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Stanley Park Project White Paper

Stanley Park Project White Paper

The evaluation of the proposed Stanley Park Project for the City of Kelsey. The City Council for the City of Kelsey is proposing to construct a community park to help meet the recreation needs of the city’s steadily growing population of 625,233 citizens. According to the City of Kelsey Park site plan, this community park will include the following:

· Eight multipurpose athletic fields

· Four basketball courts

· Two volleyball courts

· Two beach volleyball courts

· Four tennis courts

· Enclosed skateboard plaza

· Aquatic facility with lap pool and diving pool

· Playground area with water play area

· 6 ramadas

· 2 enclosed dog parks

· Paved path encircling athletic field

· Restroom facility near the athletic field

· 35,000 square feet community center with full gymnasium, fitness center, game room, dance room and meeting rooms

· 320 square feet Police substation with holding facility in the community center.

With the proposed park site plan, there are a lot of factors to consider. In keeping with the goal that the City Council has in place to provide additional recreation facilities and community center for the community, some factors must be considered. The most important crucial factor to consider is the cost to construct the community center and the annual cost to maintain and service the center. Additional factors to consider are the following:

· Facility Maintenance

· Analysis of proposed water usage

· Air quality analysis

· Manpower positions (cost) for the aquatic center, community center, police station.

· Traffic control

· Transportation services

· Security measures

To obtain a proper cost-benefit analysis, the factors with Stanley Park that produces cost has to be evaluated. Even though the main purpose of the park is to service the community, the city must also gain some monetary benefit for providing the community with this service. According to Dunn (2008) “Cost-benefit analysis seek to measure all cost and benefits to the society that may result from a public program, including various intangibles that cannot be easily measured in terms of monetary costs and benefits.” The main benefit is to service the community recreational and activity needs for the growing population. Using the park facilities year round with no lapse in programming will be more beneficial for the community.

Facility maintenance is crucial to ensure the upkeep of the facility in its entirety. The cost needs to include the (seasonal) ground maintenance, lawn care, landscaping upkeep, and basic cleanliness of the inside structural buildings. Looking at some ways to minimize the city's cost for ground maintenance are a few suggestions. Community service and usage of inmate work crews can be options for consideration. Also having quarterly community volunteered clean parties can help offset some of the financial responsibility.

The city will need a projection to determine the annual functioning cost of the aquatic facility, to include maintenance repairs and seasonal usage of the water play area attached to the playground. Other uses for the aquatic facility should be considered to offset said costs. Some suggestions are year round usage with some membership fee. Fee-based classes, water aerobics, swim lessons, and possible usage for school swim meets. Considerations should be made regarding the pending outcome of the Water, and Sanitation also report Public Health regarding requirements and usage with watershed and affect the aquatic center will have in regards to ongoing water usage issues.

The construction and usage of Stanley Park will create air pollutants. An air quality analysis report will need to be generated to determine and identify air pollutants and plan for control techniques to not produce more harm to the city's air quality. If deciding factors predict more damage to the environment then possible solutions could be an addition of a community greenhouse club program being included in activities offered by the community.

The addition of Stanley Park will produce job growth opportunities for the city. The community center and aquatic center operations will need manpower during all hours of operations. Trained staff will be required for city code enforcement. Several operational aspects of the park will need to be consistent with city code ordinance. Some consideration to dog park regulations, noise ordinance, park rules and regulations, seasonal staffing regarding park events (Balloon Classic, Fourth July Events, Car Shows, Concert events and other calendar scheduled events.) The police substation will require 24/7 operations that can also monitor facility grounds through usage of security cameras.

The traffic pattern changes due to the construction and flow of business to the park will need adjusting. The existing Stanley Park Site Plan has a 60-acre lot that has access from one surface street into two parking lots that have a single entry and exit points. “All development generates traffic…traffic congestion results in a number of problems, including economic cost due to delayed travel times, air pollution and accidents.” (Edwards n.d.) Additional traffic signs/lights should also be considered to control traffic in the target area. Public transportation routes will also need to be adjusted (times, other ways or express service busses).

The Stanley Park Project can become a great asset to the City of Kelsey. The opportunities that the park project presents are immense. If the funds can be generated to build the park, community activities and resources can be used to maintain and justify operations. A bigger park and recs program that includes competitive recreation sports for all ages will generate additional funds and can service surrounding communities. There are multiple possibilities and usages for the community center that can generate funds. Before and after school daycare program, structured youth summer camps for all ages, conference room rentals, dancing classes, and fitness programs just to name a few.

Once the project budget is established, measures can be set in place to secure the capital needed to fund the project. If needed this project can be pushed back to a future date to give the city time required to generate funds. Temporary city tax increases might be suggested for voter’s consideration not to have to pull funds from any single projected area. With the proposed plan, this project will improve surrounding community and seasonal tourist activities for the City of Kelsey. The employment opportunities generated by the constructing and operations of the Stanley Park Project will also be beneficial to the college community in regards to summer employment with entry level positions.

Depending on the outcomes of ongoing analysis from key factors with the Stanley Park Project, several options that can be selected. A determination can be made to proceed with the project as planned. Proceed with the project within a determined time frame for the future. Completely reject the proposed project altogether due to cost factor not being beneficial to the community but being forecasted to be more of a financial problem due to not being able to live up to long-term expectations.

Reference

Dunn, W. (2008) Public Policy Analysis. An Introduction. (4th ed.). Pearson Education.

Edwards, M. (n.d.) Community Guide to Development Impact Analysis: Traffic Impact Analysis. Retrieved from www.lic.wisc.edu/shapingdone/facilitation/all-resources/impacts/analysis-traffic.htm