NCC Parks Planning in MOT/SNCC: A Preliminary Inventory€¦ · Parks Planning in MOT/SNCC: A Preliminary Inventory & Regional Context Dave Carter, MOT Resident & Task Force Member

8/23/2017

NCC Parks Task Force PresentationParks Planning in MOT/SNCC: A Preliminary Inventory & Regional ContextDave Carter, MOT Resident & Task Force Member 1

NCC Parks Planning in MOT/SNCC:A Preliminary Inventory

By Dave Carter, MOT Resident & Task Force Member

Overview

1. Regional Perspective for Parks Planning in MOT/SNCC

2. Parks and Opens Space in MOT/SNCC• NC County Parks & Land Resources• Municipal Parks and Open Space• State Protected Lands• Conservation Regions

3. Examples of Visioning Some Possibilities

4. Suggestions Based on MOT/SNCC Context

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MOT/SNCC Changing Demographics

• Popula on ↑ 5x since 1980• 64.2% NCC’s population growth in future

• 45% of NCC Land Area

Inventory of Publically Accessible Recreation Lands

Google Map Link: http://www.udel.edu/003991

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NCC Townsend Park

NCC Wiggins Mill “Park”

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Is this plan still relevant for Wiggins Mill since facilities have been developed at Price Park & Townsend Parks?

Townsend Municipal Park

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Charles E. Price Park(Middletown‐Westside)

Other NC County “Parks”

South Odessa/Healthways• Trail & Parking Lot• 4.6 Acres• Remediated Brownfield

Parkside• Unimproved/Ag Field• 25.52 Acres

Back Creek• Open Field w/Park Sign• Mowed (12” Grass Height)• No Parking Lot• 9.6 Acres

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Silver Lake Municipal Park (Middletown)

Doc Levinson Park (Middletown)

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Odessa Municipal Park (Odessa)

Odessa Memorial Park (Odessa)

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Smyrna Municipal Park (Smyrna)

Del.Bayshore

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Extensive State Conservation Land

• DNERR‐Blackbird Component• Blackbird State Forest

• Augustine Wildlife Area*• Canal Wildlife Area*• Cedar Swamp Wildlife Area*• Blackbird Creek Wildlife Area*• Lums Pond State Park*

*Access Fee Required

DNERR – Blackbird Creek Reserve (DNREC)

http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/coastal/DNERR/Pages/BlackbirdCreekReserve.aspx

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Blackbird State Forest (DDA)

http://dda.delaware.gov/forestry/maps.shtml

• 40 Miles of Trails • 2,200 foot wheel chair accessible

nature trail.• Five Primitive Campsites• Four Picnic Sites• Open to Hunting and Catch and

Release Fishing• Forest Education Center

State Wildlife Management Areas

in NCC (DNREC/DFW)

http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/hunting/pages/wildlifeareamaps.aspx

• Active Hunting Areas During Season (Sept‐March).

• Passive Uses Permitted with Access Pass (fee)

• North of C&D Canal it includes the Mike Castle Trail/Active Recreation.

• Minimal/limited trails and facilities• Potential for user conflicts during

hunting seasons (Sept. thru March)• Primarily funded through hunter

excise taxes (Pittman‐Robinson Act) and Hunting License Fees.

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Regional Conservation: Blackbird Millington Corridor

The Blackbird Millington Corridor is a band of open space that stretches across the Delmarva Peninsula, from the Cypress Branch and Millington area in Maryland to the Delaware Bay at the mouth of the Blackbird Creek. This area—the Blackbird‐Millington Corridor—is recognized as a regional conservation priority based on three factors:

1. There is a concentration of important ecological features and natural communities.

2. Private landowners have a history of balanced stewardship in the Corridor.

3. There is a solid foundation for conservation.

Regional Conservation: Delaware Bayshore

The Port Penn Areas conservation value is well documented. It is part of the Pea Patch Island Heronry Region with wetlands providing critical feeding grounds. It includes areas such as the Thousand Acre Marsh, Augustine Creek Marsh, and Augustine Creek Wildlife Area, and Delaware River Shoreline.

It is currently part of the gateway to the Delaware Bayshore Initiative seeking to improve conservation in the area, enhance passive recreational opportunities.

The area was zoned for Suburban development prior to the growth in SNCC municipalities. It is now outside the southern sewer district (core), and growth projections clearly indicated that SNCC has an excess of land zoned for development. The area should be targeted for conservation when cost effective opportunities arise.

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Opportunities for Building on the Existing Parks Foundation in SNCC

Possible Park Land Options

• Existing County “Park” Land

• Innovative repurposing of other County owned Land

• Fee simple acquisition

• Voluntary Assumption of Subdivision Open Space

• Partnerships (Municipalities, State Agencies)

• Others?

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Pedestrian & Bike Routes Interconnections

Example: Wiggins Mill Road is Delaware Bike Route 1 despite having no bike lanes or sidewalks. Middle town has some pedestrian ways started, but not into unincorporated areas along Wiggins Mill Road.

Possible Consideration of a NCC/Middletown Cooperative Facility Development (DSC Land)?

Extensive Land that could provide needed sports fields.

Property Owned/Controlled by Municipality.

Could consolidate Parks Resources for Regional Use.

Recreation Needs may be met with significant cost savings.

Must at least be coordinated.

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MOT Little League

• Significant Growth with no new fields.

• Total Sign‐ups stable for now.

• Rapid growth in 8 to 12 year old age group.

SNCC Youth Leagues extremely underserved & need facilities immediately

Possible Consideration for Future Regional Park:Marl Pit Road NC County Land

(Part of Water Farm II)

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Marl Pit Road NC County Land(Water Farm 2)

Parkside

Marl Pit Road NC County Land:Eastern 3 Parcels (200 Acres)

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Speculative/Possible Future Acquisition:Drawyers Creek Waterfront Park Area?

(Approximately 1.25 mi. Waterfront)

Suggestions Based on MOT Context• Build now on best sites currently available, and plan additional park facilities for projected growth.

• Add value to the MOT parks foundation established by the municipalities through earnest collaboration, cooperation, idea and resource sharing.

• Fine tune a parks level of service analysis to identify gaps in the network of park facilities across MOT regional landscape.

• Create a “ONE Parks Network”, that considers facilities collectively and is attentive to multimodal transportation interconnection.

• Strengthen role of NCC in regional conservation plans by considering guidance for NCC Comp Plan update & new conservation programs (Long Range Planning).

• Boldly consider the possible future park network in MOT.

Documents

NCC Parks Planning in MOT/SNCC: A Preliminary Inventory€¦ · Parks Planning in MOT/SNCC: A Preliminary Inventory & Regional Context Dave Carter, MOT Resident & Task Force Member