften require extensive maintenance. A partner-ship should be sought with a neighborhoodgroup or garden club to maintain the gardenarea.

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Stream Corridor / Broad Street Greenway

Location and Existing Features Poor House Runflows through the park in a south to north directionsomewhat parallel to the western park boundary.This stream corridor is designated as part of theBroad Street Greenway, an important pedestrian andbicycle link in the City, that will connect parks,schools, and neighborhoods. The stream corridorprovides the park’s most natural setting with maturetrees, meadow areas, and wetlands. The northernstream corridor is described as part of the commu-nity area (page 7). The southern portion of thecorridor is mostly undeveloped, in a natural state,with a portion used as a tree nursery for the YorkCity Bureau of Recreation and Parks.

Proposed Recreation Enhancements The BroadStreet Greenway will be extended along the streamand provide access to the corridor’s natural settingfor recreation and nature study.

Wetlands A wetlands area exists on the south-ern portion of the corridor. Boardwalks andbridges help visitors explore the wetland area.The area is complemented with interpretativesigns and a small pavilion to promote naturestudy.

Natural Playground A “Nature Themed” playarea is located west of the stadium and isenvisioned as a nontraditional play area thatincorporates natural elements and creativeopportunities to learn about nature in a fun,dynamic setting.

Broad Street Greenway The Broad StreetGreenway extends from Hanna Penn MiddleSchool, along the stream corridor through thepark, to connect to lands of PSU and their trailand sidewalk system.

Landscaping Landscape improvements alongthe stream corridor should include the removalof invasive species and supplemental planting ofnative species. Stream enhancements as de-scribed in the community area (page 7) shouldbe implemented along the entire steam corridor.The tree nursery is maintained within the designand could be incorporated as a learning opportu-nity.

Trail Amenities Trail amenities should beadded such as benches, pet pick-up stations, andmile markers to promote use of the trail corridor.

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Stream Corridor / Broad Street GreenwayWetlands

Natural Playground

Broad Street Greenway

Issues and OpportunitiesErosion along the southern portion of the streamis severe and it will be important to workcooperatively with the commercial neighbors,west of the southern portion of the area, tomanage stormwater runoff and repair erodeddrainage channels feeding the stream.

Safety and security are promoted through goodvisual access and elimination of isolated areas.It will be important to open up sight lines intoand along the trail in the southern portion of theBroad Street Greenway to create a safeenvironment.

Environmental permits will be required tocomplete enhancements to Poor House Run andmay require the cooperation of the adjacentcommercial land owners.

The extension of the Broad Street Greenwaysouth to connect with the trails of PSU willrequire the cooperation of PSU.

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Penn State University ImprovementsLocation and Existing Features Penn StateUniversity (PSU), York Campus is located contigu-ous to the south and east boundary of MemorialPark. The boundary between the park and campusblurs with PSU’s multipurpose field and six tenniscourts located adjacent to existing softball fields inthe park. The two sites are physically connected bythe 30-foot wide paved corridor that had been, untilrecently, a soap box derby track. With the additionof the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center to thePSU campus, the track no longer has the length forcompetition but must remain in place for fire equip-ment access purposes to the PSU campus.

Special Events Corridor The former soap boxderby track is transformed to a corridor punctu-ated with seating and gathering areas. Theseareas are located along the east side of thecorridor and include low seating walls anddecorative accent pavement. Colorful shadesails are suggested to shade the sitting areas andadd whimsy and color to the area. Theseamenities and the paved corridor provide alocation to set up special and community events.Additional accommodations for special eventsinclude ground surface lockable electricaloutlets, hose bibs, and stabilized turf on eitherside of the paved corridor for vendor andequipment setup. Between events, the specialevents corridor will provide informal seating forpark patrons and PSU students.

Broad Street Greenway Extension The BroadStreet Greenway along Poor House Run links tothe existing trails in the woodlands of the PSUcampus. The trail extension crosses Poor HouseRun near Rathton Road and the entry drive tothe Pullo Family Performing Arts Center.Linking the greenway with the PSU trailsextends the walking opportunity that radiatesfrom the park and facilitates a possible futureextension south of the park into Spring GardenTownship.Proposed Recreation Enhancements The PSU

improvements are recreation elements that will serveboth the school campus and the general public usingMemorial Park.

Amphitheater An amphitheater is located justoutside of the Pullo Family Performing ArtsCenter. The location takes advantage of thesloping hillside with informal seating on the hillfacing the stage in the north. The orientation ofthe stage and audience is not a preferred orienta-tion for viewing performances outdoors, but theorientation can be compensated for by providinga backdrop to the stage that also screens thesetting sun for evening performances. Thebackdrop/screen should be designed as a mov-able structure to provide open views to the parkand the City beyond when there are no perfor-mances in the amphitheater. Access from thespecial events corridor to the amphitheater isprovided.

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Issues and OpportunitiesThe amphitheater takes advantage of the naturalseating hill but will require special accommoda-tions to screen the setting sun for eveningperformances. The amphitheater and its specta-tor area have expansive views of the park andcity beyond which should be accessible whenthe amphitheater is not programmed.

The architecture of the amphitheater stage andseating area should complement the PulloFamily Performing Arts Center.

The former soap box derby track must retain itsfull function as an emergency fire lane for firevehicles to reach PSU. Special and communityevents will be required to setup on either side ofthe corridor retaining the corridor as a pedes-trian way that can be quickly cleared in case ofan emergency. Additional requirements must becoordinated with the City of York FireDepartment.

Environmental permits will be required to crossPoor House Run with a pedestrian bridge.

A crosswalk and directional signs will berequired where the trail crosses the PSU campusaccess drive and along the trail.

Penn State University ImprovementsAmphitheater

Special Events Corridor

Broad Street Greenway Extension

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York Catholic High School ImprovementsLocation and Existing Features York CatholicHigh School lies contiguous to Memorial Park on itsnorthern boundary. The high school has frontage onVander Avenue and the extension of EastSpringettsbury Avenue. Students who live in theneighborhoods west of the park cross the communitypark area and Poor House Run to access the school.The school property includes the high schoolbuilding, a senior baseball field, a football stadium,one softball field, and a multipurpose field. Theeastern-most portion of the school property isundeveloped and exists as scrub vegetation sur-rounding spoil materials dumped on the site. Infor-mal parking by park patrons occurs in this area dueto its close proximity to park softball fields. Thenortheastern-most corner is an open undevelopedfield.

Proposed Recreation Enhancements Improve-ments proposed for the York Catholic High School(YCHS) lands are intended to benefit both YCHSand Memorial Park and are support facilities toenhance the function of the park.

Dallas Street Entrance A new entrance toMemorial Park is proposed by extending DallasStreet from Sampson Avenue to the intersectionwith the extension of East SpringettsburyAvenue. This entrance will provide easy accessfor the neighborhood to the north and will be aprimary access way for tournament participantsand spectators traveling south on Route 83 to theMt. Rose exit to access the park. Dallas Streetterminates in a drop-off area at the softballcomplex.East Springettsbury Avenue Extension EastSpringettsbury Avenue is extended to the eastalong the frontage of YCHS to connect with theplanned extension of Dallas Street. EastSpringettsbury Avenue will provide access to theparallel parking areas and the drop off servingthe softball complex.Overflow Parking Area An overflow parkingarea accommodating approximately 115 vehiclesis developed parallel to the Dallas Street exten-sion on the YCHS property. This parking areawill serve the overflow spectator needs of bothYCHS and Memorial Park.

Issues and OpportunitiesDevelopment of the multipurpose field andoverflow parking will require removal ofvegetation and grading which may uncoverdebris dumped on the site. An investigation ofspoil materials and subsurface conditions shouldbe conducted prior to developing this area.

Extending Dallas Street and East SpringettsburyAvenue will create a through road that traversesthe park and school. Traffic calming measuresshould be incorporated into these street exten-sions to slow traffic and discourage cut-throughtraffic. Coordination with the City Engineeringand Traffic Departments will be required. Thesestreet extensions facilitate maintenance andemergency access to the park without traversingthe central public use areas of the site.

The development of the multipurpose field asillustrated will provide the only flat fields withoptimum solar orientation on the YCHS campus.

Multipurpose Field A multipurpose field isproposed east of the existing YCHS footballstadium. This field is developed with thepreferred north-south orientation. This multi-purpose flat field will be used by YCHS and canbe programmed for park use.

Dallas Street Entrance

East Springettsbury Avenue Extension

Overflow Parking Area

Multi-Purpose Field

York Catholic High School Improvements

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Maintenance Facility The maintenancebuilding is located in a highly visible portion ofthe park, adjacent to the Roll-R-Way FamilySkating Center and the community park area.The functional aspects of a park maintenancefacility typically require the storage of vehicles,equipment, and materials. Screening has beensuggested to minimize the view to themaintenance facility, but the preferred solutionis to relocate the facility. A possible location forthe relocated maintenance facility is on the eastside of the Dallas Street extension. A portion ofthe parcel, which is privately held, wouldprovide the necessary area for the maintenancefacility and planned expansion. Additionally, theYork City mulch and yard waste area could becentralized with maintenance activities in thislocation. A parking area to serve the communitypark area is suggested in place of themaintenance facility if it is relocated.

Miniature Golf A miniature golf course is lo-cated in the existing park. Although initially popu-lar, the facility has experience less use in recentyears and the facility is showing signs of wear.Miniature golf is viewed as a complementary fa-cility for the new Memorial Park and has revenuepotential. There are areas of the park that mayaccommodate a small, nine-hole course, and if apotential partner emerges, this opportunity shouldbe explored. Potential miniature golf locations in-clude the plaza surrounding the stadium, the cor-ner areas beyond the parking that encircles the pin-wheel fields, and on PSU lands between the mul-tipurpose field and the park. Additionally, if anoff site maintenance facility is achieved; the cur-rent maintenance facility area or the York Citymulch and yard waste areas could be explored aspotential miniature golf course sites.

Throughout the master planning process numerousdesign ideas were explored that are not included, perse, in the final master plan. Many of these ideas arevalid and are documented below so that they may beimplemented if opportunities emerge.

Additional Design ConsiderationsGolf Training Area Golf training could be ac-commodated on the open area located between thetwo softball fields in the community area. Thesefields are slated to have portable outfield fencing,leaving a large open area for multiple uses whenthe fields are not in use.

Indoor Athletic Training Facility An indoor ath-letic training facility would complement the soft-ball complex and York City Ice Arena. It could bea potential revenue generator. The location sug-gested for an indoor facility was to the rear of andconnected to the Ice Arena. This location wouldrequire the one softball field proposed for the areato be shifted to the northeast and possibly devel-oped with a shorter outfield. Additionally, the fieldrelocation would require the reconfiguration of thestormwater management facility and additionalsubsurface management. The batting cages couldbe located within the indoor athletic training fa-cility.

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Park Improvement GuidelinesThe transformation of Memorial Park to a state-of-the-art facility that encourages users to extend theirtime in the park includes support facilities andamenities that are critical to the park vision. Siteamenities that are conveniently located, signs thatdirect patrons to their destinations, and playgroundsthat are dynamic and engaging all contribute to thesuccess of the new Memorial Park. The followingsection presents park improvement guidelines fortrails, playgrounds, signage, and park architecture.

TrailsThe development of a comprehensive trail system iscritical to the success of Memorial Park. Trailsextend throughout the park site to provide continu-ous loops for walking and biking. Incorporatingtrails throughout the park will encourage the non-sports user to expand their use of the park beyondthe Community Area, provide tournament spectatorsalternative activities between games, link thesurrounding neighborhoods and schools to the parksite, and encourage fitness and wellness pursuits.Trails will provide access to proposed facilities thatmeet the requirements of the American with Dis-abilities Act (ADA).

The trails are paved and developed at a minimumeight (8’) foot width to accommodate both pedes-trian and bicyclists. Trails are developed interior tothe park site. Road crossings are minimized. Whereroads and access drives must be crossed, pavementcrosswalks and safety signage are proposed.

Health and fitness activities are promoted with trailmile markers that designate trail length of specifictrail loops to challenge users. For instance, the trailencircling the softball complex pinwheel is 0.5 milesin length. A map should be developed that depictsthe trail system and identifies trail lengths. The mapshould be located in the entrance plaza kiosk and atother convenient locations along the trails.

Playground AreasFour playground areas are proposed in the park, eachserving a different purpose and designed to addressdifferent need. The playground areas should bedesigned to be age-segregated to include a tot lot fortwo to five year olds and a youth playground for sixto twelve year olds. The playground areas must bedeveloped with safety surfacing and located asrecommended for safe play. Reference should bemade to the following:

American Society for Testing and MaterialsF1487-05.Consumer Product Safety Commission Guide-lines for Public Playground Safety.

The playgrounds should be accessible to physicallychallenged children via accessible pathways andplay equipment should offer play options for physi-cally challenged children. The playground mustcomply with the ADA. The playgrounds located inthe entrance plaza and along the stream corridor ofthe Broad Street Greenway should have themesincorporated into the play environment. Eachplayground area should be developed to be engagingfor children, providing dynamic play spaces that willbe enjoyed by both children and caregivers.

Trails are important to city residents who typicallymust use park land to exercise their dogs. Manypeople currently use Memorial Park to exercise theirdogs in the park and the park should continue to bedog friendly. Other suggested trail amenities includebenches in shaded locations, trash receptacles, andpet pick-up stations that provide plastic bags for petusers to pick up after their dogs. Signs should beposted along the trails to direct users to popular parkdestinations. The park provides a public setting forthe display of outdoor art. Creating an “Art Walk”in the park could be an attractive enhancement.

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What is a Good Playground?Play is the work of children. Through play, children learn skills to develop into happy and well-adjusted human beings. Playgrounds provide a valuable resource for this process. Playgroundstypically focus on the narrow gross motor skills: running, climbing, and swinging. Important skillssuch as socialization, language, creativity, and conceptualizing are less likely to be developed on playequipment typically available such as swings, climbers, seesaws, and merry-go-rounds.

Elements of a Good Playground Play areas designed according to the development needsof specific age groups: (2-5 year olds, 6-12 year olds). Playground equipment must conformto the Consumer Product Safety Commission guidelines. This includes safe equipment,design for safety through proper layout, and safe surfaces. Playgrounds should be designedand located within the spirit and standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Superstructure A play superstructure provides a wide range of experiences not possible intraditional equipment with a singular purpose. Every time a child steps onto a superstruc-ture, a variety of choices are presented. Components of superstructures include decks,bridges, ladders, and climbers. Superstructures are sized to accommodate numerous childrenat once.

Tire Swing In contrast to the traditional belt swing, tire swings can accommodate up to threechildren at once. This encourages children to develop a sense of cooperation and teamwork.

Sand Area Children love to play in sandboxes. Sand play fosters cooperative and creativeplay.

Dramatic Play Structures Structures that resemble items such as houses, town buildings,trains, cars, etc., provide the vehicle for children to develop linguistic and conceptual skills.These structures encourage imagination and social skills. They become props for adventuresand activities.

Paths and Walkways Paths for tricycles, in-line skates, or wheelchairs provide a way forchildren to experience independence. Paths with curves provide physical and cognitivechallenges for balancing, steering, and turning, and a sense of the body in motion.

Trees and Gardens Trees and shade are essential components of a playground. Relief fromthe hot summer sun is important. When supervision is possible, gardens provide learninglandscapes for appreciation of the environment and nature.

Sitting Areas Benches and shade are necessary for people using a playground. Adultssupervising children need a relaxing place to sit. Sitting areas provide a gathering place forsocialization and story telling. Seating can be imaginative with cutouts in hills, wallsdesigned for seating, etc.

Amenities and Support Facilities Playgrounds should have drinking fountains, trashreceptacles, and nearby bike racks. If the playground is to have a supervised recreationprogram longer than three hours, it should be located with convenient access to restrooms.

Water Play Features Water play is a favorite activity of pre-schoolers. Where supervisionis provided a water play area would be an asset. Water spray fountains near sand play areasadd to the imaginative play opportunities.

Storage Facilities Storage facilities are necessary for recreation leaders to store materialsand equipment on site.

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Sign Type

Regional ParkSigns

Park EntranceSigns

InformationKiosks

DirectionalSigns

Trail signs

Mile Markers

InterpretativeSigns

Traffic Signs

Safety Signs

Sign Purpose

Direct visitors to the park.

Identify the park

Provide information about thepark such as park policies, parkand trail maps, special eventscalendar, etc.

Identify direction to points ofinterest.

Identify trails of the park.

Identify distances along trailloops (tenth of a mile indicationvisible from both sides of themarker).

Provide environmental educa-tion and general interestinformation

Warn motorists of park activityareas and trail/road crossings.

Warn visitors of safety issues.

Sign Location

Strategic locations along Routes 83 and 30 andlocal roads that lead from state roads to the park.

At the four main park entrances, at the BoundaryAvenue frontage, and at the sports court area nearPSU.

At activity hub areas such as the entrance plaza,center of the four-field pinwheel of the softballcomplex, at the vehicular drop-off areas, in thesports court area, at the East Jackson Streetentrance to the Broad Street Greenway, and otherhigh use areas.

At trailheads and activity area access points.

At all trail intersections to guide users and identifycross trails.

At one-tenth mile intervals along the trails.

At points of interest in the park and along thetrails.

Along the roadways.

Strategically located as necessary.

A Signage System for Memorial Park

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1 Carpman Grant Associates, wayfinding.com

Signage SystemA comprehensive signage and wayfinding system isimportant for Memorial Park to guide visitors to thepark, direct visitors to the various park facilities, andinform visitors about park policies and future parkevents. Wayfinding means knowing where you are,knowing your destination, following the best route,recognizing your destination, and finding your wayback.1 As a park that host tournaments, visitors willbe traveling from outside the York County area to

visit Memorial Park. Clear informative signslocated along major travel routes will be necessaryto guide visitors to the destination. Once in the park,effective signage must be provided to direct visitorsto the park’s many recreation destinations. “You arehere” maps within kiosks in activity hubs willgreatly aid visitor orientation. A comprehensivesystem of signs should be developed at MemorialPark.

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Memorial Park Sign GuidelinesVandal Resistant Use materials such asphenolic resin panels (no frame required) orfiberglass embedded panels (frame required)which resist abrasions, graffiti, solvents, etc.

Weather Resistant Use materials that willnot fade or otherwise degrade from sunlight,moisture, or the freeze/thaw cycle.

Meet PennDOT Regulations AlongPennDOT roadways and York City streetsuse standard signs.

Promote Consistent Image Develop a“family” of graphics (logo, font, colors, etc.)that will be used on all park signs to unifythe park image. Work with professionalgraphic artists to create a layout template foreach sign type and park logo.

Graphics Utilize maps, graphic illustrationsand photographs, and text to communicatethe intended message.

Positive Message Research indicates thatpositive messages are far more effective inreducing undesirable activities (littering)than negatively worded messages.2

Sign Illumination Park identification signslocated at the main activity area entrancesshould be illuminated so they are visible atnight, fostering awareness of the park.

2 Recreation Research Update, Pacific Southwest ResearchStation – Wildland Recreation and Urban Cultures, October1999 No. 31 (USDA Forest Service).

Memorial Park offers numerous interpretative oppor-tunities that could be incorporated into a series of signsalong the trails and in activity areas. Topics couldinclude York’s softball heritage, York’s industrial heri-tage, the environmental resources in the Poor HouseRun riparian corridor, and the veterans’ memorials, toname a few.

Park ArchitectureImplementation of the park master plan recommen-dations will require the development of new build-ings. The architecture of park structures at Memo-rial Park can be a unifying factor within the park ifbuildings are developed with similar design andcomplementary qualities. Park architecture guide-lines noted below are recommendations to guide therenovation and development of park structures.

Park Architecture GuidelinesUnifying Design Buildings throughout thepark should be similar in design and detail,while responding to function and sitecharacteristics. Building materials shouldbe incorporated in other park elements asappropriate, e.g. building roof material usedfor kiosks.

Complement the Park Setting The buildingsshould relate to the topography and charac-ter of the setting, becoming an integral partof the park site and not forced upon thelandscape.

Human Scale The buildings should behuman scale with wide roof overhangs toprotect the buildings and park visitors fromthe elements.

Vandal Resistant Interior and exteriormaterials should be vandal resistant.Restrooms should have vandal resistantfixtures. Pavilion trusses should be closedoff to the public. Security lighting should beinstalled.

Expandable The stadium building and thehub building in the softball complex areashould be built with expansion opportunitiespreserved to accommodate future needs.

ADA Compliance Public buildings mustcomply with the Americans with DisabilitiesAct requirements.

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Sports Field DevelopmentAthletic field development is complex science withmany considerations that relate to playability,seasonal use, climate, soil conditions, maintenancepractices, and player safety. The eight fields pro-posed for Memorial Park are for league and tourna-ment use, and as such, should be developed andmaintained in a first-class manner.

Athletic fields are most often developed with naturalturf, but recent years have seen more synthetic turffields installed, even in secondary school facilitiesand community park settings. Turf athletic fields areliving, breathing organisms that require watering,fertilizing, mowing, and resting from play. Overuseof natural turf, cost of irrigation, compaction of thesoil, and safety of players, are reasons that syntheticturf is considered as an option for athletic fielddevelopment. Irrigation provides the major advan-tage of enabling field maintenance on a regularscheduled basis independent of weather conditions.This is particularly important in a high profile sportscomplex with intense scheduled use, a regionaldraw, and fee requirements.

If turf athletic fields are established at MemorialPark, irrigation systems are recommended for thefields and warm up areas. Field irrigation can be asubsurface automated system or a traveling systemwith a self-propelled water wheel that connects tosurface mount hose bibs.

A cost benefit analysis should be completed todetermine if turf grass or synthetic sports fieldsshould be developed at Memorial Park. The analysisshould consider irrigation options.

Site AmenitiesAmenities should be introduced to make the parkconvenient to use and enhance the enjoyment of thevisitors’ experiences. As trails are introduced, bikeracks should be placed near facilities. Benchesshould be located along trails in shaded locations toprovide resting areas. Drinking fountains should belocated in activity areas and near the four play-grounds. Picnic tables should be arranged in group-ings, and provided with shade, grills, and trashreceptacles. Amenities should be of similar modelsand designs throughout the park to unify distantactivity locations and facilitate coordinated

maintenance. Consideration should be given tomodels designed to be vandal resistant and determisuse.

LandscapingLandscaping should be introduced to solve problemsand enhance the visual image of the park. Landscap-ing should be placed to buffer incompatible uses,direct visitors to use areas, and to transition fromhigh use areas to natural areas. Buffers should beestablished between public use areas and functionalareas such as the maintenance facility. Urbantolerant shade trees should be chosen for the plant-ing islands in the parking areas.

A well-designed landscape can lower maintenancerequirements and costs. Signs and individual parkamenities should be placed in vegetative beds, aspossible, to reduce time mowing around multipleelements. Mow lines should be established whichreduce mowing, especially outside of activity areas.Entrances to the park areas should be attractivelylandscaped with a signature design that designatesthe area as the entrance to a premier park.

Native plant material should be used along thestream corridor to enhance wildlife habitat, providea food source for wildlife, and lower maintenancecosts. The use of native plant material should bepromoted throughout the park. Additionally, nativeplant material should be used to create a livinglaboratory for learning about the environment. Plantmaterial native to York County is adapted to thegeographic location and, as a result, will require lessmaintenance, withstand the extremes in climatechange, be less susceptible to disease and pests, andpropagate naturally. The introduction of nativeplants and enhancement of native plant areas willhelp reduce the opportunity for exotic species toestablish a foothold on the site.

Riparian Buffer EnhancementsThe stream corridor of Poor House Run should bepreserved, protected, and enhanced for the manyenvironmental benefits this riparian buffer areaprovides. Meadow grasses, wildflowers, andriparian vegetation are proposed along both sides ofPoor House Run to mitigate the effects of erosion,filter runoff reaching the stream, and provide anatural setting in the park for passive activities andwildlife.

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Benefits of Riparian BuffersStabilize Stream banks Deep-rooted vegeta-tion binds the soil along streambanks,stabilizing the banks and preventing erosionduring periods of high runoff.

Improve Water Quality Vegetation alongstreams traps sediment, nutrients, andpollutants before they enter the stream orgroundwater.

Enhance Wildlife Habitats Trees, shrubs, andgrasses along streams provide habitat andtravel corridors for many wildlife species.

Reduce Flooding and Sedimentation Vegeta-tion retains stormwater runoff longer,improves infiltration, and filters sedimentfrom flowing downstream during floods.

Keep Streams Cooler and Healthier Shadefrom riparian buffers cools the streamwaters, increasing the food and oxygen foraquatic life.

Enhance Scenery Vegetation along streamsadds beauty and diversity to the landscape.

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Park Visitor ComfortsAs a destination park, park visitors will be travelinghours to Memorial Park. Amenities to serve longdistance visitors have the dual advantage of makingthe park an even more enjoyable place for Yorkresidents who will walk or bike there. Visitorcomfort should guide all design and operationaldecisions. Such comforts could include:

Conveniently located signs to locate facilities,designated parking areas, view tournamentschedules, and general park information.

Scenic beauty within the park setting.

Clean, fresh, architecturally attractive restrooms.

Relief from heat through shade, misters nearfacilities and spectator areas, and drinkingfountains.

Concession stands.

Memorial ParkMaster Plan

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The master plan creates an exciting vision forMemorial Park. The improvements encompass anambitious undertaking. The realization of the visionfor the park will require an investment of both timeand money. Cost opinions have been completed thatreflect the recommendations of the master planbased on the available information. Topographicand planimetric surveys were not available as part ofthe master plan study. Detailed grading and engi-neering studies have not been completed. Numerousassumptions regarding construction methods,materials, and site conditions were necessary tocomplete the cost opinions. The cost opinionsshould be used as a planning tool to guide fundinginitiatives and implementation considerations.

The cost estimates reflect 2007 construction costs.Implementation of the master plan is expected tooccur over several years and consideration should begiven to escalating costs and inflation over the basecost provided as future phases are undertaken.

Cost Analysis

Development PhasingThe implementation of the Memorial Park MasterPlan is projected as a multi-phase project that will beimplemented over many years as funding andfinancial resources become available. Developmentcosts have been separated into eleven phases basedon distinct geographic sections of the park. Priorityorder has been considered in the phase determina-tion, but ultimately, available funding and partner-ships will determine the phasing sequence. Somephases must be developed in sequence. Others suchas phases H, I, and J can be developed independentlyanytime. Park development phases and implementa-tion should consider park and infrastructure func-tion, facility need, the desire to create momentumfor the project, funding opportunities, and logicalsequence of construction.

As funding becomes available or opportunitieschange, the development phases may be furtherseparated into additional phases or condensed tocomplete more of the project at one time.

Refer to the Memorial Park Supporting Documenta-tion for detailed probable construction costs.

Phase A1Stream Corridor, North Portion

Phase A2Community Area and Dallas StreetExtension

Phase BSoftball Complex

Phase CSports Court Area

Phase DEntrance Plaza

Phase EStadium

Phase FSoftball Field and Batting Cages,North of Entrance Plaza

Phase GVeterans Memorial, Ice Arena, andCentral Parking Area

Phase HStream Corridor, South Portion

Phase IPenn State UniversityImprovements

Phase JYork Catholic High SchoolImprovements

Total

$796,100

$696,500

$7,230,100

$942,300

$4,693,900

$1,345,900

$778,900

$1,087,900

$417,400

$685,000

$469,500

$19,143,500

Phased Probable Construction Cost Opinion

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YSM is not a construction contractor and therefore probable construc-tion cost opinions are based solely upon our experience with construc-tion. This requires YSM to make a number of assumptions as to actualconditions which will be encountered on the site; the specific decisionsof other design professionals engaged; the means and methods ofconstruction the contractor will employ; contractors' techniques indetermining prices and market conditions at the time, and other factorsover which YSM has no control. Given these assumptions which mustbe made, YSM states that the above probable construction cost opinionis a fair and reasonable estimate for construction costs.

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Page 38: Memorial Park - City of York, Pennsylvania · and philanthropy of Bob Hoffman. Bob Hoffman ... Today Memorial Park totals 74 acres and is located entirely within the City of York

The City of York is fortunate to have a park andrecreation system that includes 23 parks with 193acres of land. Memorial Park is the city’s largestpark at 74 acres. The park has a rich history. Origi-nally founded to promote wellness, the park includesa stadium, nine softball fields, batting cages, anindoor ice rink, miniature golf, and natural areas.The stadium housed the second synthetic turf fieldsurface in the United States. The park is easilyaccessible from major transportation corridors. Itadjoins neighborhoods, York Catholic High School,and the Penn State University campus.

Memorial Park is well known throughout theCommonwealth as a softball tournament destination.It is the only park in Pennsylvania that has ninesoftball fields in one location, making it a preferreddestination for tournaments. The stadium has beenthe venue for major regional events, including ashowcase for the US Olympic softball team in 2004.In addition to the outdoor facilities, the park featuresthe York City Ice Arena. Thousands of visitors usethe park every year. They come from as close asVander and Rockdale Avenues, as well as, from theMid-Atlantic region. Most of the use, however, is byvisitors who use sports facilities with far less use byneighboring residents for close-to-home recreation.

The park is facing serious challenges. As a result ofheavy use for sports, limited use by residents,decreasing funding, deferred maintenance, andintense incompatible uses such as remote parking forthe local hospital, current conditions compromisethe character of Memorial Park. The park alsosuffers from a fuzzy identity blurred by questions ofwhether the park is a “city” park or a “regional”park. Fortunately, a group of interested communityleaders have stepped forward as a collaborativeventure with the City to fund this park master planalong with a strategic operations and managementplan to restore the park as a meaningful public spaceand as a regional asset located in the City of York.

While important design changes and capital projectsare required to restore Memorial Park, a similarlevel of effort must be made in the area of manage-ment, operation, and funding in order to sustain themajor investment in physical improvements. The bigquestion throughout this project has been how thismaster plan and future operational requirements areever going to happen. This question will become thecatalyst for change – developing alternative ways toturn the park into the asset it can become, largelythrough public/private partnerships.

The Strategic Operations and Management Plan isthe result of a lengthy process that involved consid-erable public participation, work sessions with Citymanagement and staff, discussions with communityleaders, and work with the Memorial Park AdvisoryCommittee. The process also included research intoalternative ways that cities operate parks success-fully.

The goal of the research was to identify practicesthat support successful urban parks in cities thatpeople in the York area could relate to. Citiesincluded Allentown, Harrisburg, Easton, Philadel-phia, Erie, Wilkes-Barre, and Pittsburgh. Successfulmodels in larger urban systems including New York,Baltimore, Boston, and others were investigated butdeemed to be perceived as too unlike York for usefulmodeling. The research in Pennsylvania yieldedfindings about the reality and perceptions regardingpark operations, funding, and partnerships remark-ably similar to circumstances in the City of Yorkincluding the following:

Strategic Operations and Management PlanStrategic Operations and Management Plan Purpose

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PurposeThe purpose of the Strategic Opera-

tions and Management Plan is toestablish the foundation, strategies,

and actions requited to revitalizeMemorial Park and support its

successful operation in the future.

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The good news in reporting these findings is thatother cities experiencing the same downturn in parksas York, have found ways to rejuvenate their parksand consequently their cities as well. Some of thestrategies used by other cities that have successfullyrevitalized their parks included the following:

1. Parks must rank high on the political agenda toget funded.1

2. Involve the public in the planning, design, andoperation of the park.

3. Create a design with a strong vision and purposefor the park.

4. Take advantage of all of the space: unused andunderused. (For example, the natural area ofMemorial Park that has never been designed,developed, or managed.)

5. Program the parks!

6. Make sure that the parks and each of itsfacilities is clean.

7. Use a mix of public AND private fundingsources.

8. Use the park as an organizing element forinitiatives such as economic development,neighborhood improvement, increasing livabilityof the city, tourism, and so on.

9. Parks & Recreation Departments must play aleadership role.2

1 Harnik, Peter. (2000) Inside City Parks. Washington, D.C.: Trust forPubic Land. p xi.2 Garvin, Alexander and Berens, Gayle. (1997) Urban Parks and OpenSpace. (New York: Urban Land Institute) pp 36-40.

Decreasing municipal funding.

Decreasing municipal staff.

Competition for municipal support with publicsafety services.

Complaints about park conditions.

Community perception that the private sector isall tapped out – that the same supporters areasked repeatedly to fund civic efforts. Thatmeans the potential for support for park effortsis extremely limited.

Pittsburgh Park ConservancyThe Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy (PPC) iscelebrating its tenth anniversary in 2007. TheConservancy was formed in response to thesevere deterioration of Schenley Park at thetime of its 100-year anniversary. Communityleaders recognized that the City did not havefunds to restore the park. The leaders whowent on to form the Pittsburg Parks Conser-vancy identified similar challenges as York:lack of city funds, repeated solicitation of thesame donors, lack of staff, lack of a plan,deteriorated facilities, complaints, and therecognition that the park could be a majorasset. Once the PPC was formed, its firstproject was to secure funds from public andprivate sources to restore Schenley Park to itsformer grandeur in collaboration with the Cityof Pittsburgh.

With the Schenley Park success under its belt,the Conservancy moved on to include threeother regional parks. They have recentlycompleted their seventh capital project. In 10years, PPC raised over $30 million in fundsthrough grants, gifts, corporations, founda-tions, and individual contributions. PPC has12 full-time and three part-time staff membersincluding: the CEO; the CFO; assistants to theCEO and CFO; Development Director andfour staff; and a four person field staff. TheCity of Pittsburgh Public Works Departmentdoes park maintenance. PPC supports citypark maintenance by helping to increase theirexpertise through special projects, employeedevelopment, and training programs such ashow to build sustainable trails and naturalresource management. All of PPC’s efforts arein partnership with the City.

The Conservancy has 13,000 individualmembers, 7,000 of whom are active in parksupport. The parks are the most visited cityasset with over five million visitors annually.

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Memorial Park can serve as a landmark in York. Thepark can give the City a strong sense of place andserve as a community focal point that is unique toYork. Through its revitalization and enhancedprogramming and operation, the park can help to:

Increase property values.Attract new businesses.Stimulate the local economy.Create a magnet for tourism and overnight stays.Retain and attract citizens.Increase the quality of life.Decrease antisocial behavior.Improve public health.Improve the environment in the park and in theneighborhood.

Organizationally, the Bureau of Recreation andParks falls within the Public Works Department. ThePark Superintendent manages the maintenance of all23 parks with special attention to Memorial Park.The City has undertaken park improvement projectssuch as rehabilitation of the restrooms andregrading of softball fields.

Park maintenance includes 16 full-time employeesand one part-time custodian. These include 13 parklaborers and three crew leaders. There are also fourseasonal/part-time workers. One worker is stationedat Memorial Park. The staff has a high and demand-ing workload that mandates focus on day-to-dayoperations. There is no time to take a step back forpark and management planning.

Recreation programming includes three office stafffor sports, youth programs, and special events. Inaddition, the City contracts with a consulting firm toundertake major city special events such as FirstNight, Bike Night, YorkFest, and others.

The workers operate within a collective bargainingunit. Challenges for park operations exist due topark usage occurring in nontraditional work hoursbeyond nine-to-five weekdays. Getting maintenancestaff in an immediate time frame to deal withweekend park conditions affected by weather iscomplex due to the required procedure on obtainingnon-schedule workers in place to remediate field

There is no employee-training program in place nordoes management or staff belong to organizationssuch as KAFMO (Keystone Athletic Field Mainte-nance Organization). The staff is so busy with thedemands of everyday tasks that it appears that timerequired for training is not available.

Park programming is focused on softball and tourna-ments. The parks and recreation staff has beendiscussing how to get more programs into the park.They have launched a significant effort to offer a carshow in October 2007. This could be the first step tooffer a major special event to showcase the park andbuild public awareness of what the park has to offer.

Since 2003, there has been no Recreation and ParksDirector in place. As a result, parks and recreationmanagement operate as discrete entities with limitedcentral coordination. The responsibility for parksand recreation was delegated to the Public WorksDirector. Public Works departments in cities haveintense workloads. There is a tendency in urbansystems where parks and recreation is under a streetsor public works division to lose the synergy of aconcerted effort for public recreation. This positionshould be established to lead the outreach andpartnership development that is crucial to parks andrecreation success. A critical component of thesuccess of this plan is leadership through the desig-nation of a strong Director for Recreation & Parksthat can serve as a change agent, carry this planforward, and focus on increasing managementcapacity. This will require skilled and experiencedprofessional park and recreation expertise and thecapacity to carry out the recommendations of thisplan. This is especially important in the area ofbuilding and sustaining partnerships and fund raisingfor both capital and operational programs thatsupport the implementation of this plan.

About $152, 000 of city funds is spent on the parkfor maintenance and sports support annually. Thisdoes not include the Ice Arena, which is operated asan enterprise fund.

Current Operations

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To achieve this vision, the following mission state-ment will guide park policies for operating andmanaging Memorial Park.

MissionTo provide exceptional visitor experiencesin Memorial Park through well-designedfacilities that are safe, clean, attractive,

and serve as a venue for a wide variety ofrecreational opportunities that enrich the

lives of all who visit the park.

The following recommendations support the com-prehensive strategy for undertaking the revitaliza-tion, operation, and management of Memorial Park.

RecommendationsThe recommendations are based upon the proposedpark master plan design, information obtainedthrough the public participation process, worksessions with city staff, discussions with the StudyCommittee, and lessons experienced by other citiesin park revitalization.

Action 1: Adopt the PlanUse the plan to forge consensus among all of theplayers in the revitalization: City elected andappointed officials and the private sectorsupporters.

Establish the steps and time frames for planimplementation, as well as, who will be respon-sible for action items.

Based upon the proposed park phasing, selectone project to be the first one to pursue. Itshould be a project with high visibility and ahigh likelihood of success. Success will breedsuccess. Consider using the Reid MenzerMemorial Skatepark as the first initiative since itis well underway.

VisionThe City of York envisions Memorial

Park as a premiere regional park with afull range of top-notch recreation oppor-tunities year round. The park offers both

close-to-home recreation and regionalattractions that make the York area a

thriving, active, attractive high qualityplace in which to live, work, own a

business and have fun.

What this Plan DoesOverall the Strategic Plan for Operations andManagement of Memorial Park is a tool to:

Focus on the major issues and opportunities forthe revitalization and future operation andmanagement of the park.

Guide the City, community leaders, organiza-tions, and individuals in working towards acommon vision and goals.

Provide a general direction for future actions,policies, operating procedures, and collaborativeefforts regarding Memorial Park.

Help decision-makers formulate the steps theywill take to advance the revitalization of thepark.

What This Plan Does Not DoDoes not make decisions about the park masterplan, specific areas of the park, or programs.

Does not offer specific recommendations aboutstaff, numbers of employees, maintenance, orprogram procedures and policies. It is a strategicplan.

Does not preclude future actions or recommen-dations based upon changing objectives andopportunities. The plan is meant to remain openand flexible as a living document.

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Action 2: Communicate the VisionUse the park master plan as the foundation forcommunicating the vision to a wide audience.The importance of communicating the vision forthe park cannot be overstated.

Use the illustrations to convey what the parkwill look like to get beyond the diagram of thepark.

Strive to make the vision for the park resonatewith a wide audience, especially the public andpotential private sector supporters. This willhelp to leverage municipal support.

Under the next action step, determine who thespeakers will be and what mechanisms can beput in to place to communicate the vision.

Action 3: Institute Leadership for Memorial Park (andother parks in the future)Two areas for leadership are needed to revitalizeMemorial Park: internal City leadership and privatesector leadership.

The City needs to reestablish the position ofDirector of Recreation and Parks. The role ofthe Director should be primarily to develop andsustain partnerships, do outreach, and generatesupport for the parks focusing on MemorialPark as the first project. About 60 percent ofthe Director’s time should be spent ondevelopment and managing City programs andinitiatives (such as policy development) to gainsupport for parks and 40 percent should bespent on daily functions of the job. PositioningMemorial Park as a key economic driver for theCity of York is an important role of the Directorposition.

Private sector leadership is required to advancethe park revitalization and operation. The Citycannot undertake park revitalization on its owndue to lack of funds, lack of staff, and compet-ing priorities. Organize and institute the York

Parks Conservancy modeled after the PittsburghParks Conservancy. Use the private sectorsupport group that launched and funded thispark master plan. Consider getting the YorkParks Conservancy to fund a position dedicatedto getting the conservancy up and running usingthe implementation of the Memorial Park masterplan as the vehicle.

Consider tapping existing groups such as theMetro York, Better York, Beautiful York, YorkCounty Community Foundation for a potentialmeans to form the Conservancy.

Continue to involve the public in planning andmanagement of the park. Use a variety of publicinvolvement methods including focus groups,on-site surveys, program evaluations,questionnaires, telephone surveys, and othermeans. Tap York College and Penn StateUniversity York Campus for students to under-take such initiatives.

Action 4: Enhance Business-Like Practices to ManageMemorial Park“If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it” thesaying goes. The most significant cost of MemorialPark lies in maintenance. Over the lifetime of thepark, about 75 percent of the park cost is in mainte-nance. It is relatively easier to secure capital fundingthan it is to secure operational funding. The ParkSuperintendent and staff have developed manycreative strategies and methods for taking care of thepark. The revitalization plan for the park mandatesthat there be a shift in focus to add long rangeplanning and systemization of current and enhancedmaintenance practices to the current concentrationon the daily tasks alone. These actions are neededand this is said in full recognition of how busy themaintenance staff is, especially during softballseason. This would include:

Establishment of quality standards for parkfacilities. These will guide maintenance prac-tices and staffing levels.

Development of a formal written maintenancemanagement system.

Institution of computerized workload/costtracking system. The production of real timeinformation about labor, equipment and supplies

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90 percent of the success of public spaces isdue to management.

Fred Kent, Project for Public Spaces

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essential for budgeting, staff allocation, policydevelopment, and the setting of fees andcharges. The Department already has an infor-mation base to build from. Costs for mainte-nance are prorated among city parks.

Creation or enhancement of policies regardingpark use especially for sports groups. Problemssuch as visitors parking on grassy areas oroutfielders scuffing holes in the outfield turf arepark management issues. Dealing with issuessuch as this requires attention by park manage-ment, which is now not possible because oflimited time and staff.Current park maintenance costs are about $1,800per acre. This is towards the lower end of typicalpark maintenance costs for community parks ofabout $1,500 to $3,000 per acre. This cost rangeis for fairly typical parks and not really forpremiere parks or tourism destinations. Mainte-nance of major parks in urban areas runs up-wards of $10,000 per acre in other cities. Thisinformation is provided for benchmarkingpurposes. If the vision for Memorial Park is tobe a premiere facility, the per acre cost shouldincrease. It is important to note that the YorkCounty Convention and Visitors Bureau cannotadvertise facilities for tourism unless they have ahigh quality appearance.

State-of-the-art facility support mechanismsshould be adopted such as ball field irrigationsystems, the use of PDA’s for maintenancereporting, and others to emerge in maintenancemanagement system planning.

Consider applying for a Peer-to-Peer grant fromPADCNR to fund a study to formalize themaintenance system and select computer soft-ware. This would require a match of $1,000towards the $9,000 grant from PADCNR for atotal one-year project cost of $10,000.

Acquire equipment, such as a Gaitor, that wouldfacilitate park maintenance.

Develop adequate storage facilities appropri-ately screened from visitors’ sight for parkmaintenance.

Develop a written park security program incollaboration with the Police Department. Use avariety of strategies including, neighborhood

watch, park rangers, police department patrols,security cameras, security lighting, and increas-ing programming to generate a high level ofdesirable park use and visitation.

Action 5: Program Memorial ParkProgramming Memorial Park is one of the mostpowerful tools for revenue generation, increasingpublic awareness of the park, gaining an inexpensiveform of security, showcasing sponsors and partners,and creating community gathering places thatstrengthen the neighborhood.

Treat Memorial Park as a public entertainmentspace. When events such as softball tournamentsare underway, consider programming compatiblepublic entertainment types of activities. Con-sider creating a park mascot modeled aftersomething that would further define the park asa York park. Two obvious examples would be aYork Barbell weight lifter or a Harley DavidsonBiker. Consideration of a mascot needs to bemade within the context of other similar effortsin the City such as the baseball team mascot.The goal should be a harmonious blending ofsuch public icons in much the same way thatproductions or shows have a cast of characters.

Sponsor two major special events annually. Usethe upcoming Car Show as one of the events ifindications appear that it will grow in the future.Investigate special events in other park systemsfor park fundraising purposes. PPC sponsors aMad Hatters Luncheon where everyone wears ahat to a picnic lunch that has heavy corporatesponsorship and a Masquerade Ball as theirother event.

Work in conjunction with York City Ice Arena todevelop camps during school holidays.

Create and sponsor summer camps and programsfor various age groups.

Develop a program management plan for theimmediate time frame of one year as well as athree-year program plan.

Advertise these programs heavily.

Strive to create events that will create overnightstays in York to stimulate the economy.

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Action 6: Create Superior Visitor Experiences inMemorial ParkAdopt the mantra of “Safe, Clean, and Friendly” forpark staff. This is the Disney model that has beenused successfully to build a profitable empire. It is agood model for any park system to follow.

Establish a maintenance plan for restrooms thatinsures superior cleanliness, fresh smell, attrac-tiveness, and safety. The pubic participationprocess found this to be a major area of criticismin the park despite city efforts to improvecurrent conditions. Consider having restroomattendants during peak use and especially duringspecial events. Cleaning needs to be at leastdaily and more frequently during peak times andevents.

Create a written turf management plan thatincludes not only the physical facility but alsovisitor use management.

Make litter pickup “everybody’s job”. Noemployee should ever pass a piece of litter onthe ground.

Institute a park ranger or park attendant divisionas an on-site presence as well as for peak useand special events.

Have a central visitor center where park visitorscan go with their questions and to gain informa-tion about the park and events. This can bestaffed during special events or a kiosk for otherdays.

Uniform the employees for a professionalappearance that earns high public regard. Usethe model of state and national parks as well ascommercial amusement parks, zoos, andaquariums.

Use effective signage for directions, rules, andinformation about the park and events.

Create a park system logo through a professionalgraphics designer. Incorporate the logo on allsurfaces such as written materials, equipment,signs, uniforms, advertising, giveaways, andmany other items.

Action 7: Be Creative in Generating Funding for thePark

Use a mix of public/private partnerships.

Recognize that the City’s funding for parks andrecreation is decreasing.

Organize the York Parks Conservancy as theprinciple vehicle for park fundraising.

Use previous models of success in the City toguide fundraising efforts for the park revitaliza-tion. Examples include the restoration of theStrand Capital Performing Arts Center, theCultural Alliance of York County, and the YorkCounty Community Foundation.

Select specific projects for fundraising initia-tives similar to the Reid Menzer MemorialSkatepark project. Potential projects include: theBob Hoffman Stadium restoration, field lighting,park pavilions, natural areas and trails, play-grounds, game courts, playing fields, restrooms.Be creative about potential sponsors. Forexample, Charmin sponsors restrooms in NewYork City Parks.

Use the example of PPC in selecting a majorcapital improvement project such as the restora-tion of a visitors’ center in Schenley Park.

Create a four part revenue source system:Earned Income: fees, charges, admissions,rentals, sales, special services. Licenses andpermits.

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Find ways to create visitor comfort such asshade, the use of the proposed “misters” duringsoftball season, scenic seating areas, easysupervision for caretakers in playground areas,and so on.

Create convenient ways for people to register forprograms and events such as Internet registrationand credit card payments.

Provide timely responses to visitor questions orproblems.

Develop a strategic marketing plan for MemorialPark. This should be a three-year program withthe first year fleshed out.

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The major action item of the Blueprint is theestablishment of the York Parks Conservancy.All other steps are secondary. The park revital-ization and future management improvementswill have a high likelihood of success with a

conservancy in place. Otherwise, the status quowill prevail portending the continued deterio-

ration of the park. The City simply cannotundertake the restoration of the park and

management improvements in its own.

1. Adopt the plan. Present it to the City electedofficials and representatives of Metro York,Better York, York County CommunityFoundation, Beautiful York, and others asappropriate.

2. Make and support the decision to regardMemorial Park as a regional asset that benefitsnot only the City but also the surrounding region.

3. Re-configure the Memorial Park AdvisoryCommittee to be the Memorial ParkRevitalization Committee.

4. Set up a meeting in York for the purpose ofhaving the PPC officials including thedevelopment director, field staff representative,program/event specialist and possibly the CEOpresent their story, accomplishments, successes,mistakes and advice on which to build the YorkParks Conservancy. Invite key stakeholders fromthe Metro York, Better York, York CountyCommunity Foundation, Beautiful York, theMayor, Council, Memorial Park AdvisoryCommittee, park staff and others to participate inthis educational session.

5. Work with the City to re-establish Parks andRecreation Director position to do outreach forpartnership development to support parks andrecreation and other functions.

6. Try to get a position funded that would beresponsible for getting the Conservancy up andrunning. The position could be part-time. It couldbe funded by a group similar to the master plansupporters. The position would eventually moveinto full-time with that person becoming theCEO and additional staff hired. Staff costs wouldbe supported through private funds and grants.

Action Plan BlueprintCompulsory Resources: Taxes, mandatorydedication of park land/fees in lieu of dedication focused on redevelopment projects.Contractual receipts: facility leases, facilityrentals, and concessionsFinancial Assistance: grants, gifts, bequests,fund raising, park friends and Conservancyefforts.

Adopt policies for fees and charges, gifts,donations and sponsorships. The policies shouldbe fair, equitable and have positive results forthe park instead of further burdening parkoperations. Consider requiring a trust fund fordonations of considerable size that requireadditional maintenance. For example, if a groupraises money for a new playground, considerasking the group to raise an additional amountthat could be placed in a trust to generateinterest for playground maintenance and cyclicrepair.

Develop a gift catalog for the park. Theproposed Conservancy could undertake thiseffort.

Strive to increase the per-acre cost for parkmaintenance to at least $3,000 per acre. Identifyareas in the park that require a higher level ofmaintenance during the development of theformalized maintenance management system.

Examine revenue-generating facilities to de-velop a plan to maximize income. Considerreinventing the miniature golf course and designand manage it as a major revenue producer.

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7. Select a capital project to use as the first effortof the Conservancy.

8. Apply for grants for identified phases of thepark improvement plan. Set a goal to submit anapplication for the next PADCNR developmentgrant round which would be in the spring of2008. Apply to DCED for park improvementfunding.

9. Add subsequent phases of improvements basedupon the successful completion of each project.

10. Apply for a Peer-to-Peer grant to develop theformalized maintenance management systemandimplement a computerized information base.Secure funds to purchase software.

11. Design an Employee Development Program.Budget about one to two percent of the parksoperating budget for training. Use the futureConservancy to support and provide parkmaintenance training.

12. Develop and implement a plan to program thepark. Use the Car Show as the launch for annualspecial events in the park. Add a second specialevent when possible. Expand programmingbeyond competitive sports into the areas offitness and wellness, nature, the arts, music,drama, dance, and social recreation.

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