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2. 
3. PARKS & RECREATION COMMITEE & KEEP NASSAU BAY BEAUTIFUL
5. VOTING ON THIS SURVEY HAS ENDED

   Voting for the possible location of the KidCourse 1800 playground equipment ended on Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at 5:00pm.

7. ASSESSMENT OF POSSIBLE LOCATIONS FOR KIDCOURSE 1800

   At a meeting held on November 17, 2021, the Parks & Recreation Committee, along with the Keep Nassau Bay Beautiful Committee, discussed the possible locations for the installation of the KidCourse 1800 playground equipment.

   The Parks & Recreation Committee is requesting input from Nassau Bay residents to help determine the location of this new playground equipment. Below describes the background, process, the Committee's general findings, and a detailed overview of the site locations. This information will be helpful in assisting residents in making their selection for their top choice for installation of the equipment. The survey is located at the bottom of this page. Deadline to complete the survey is Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at 5:00pm. 

   A full version of these details are also available via PDF here: KidCourse1800 Assessment of Possible Locations

   Background

   1. City Council directed City Staff to order KidCourse 1800 to be placed in a TBD location.
   2. On November 8th, City Council directed the Parks & Recreation Committee to recommend a location in David Braun Park.
   3. On November 15th, City Council directed the Parks  & Recreation Committee to also consider a location in Howard Ward Park.
   4. Specs on the KidCourse 1800 indicate fall zone of 49 ft x 37 ft. In discussions with Public Works Director Paul Lopez, it was determined that a retaining wall would be built around the equipment with 3 ft buffer to fall zone. This results in playground area outline of 55 ft x 43 ft, which is large.

   Summary of Process

   1. Both Committees discussed several locations in each Park and defined pros and cons of each location. The locations were then rank-ordered by Park. Finally, a comparison of the options between David Braun Park and Howard Ward Park was made.
   2. The Committee agreed that the equipment should not be installed over existing utilities, including storm drainage lines. Adequate setbacks (4 ft) are required for access to these utilities.
   3. The City’s Zoning Ordinance requires a 7 ft setback from side property lines.
   4. There are substantial factors which need to be addressed before a final selection can be made.
   5. Since there had been public outcry for lack of transparency regarding previous selections of sites by the Committees or Council, the Committees propose to make this report available for public input before a final selection is made.

   General Findings for David Braun Park Options

   1. All locations will result in flooding of playground equipment during storms such as Hurricane Ike and Hurricane Harvey. This is a major negative factor. 
      1. Flooding can cause accelerated loss of lifetime of equipment, since the equipment is not designed for flooding, especially by brackish water. This is evident in the current David Braun Park playground equipment which was installed in November 2015 and already deteriorating to the point where it will be totally replaced late this year or early next year (supply chain problems). In contrast, Swan Lagoon Park playground equipment is 25 years old and just now deteriorating.
      2. Equipment must be disinfected after flooding, which can lead to reduction in lifetime of equipment due to chemicals used.
   2. All locations will increase vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic in David Braun Park, with limited parking. Residents are already complaining about the number of people in the Park.
   3. The rank order of candidate locations is provided below. Details of each location follow.
      1. Option 1 - Open area near David Braun Parking Lot
      2. Option 2 - Near current playground equipment, but shifted toward Creek
      3. Option 3 - Grassy area near Gazebo by Tennis Courts
      4. Option 4 - Behind the Tennis Courts
      5. Option 5 - Grassy area between Pavilion and sidewalk with Sgt. Sullivan's Memorial Bench and the Little Free Library

   General Findings for Howard Ward Park Options

   1. Major storm drainage lines (42 inch and 72 inch) in Howard Ward Park limit options.
   2. Exact location of property line between St. Thomas and Howard Ward Park should be established by a survey, since the proposed locations will abut the property line. A 42-inch storm drain lies in the easement along this property line. Nassau Bay’s Ordinance specifies a 7-foot setback. A 4-ft setback from the drain line is required to allow for possible repairs.
   3. It was agreed to preserve the Park’s open space for soccer, Ultimate Frisbee, etc.
   4. Standing water from Ike and Harvey only reached the southeast corner by Tranquility Arbor.
   5. The rank order of candidate locations is provided below. Details of each location follow.
      1. Option 1 - Northwest of existing playground equipment, although significant research is required to assure clearance of pipeline and property line.
      2. Option 2 - Southeast of existing playground equipment. but will require research to assure clearance of property line and will also require relocating a portion of the walking path.

   Overall Findings

   Either Howard Ward Park option is better than any David Braun Park option.

   Overview of Mapping of Proposed Site Locations

   Five David Braun Park candidate locations, and two Howard Ward Park candidate locations, were reviewed and are listed in rank order in the following pages. The maps are from Google Maps with a draft outline of the KidCourse 1800 location. The measurements are not precise and the outline is for general sizing. The actual location will likely be shifted, but the map shows the general location within each Park.

   Please continue below to review detailed site maps for David Braun Park and Howard Ward Park. The overview also provides pros and cons for each proposed site location. After reviewing the maps, you will be asked to select your choice for the proposed installation of the KidCourse 1800 playground equipment. 

11. DETAILED FINDINGS FOR DAVID BRAUN PARK

    Five candidate locations were reviewed and are listed in rank order below. The maps shown are from Google Maps with a draft outline of the KidCourse 1800 location. The measurements are not precise and the outline is for general sizing. The actual location will likely be shifted, but the map shows the general location within David Braun Park.

13. 
14. DAVID BRAUN PARK OPTION #1

    Next to David Braun Park Parking Lot

    Pros:

    • Close to parking lot - reduces pedestrian traffic into park, but adds vehicular traffic in parking lot
    • Fairly level ground
    • Easily monitored by Nassau Bay Police Department

    Cons:

    • Separated from main playground and far from restrooms
    • May cover drainage line for sidewalk from parking lot. Location to be verified. May need to move equipment towards Dog Park. but that may place it too close to the Dog Park.
    • Area received 6 ft of water during Harvey
    • Easily monitored by Nassau Bay Police Department
16. 
17. DAVID BRAUN PARK OPTION #2

    Behind Existing Playground

    Pros:

    • Close to current playground
    • Shielded from Pavilion

    Cons:

    • Must preserve large hill, which is heavily used by children.
    • Must preserve large oak tree.
    • Will require dirt work and be lower than existing playground.
    • May hold water and will need to control storm water drainage, which is currently handled by swale.
    • Not easily visible from Park Road for monitoring by the Nassau Bay Police Department.
19. 
20. DAVID BRAUN PARK OPTION #3

    Green Space to West of Pavilion

    Pros:

    • Reasonably close to current playground
    • Pretty level

    Cons:

    • Site for children's Easter egg hunt and other special events
    • Used by vendors during special events
    • Also has received several feet of flood waters
    • Current site of volleyball net
    • May be too close to Pavilion, congestion, noise
      
      
22. 
23. DAVID BRAUN PARK OPTION #4

    Behind Tennis Courts

    Pros:

    • No congestion concerns
    • Somewhat level surface area

    Cons:

    • May hold water and require drainage lines
    • Hidden From Shelter
    • Close to Animal Shelter
25. 
26. DAVID BRAUN PARK OPTION #5

    East of Park Pavilion

    Pros:

    • Close to current playground
    • Fairly level surface area

    Cons:

    • Too close to the Pavilion
    • Removes "quiet” buffer from Pavilion to the Sergeant Kaila Sullivan Memorial Bench and Little Free Library
    • Area is heavily used by people sitting in the grass during Special Events like July 4th.
    • May need drainage line. Downspouts from the Pavilion roof drain to this area.
28. DETAILED FINDINGS FOR HOWARD WARD PARK

    Two candidate locations were reviewed and are listed in rank order below. The maps shown are from Google Maps with a draft outline of the KidCourse 1800 location. The measurements are not precise and the outline is for general sizing. The actual location will likely be shifted, but the map shows the general location within Howard Ward Park.

30. 
31. HOWARD WARD PARK OPTION #1

    Next to Current Playground & St. Thomas

    Pros:

    • Close to current playground
    • Close to St. Thomas parking lot. St. Thomas has agreed to allow the use of Church parking lot for accessing the new playground.
    • Nearby trees for shade
    • Fairly level ground

    Cons:

    • Not sure where property lines are. Would need survey to be certain.
    • With 7 ft setback from property line. it is difficult to find a location in this area.
    • Proposed site is close to the 42-inch and 72-inch storm drain lines. Need to know exact locations before acceptable site with 4-ft setbacks for access can be determined.
    • May encroach on memorial garden area.
    • May require removal of trees.
    • May block view of neighbors.
    • No restrooms - not deemed to be critical by Committee.
33. 
34. HOWARD WARD PARK OPTION #2

    Next to Current Playground Toward Upper Bay Road

    Pros:

    • Close to current playground
    • Close to St. Thomas parking lot. St. Thomas has agreed to allow the use of Church parking lot for accessing the new playground.
    • Fairly level ground
    • Nearby trees for shade
    • Limited additional view blockage of Vinland residents, as current playground would shield KidCourse 1800

    Cons:

    • Need survey to identity exact property line and 7-ft setback
    • May not fit between trees. Will definitely have to remove medium size tree. 
    • Will need to put jog in walking trail, which will have additional costs.
    • No restrooms
38. PLEASE SELECT YOUR TOP CHOICE FOR SITE LOCATION

    You must be a resident of Nassau Bay to vote. Each member of the family may vote for their preferred location for KidCourse 1800, but only once, each. The deadline to complete the survey is Tuesday, December 21st at 5:00pm. 

    A pdf document of all of the proposed sites (as shown above), with map and detailed pros and cons, can be found here: KidCourse1800 Assessment of Possible Site Locations 

40. Thank you for participating in Nassau Bay's survey! Your input counts!

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