Fairhope, Alabama
MARCH MEETING
The city's Recreation Committee voted unanimously to recommend a new conceptual master plan designed by Joe Comer of Espalier Landscaping for city council approval that will add three baseball fields, add and organize parking spaces, improve traffic flow, and address chronic drainage and erosion issues at the park on N. Greeno Road.
One existing field at the Volanta Avenue entrance will be relocated to provided space for the additional parking (450 spaces) and "drop off hubs" will be incorporated for both football and baseball events, according to Comer.
A 100' tree buffer between adjacent homes will be maintained; the disc golf course will be shifted slightly -- but essentially maintained as it is today.
Rain gardens, bio swales and pervious pavement (pavers?) will be utilized in the new parking lot to minimize stormwater runoff; and the large live oak trees will be saved.
Comer: "Keeping and protecting the trees is important to the project."
The dog park will not be affected.
New restrooms and ticket/concession stands will be constructed; the maintenance building will be re-located as well.
Recreation director Tom Kuhl: "It solves a lot of issues. The park was built over decades ... we are fighting drainage issues all the time. This addresses everything we asked for."
If approved by the city council, an engineer will then be hired to draw up detailed plans: the project could be constructed in phases over several years.
Cost was not mentioned; but the Times has heard previous estimates in the range of of $3 - 5 million.
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| Landscape architect Joe Comer |
MARCH MEETING
The city's Recreation Committee voted unanimously to recommend a new conceptual master plan designed by Joe Comer of Espalier Landscaping for city council approval that will add three baseball fields, add and organize parking spaces, improve traffic flow, and address chronic drainage and erosion issues at the park on N. Greeno Road.
One existing field at the Volanta Avenue entrance will be relocated to provided space for the additional parking (450 spaces) and "drop off hubs" will be incorporated for both football and baseball events, according to Comer.
A 100' tree buffer between adjacent homes will be maintained; the disc golf course will be shifted slightly -- but essentially maintained as it is today.
Rain gardens, bio swales and pervious pavement (pavers?) will be utilized in the new parking lot to minimize stormwater runoff; and the large live oak trees will be saved.
Comer: "Keeping and protecting the trees is important to the project."
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| Recreation Committee |
The dog park will not be affected.
New restrooms and ticket/concession stands will be constructed; the maintenance building will be re-located as well.
Recreation director Tom Kuhl: "It solves a lot of issues. The park was built over decades ... we are fighting drainage issues all the time. This addresses everything we asked for."
If approved by the city council, an engineer will then be hired to draw up detailed plans: the project could be constructed in phases over several years.
Cost was not mentioned; but the Times has heard previous estimates in the range of of $3 - 5 million.
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| North is to right |
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| North is to right |
Comments
but do appreciate the conclusion that the dog park will not be effected.
We are used to being overlooked by Rec Board but this time it seems to be
a plus to us. Good luck to the planners/engineers as they implement this
long overdue redo to a park that is too small for the scope of the activities
impacting. In particular, the saving of the big trees in the parking area
is highly problematic unless the root structures are barricaded. No fault
to the park users, most if not all of us were active playground partners
in the not too distant past, we do think this plan is a positive and we
look forward to sharing the space.
I really would like to know if a light will ever be constructed at Volanta and 98? It's long overdue.
That said, it looks like a great plan.