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Home My WebLink AboutEGD-032-12 Cladiwn REPORT ENGINEERING Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE Date: November 26, 2012 Resolution#:4 7/-/ By-law#: Report#: EGD-032-12 File#: Subject: TOOLEY'S MILL PARK-POSSIBLE PROGRAMMED USES RECOMMENDATIONS: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report EGD -032-12 be received for information. 2. THAT all interested parties listed in Report EGD -032-12 be advised of Council's decision. ��__ Submitted by: Reviewed by: - ' A. .Cannella, Director Franklin Wu, Engineering Services Chief Administrative Officer ASC/PW/dv CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON 40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L1C 3A6 T 905-623-3379 REPORT NO.: EDG-032-12 PAGE 2 1. BACKGROUND At the October 22, 2012 Council meeting, Council approved the following Resolution; THAT Staff report back to General Purpose and Administration Committee by November 26, 2012 on building a permanent structure which would accommodate, among other activities, musical events in the park at 71 Old Kingston Road in Courtice; and THAT Staff include in the report electrical feeds for the structure, and for lights on Old Kingston Road. 2. COMMENTS The Municipality acquired a .43 ha (1.06 acre) piece of land at 71 Old Kingston Road in 2009 for parkland. The property is located along the west side of Farewell Creek directly opposite the only remaining home on the west portion of Old Kingston Road (Attachment 1). In the late 19th century a grist mill and miller's house occupied the site. The mill ceased operations in the 1920's and the site became the Prestonvale Tourist Camp. A stone cairn and plaque entitled "The Peoples Mill" was installed in 2010 to commemorate the history of the site. Although it has yet to be officially named the site is known as Tooley's Mill Park. The park size is small relative to other parks in Clarington but its location adjacent to the Farewell Creek provides an idyllic starting point for a future recreational trail system that will extend south through the creek valley linking to the residential areas south of the park. The park location and size make it appropriate for passive uses such as seating areas, walkways and perhaps a children's play area. This site will also provide park space for the new residents and visitors coming from the proposed commercial/ residential development west of the park. To make the park available for wider public REPORT NO.: EDG-032-12 PAGE 3 use and enjoyment a first phase development is included in the 2013 capital budget for Councils consideration. Vandalism is always a concern when parks are located in relatively secluded locations such as this. Regardless of what features are included in the park it will need to be designed and constructed with this in mind. Constructing a permanent structure such as a gazebo or bandshell could allow for programmed events such as concerts in the park, outdoor theater, art in the park, and other special events. The gazebo could be surrounded by a combination of turf and hard surfaces to accommodate crowds of varying sizes. Walkways, seating areas and a playground could also be constructed to create a civic gather place for Courtice residents. Installing a washroom building would also be recommended if the site becomes regularly programmed for special events. A Conceptual Master Plan has been prepared to illustrate the park layout with those features (Attachment 2). The Conceptual Master Plan also includes the valley land west of the park that is currently in private ownership. Those lands will eventually be dedicated to the municipality with the approval of the commercial/residential site. While the park is large enough to construct a permanent structure for musical events and other activities there is presently very little opportunity to provide parking at or around the site. The width of Old Kingston Road in its current state would allow for parallel parking on one side only which could generate 18-20 parking spots. If a wider road was constructed parallel parking on both sides of the street could be accommodated roughly doubling the parking to 36 to 40. Overflow parking could end up on surrounding streets or in the private parking lots on the north side of Hwy 2. Since Old Kingston Road is a dead end street, a turning circle or another type of turnaround would need to be constructed at the end of the road to allow cars to turn around and exit. REPORT NO.: EDG-032-12 PAGE 4 One potential opportunity for additional parking could be within the proposed development of the commercial/ residential land west of the park however the exact plans for that development are not known at this time. Turning movements from Hwy 2 onto Old Kingston Road for westbound cars is also a concern. There is a centre lane on Hwy. 2 but at this location it is used for eastbound traffic to turn left at Centerfield Drive. Staff is currently investigating options for improving vehicular access to the park in consultation with the Region of Durham and the owners of the lands west of the park site. In its current configuration and based on the requested future use of the site, i.e. large community events, safety related to site access is a concern. It should also be noted that ultimately access/egress to and from the site for westbound vehicles will be eliminated with the future development of a centre median on Hwy. 2. Council's resolution also requested that staff include in the report electrical feeds for the structure, and for lights on Old Kingston Road. The west section of Old Kingston Road currently has no street lighting but the electrical service required for street lighting and for park lighting could be easily accessed from existing Hydro One service on the north side of Old Kingston Road. The lack of lighting on this portion of Old Kingston Road was previously identified and will be evaluated for inclusion the 2013 Street Lighting Improvement Program. It is anticipated that walkway type lighting would also be required on Old Kingston Road east of Farwell Creek to tie into the existing street lighting. 3. CONCURRENCE: N/A REPORT NO.: EDG-032-12 PAGE 5 4. CONCLUSION There is physical space in Tooley's Mill Park to build a permanent structure for programmed special events such as musical events, however parking and vehicular access could be a problem when large numbers of people come to the park. Bowmanville's Concerts in the Park attract an average of 250 people per event to Rotary Park which is also .43ha in size. In Bowmanville the audience generally arrives by foot or by car with parking available along Queen Street, Temperance Street, King Street and in municipal lots. If similar audiences come to Tooley's Mill Park for special events there is currently not enough public parking available in the vicinity of the park to accommodate those crowds. Constructing a parking lot on this small site is not recommended because it would require a large portion of the parkland. With or without a permanent structure for programmed uses Tooley's Mill Park can be developed to provide residents with a creek-side park in a beautiful setting. The park will also be a gateway to the future recreational trail. Staff are pursing solutions to the access and parking concerns with the goal of resolving those concerns and developing Tooley's Mill Park as a civic space for Courtice residents which could accommodate musical and other special events. When the commercial/residential development west of the park is completed it may provide another parking option for visitors which could allow for larger civic events in Tooley's Mill Park. Public consultation would be initiated should Council want to pursue a musical /special events venue on this site. REPORT NO.: EDG-032-12 PAGE 6 CONFORMITY WITH STRATEGIC PLAN The recommendations contained in this report conform to the general intent of the following priorities of the Strategic Plan: Promoting economic development Maintaining financial stability _ Connecting Clarington Promoting green initiatives X Investing in infrastructure X Showcasing our community Not in conformity with Strategic Plan Staff Contact: Peter Windolf, Manager of Park Development Attachments: Attachment 1 - Site Context Aerial Map Attachment 2 - Conceptual Master Plan List of interested parties to be advised of Council's decision: Jeff Goldman, Durham Custom Homes t C Y r Rpm Aw KIP _ '� .•: ilk kN LIT • � r 1. " �' F+r' 3 ! :#� ► ' Ems. M t ♦s A 1 ,11'x!* �`?+ �"-'11ii Ih`� +' •_" 't 11 �� ,.�y�p�y (�� e. 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