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HomeMy WebLinkAbout13_Parks Recreation Final 5-17 2019 RedLine Southold Town Comprehensive Plan Update This document was prepared for the New York State Department of State with funds provided under Title 11 of the Environmental Protection Fund. Parks and & Recreation DraftFinal December 20, 2011 Updated March 18May 17, 2019 Parks & Recreation 1 Introduction and Purpose The Town of Southold Town offers numerous recreational opportunities on its land and in its waters, and has acquired and managed many acres of recreational lands through its diverse programs. Further opportunities have been established by the four Park districts: Mattituck, Cutchogue-New Suffolk, Southold, and Orient-East Marion. The Southold Recreation Department offers many programs for the recreational experience of residents. The County of Suffolk, State of New York, School Districts, and several private organizations also have landholdings within the Town for recreational purposes. A complete inventory is listed in Appendix 10for this chapter. This chapter addresses providing numerous activities and programs that offer recreational, educational and leisure opportunities that meet the needs, preferences, and financial abilities of Southold’s residents and visitors. An effort to determine future needs relating to these activities requires an examination of the existing inventory of programs and facilities. In addition, it requires the engagement of the public to determine the types of recreational and leisure activities they envision for the future. HistoryBackground In the past, the ability to avail ofparticipating in recreational activities orand the utilization ofenjoying parks and open space for recreational purposes was an informal arrangement. Unlike many chapters found within theis Comprehensive Pplan, there are limited studies and recommendations regarding parks and recreation. In 1981 the League of Women Voters issued a survey to assessing recreational needs in which it wasthat reported that the Town’s residents wanted more parks and trails along withand an indoor pool/gymnasium complex. Two consultants also provided reports to the Town Board in the early eighties 1980’s that featured concrete recommendations including the development of a “professional staff” for recreational purposes. The Town established a recreation department in 1985. Currently the recreation staff consists of one full-time director and one part-time staff member to develop and administer programs. In 2004 the Town transferred responsibility for all the maintenance of public properties, including parks and recreation, to the Department of Public Works. In addition, the Town created a volunteer committee (Parks, Beaches and Recreation) that was charged withto makeing recommendations to the Town Board to promote recreational opportunities. In 2004, the Town Board increased the collection of parks and recreation fees to the amount of $7000 per lot, which that the Planning Board may collect if an applicant cannot suitably accommodate a park or public trail for recreational purposes within a subdivision plat ($3500 per lot for conservation subdivision and no charge for affordable housing district). Fees are maintained in a separate trust fund and can be used exclusively for the acquisition of public parks, playgrounds, or recreation, and/or for the improvements of public parks and recreational facilities. Parks & Recreation Southold Town Comprehensive Plan Update 2 In May 2008, the voters approved a referendum for the Town to purchase the site formerly known as “the Peconic School” situated on 4.3 acres on Peconic Lane next to the Town’s existing Recreation Department. The Town has utilized much of its Suffolk County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding towards the rehabilitation of the site, now known as the Peconic Lane Community Center. The Center features three rooms that can holding up to 30 people for meeting space and, educational classes as well as leisure activities and a small auditorium with stage. Engaging the Public to Determine Perceived Recreational Needs and Gaps To determine what types of recreational activities the public would like for the future, a survey was developed and launched on the Town’s website. Respondents were solicited through the Recreation Department’s E-Newsletter, a link on the Town’s webpage and an advertisement in the Suffolk Times. Initially this effort provided 118 responses. Additional strategies of community outreach increased the survey response to almost 200. Surveys were also provided to students at local schools to ascertain the types of recreational and leisure activities that youth would like to see developed in Town. Seniors (55 years of age and older) comprise 40% percent of the Town’s population;-- therefore, the Special Projects Coordinator met with seniors at the Human Resource Center to discuss the Town’s Comprehensive Plan along with and distributeing surveys. In addition to soliciting public feedback through surveys, three focus groups were conducted at the Southold Town Recreation Center to elicit ideas about what types of recreation and leisure activities are needed in the Town, what obstacles and impediments exist forof current programming, andas well as what kindsa review of recreational activities offered in other East End towns would be suitable fornot currently offered in Southold. The Southold Youth Bureau board and Youth Advisory Council convened a meeting devoted towards strategic planning for youth services in preparation for Chapter 11, “Human Services,” of the Comprehensive Plan’s “Human Services” chapter regarding youth services. Over 90% percent of the respondents expressed stated that priority planning should include the development of a year- round multi-purpose gymnasium and swimming pool complex with the ability capacity to provide space for a teen center for afterschool activities. Survey Responses: The appendixAppendix 10 contains a detailed response of surveys received by the public. Initially, responses were collected online. and later pPrinted copies were later made available. The top five survey responses from the public regarding the recreational facilities/programs that they perceive to beare most needed in Ttown are noted below in order of priority:  Indoor swimming pool  Bicycle, trails Wwalking, and jogging trails  Bowling lanes  Performing arts Parks & Recreation Southold Town Comprehensive Plan Update 3  Indoor sports complex In reviewing written comments/suggestions from the public, many emphasized combining functions to meet needs, i.e., such as combining the swimming pool and gymnasium complex so that it could include host teen activities as well as childcare. A few patrons participants noted the inferior condition of the dog park and the need for expansion and improvement of grounds. Also sSeveral comments referenced the need for diverse programming with additional instructors to offer “advanced programming.” Focus Group Comments: Three focus groups were convened to discuss recreation in the Town of Southold Town, with approximately twenty individuals participating. The content of the discussion strongly favored the development of additional cultural programming such as performing arts, theatre, movies, musical programs, and arts and crafts activities within the newly acquired Peconic Lane Community Center site. In addition, it was suggested that the name of the department responsible for administering programs should be changed from “Recreation” to another name such as “Recreation, Education and Leisure.” Performance Standards: The National Park and Recreation Association adopted standards for basic outdoor recreational facilities that provide guidelines for municipalities in planning recreational activities. While tThese standards may be applicable to other suburban or rural communities, but it does not imply that they are not necessarily appropriate for the Town of Southold Town with its preserved farmland and semi-rural hamlets. Its reference is merely to provide guidelines for planning. They appear below: Facility Standard per Persons (Southold population approximately 21,000) Baseball 1 per 5,000 Basketball 1 per 5,000 Handball 1 per 20,000 Golf Course 1 per 50,000 Softball 1 per 5,000 Tennis 1 per 2,000 Swimming Pool 1 per 20,000 Ice Hockey 1 per 100,000 Volleyball 1 per 5,000 Soccer 1 per 10,000 Football 1 per 10,000 Field Hockey 1 per 20,000 Track (1/4 mile) 1 per 20,000 Parks & Recreation Southold Town Comprehensive Plan Update 4 Existing Inventory:Conditions The Town contains a range and diversity of parkland and other open space suitable for recreational purposes. However, not all of this land is in public hands. Private owners and operators provide recreational opportunities, as became evident in the crafting of the Town’s Local Waterfront Revitalization Program document. This includes private marinas and golf courses. The Inventory contained in the Appendix 10 denotes all land used for park and recreation purposes. A distinction is made between government- owned properties, school-district properties and private properties. Below is a listing of Town of Southold Town’s recreational parks with current sports activities: Robert Tasker Park  Tennis courts (3) with lights  Little League baseball fields (3) 1 with lights  T-ball baseball field (1)  Playground area (1)  Restroom facilities  Pickleball Courts (3) Jean Cochran Park  Roller hockey rink (1)  Baseball field, with lights (1)  Tennis courts (3)  Basketball Court (1)  Football field (1) (also used for lacrosse, Ssoccer)  T-ball baseball fields (2)  ½ mile walking track Laurel Lake Park  Little League baseball fields (2)  Playground area (1) Strawberry Fields Fairgrounds (leased from Suffolk County)  Sports fields (3) used for soccer, lacrosse Old School House Park (leased from Orient/East Marion School District)  Basketball court (1)  Tennis court (1)  Playground  Little league baseball field (1) also used for Ssoccer Parks & Recreation Southold Town Comprehensive Plan Update 5 Goals Facility and Program Planning and Adequacy Analysis To develop the Town’s goals and objectives for thise Parks and Recreation chapter, the following methods were utilized:  Review of previous studies  Review of survey responses and comments  Review of focus group discussions  Review of National Parks and Recreation Association performance standards  Review of existing inventory  Interviews with recreation department staff and members of the Parks, Beaches and Recreation committee Goal 1. Diverse Programming Provide for a variety of recreational, educational, and leisure experiences and programs to meet the diverse needs of the community in an efficient and cost- effective manner Recreational, educational, and leisure activities evolve with time and it is important to remain current as well as satisfy the needs of a diverse population of seniors, youth, and part-time residents, etc. Technological advances require that the facilities and activities remain compelling and instructional for all Ttown residents. Objectives: 1) Issue annual surveys to assess the parks and recreational needs of the community. Meet with participants of at the Human Resource Center and Youth Bureau to further ascertain the needs of seniors and youth. 2) As a follow-up to survey responses, facilitate focus groups to garner additional information of regarding what the community wants to satisfydesires in terms of recreational needs. 3) Provide exit surveys to participants who take classes and partake participate in recreation activities. 4) Continually research and assess recreational programs of other municipalities in the region as well as throughout the country. 5) Develop and enhance cultural programs and activities to be contained in the Peconic Lane Community Center. 6) Partner with existing entities that provide cultural programming to offer educational classes, performances, art exhibits, concerts, and other leisure activities. 7) Enhance technological capacities of the Town Recreation Center and Peconic Lane Community Center to promote cutting- edge program offerings. Parks & Recreation Southold Town Comprehensive Plan Update 6 8) Utilize social media as a tool to learn about new programs and activities at the Recreation dDepartment as well as a methodand to gatherprovide feedback on program offerings. 9) Increase staffing of the rRecreation dDepartment to include skilled and experienced full-time staff and part-time staff that could research funding opportunities and resources. Staffing could also include employment opportunities for youth. 10) Change the name of the Town’s Recreation department to something else (e.g., “Recreation, Education and Leisure”.) The newly named department can raise its profile through branding. Responsible Parties: Southold Recreation Department, Southold Parks, Beaches and Recreation Committee, Department of Data Processing and Information Technology, Planning Department, Southold Human Resource Center and Southold Youth Bureau Possible Partnerships: Peconic Landing, Fishers Island Community Center, Historical Societies, Libraries, East End Arts Council, North Fork Community Theatre, Group for the East End, Goal 2. Facilities and Grounds The Town has an impressive inventory of park lands and recreation facilities. Through aggressive efforts to preserve farmland and open space, the Town has acquired land suitable for the development of passive and active recreation. This conversion of land requires some expense to promote safety, access, trails, etc. It is important that existing resources are maintained and protected to prevent overuse and degradation. While existing resources may appear adequate at present, it is imperative that the Town continually assess whether recreational needs are being met and purchase additional land and develop sites when warranted. Goal 2.1 Enhance utilization of existing park lands, open spaces, beaches, and recreational facilities through ongoing maintenance, stewardship, and facility improvement. Objectives: 1) Collaborate with schools to explore the feasibility of adding a shared sports turf (artificial turf) field with lighting to an existing Ttown park that is centrally located for field sports such as lacrosse and soccer, and a regulation track. School teams need a field that can be intensively used in all seasons and where big games can be hosted, and natural turf is easily overused and destroyed. Other athletic club teams could rent the field. The Town would manage the field and its schedule. 2) Promote compatible and multiple uses of parks and recreational sites. Parks & Recreation Southold Town Comprehensive Plan Update 7 3) Develop a database of existing parks and recreational facilities that notes the condition of the site, and what needs to be improved upon to enhance utilization, and when enhancement mustneeds to take place (e.g., replace sod on baseball fields in spring.) 4) Establish point-in-time surveys to access utilization rates of parks and recreational facilities during different times of the year, month, and day. 5) Increase collaboration and communication with schools and Park Districts to coordinate the use of fields and facilities to maximize recreational opportunities for residents to prevent overuse and degradation. 6) Install permanent bathrooms at Jean Cochran pPark and Strawberry Fields and consider installation of portable toilets at other locations if warranted. 7) Through land preservation stewardship offer more bicycle and walking/jogging trails. 8) Finish the restoration of the Pavilion at Laurel Lake. 9) Continue participation in the Bay to Sound trails project. 10) Ensure seasonal installation of receptacles to collect refuse and provide timely removal of refuse from public beaches. Educate the public on the maintenance of parks and beaches with campaigns such as “Carry Out What You Carry In.” 11) Install lighting with timer on tracks in Jean Cochran pPark to enable recreational activities in winter hours. 12) Increase law enforcement patrols to improve the quality of public beaches through elimination of illegal parking, camping, littering, and fishing practices. 13) Develop document for public distribution and for the Town’s website that illustrates the existing inventory of parks and recreation facilities (active and passive.) 14) Develop recreational offerings devoted to seasonal outdoor activities such as bird watching, cross-country skiing, paddle tennis, fishing, and deer hunting. 15) Provide an ice skating alternative to using local ponds through by creating a safe, lighted ice skating rink in winter with lights. 16) Continue to maintain the sledding hill at Marratooka Lake Preserve. 17) Utilize volunteers and community groups for clean-up of beaches and trails. 18) Develop community gardens with vegetables and flowers within designated Ttown facilities. 19) Create an exercise trail with exercise stations. 20) Establish greenways in hamlet centers. 21) Connect the west end bike path to the east end recreational trail on Fishers Island. 22) Increase the usefulness of the Ttown park at Silversmith’s Corner with by including a few small permanent tables for picnics, and scheduling more activities in the park. Responsible Parties: Southold Recreation Department, Department of Public Works, Land Preservation Committee, Southold Police Department, Parks Districts, School Districts and Fishers Island Community Board. Possible Partnerships: Suffolk County Department of Parks and Recreation, Peconic Land Trust, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Village of Greenport, Youth Service Parks & Recreation Southold Town Comprehensive Plan Update 8 Groups (Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, etc.) the Nature Conservancy, Southold Garden Club, Cornell Cooperative Education and New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Goal 2.2 Obtain additional land for recreational purposes where feasible and necessary. Objectives: 1) Enhance communication and coordination with the Parks, Beaches and Recreation Committee and the Land Preservation Committee to cultivate opportunities to purchase land with Community Preservation funding that will provide scenic benefits to residents and visitors as well as provide needed recreational activities. Trail systems should be designed, developed, and maintained to provide passive recreational activities for hiking and biking. 2) Enhance existing trails or create new hiking trails through the subdivision process by having them dedicated to the Town without having to spending Community Preservation funds. 3) Conduct a feasibility study that would include researching the availability of funding (public and private) , operation (public and private) and suggested location of a year-round gymnasium and swimming pool facility. The proposed multi-purpose complex may include extensive gymnasium with exercise equipment, weights, indoor heated swimming pool to permit lap swimming, indoor basketball court, bowling lanes, and lockers, etc. The Ffeasibility study will include the possibility of creating collaborations of between for-profit and non-profit partnerships that could make the creation and operation of the proposed multi-purpose complex financially viable. 4) Provide Aa separate or integrated youth center containing ping-pong, pool tables, foosball, entertainment lounge, and snack bar, while providing and rooms suitable for counseling, career development, and other additional recreation programs. 5) Addition of an indoor swimming pool at to the Community Center on Fishers Island. 6) Acquire two additional playing fields. The recreation director reports that there is an overuse of fields in Ttown; and specifically, the department receives many requests to use Strawberry Fields for soccer, baseball, and lacrosse games. It would be prudent to acquire two additional fields of approximately 15 acres (each) to support additional recreational activities (fields) and parking. 7) Within existing recreational sites, develop a supervised skate park that requires participants to wear appropriate gear to promote safety, have parental permission, and release thehold Town harmless forfrom liabilityies, etc. 8) Work with the Peconic Estuary Program to design and construct a Blueway trail system throughout the Peconic Estuary. 9) Explore locations for a village green in Mattituck hamlet center. Responsible Parties: Southold Parks & Recreation Committee, Southold Land Preservation Committee, Southold Town Board, Department of Public Works, Southold Youth Bureau and Fishers Island Community Center. Parks & Recreation Southold Town Comprehensive Plan Update 9 Possible Partnerships: Peconic Estuary Program, YMCA, other non-profit or private entities Parks & Recreation Southold Town Comprehensive Plan Update 10 Goal 3. Accessibility and Costs Ensure access to beaches, parks, and recreational facilities and participation in recreational programs by residents and visitors. In the past the Town’s recreational needs were primarily met by school districts and autonomous park districts that did not afford access to all geographic areas of the Town. In recent years the Town has taken a more proactive stance and has sought to increase its land holdings and the recreational facilities that are available to all residents and visitors. Waterside access is provided by way of public beaches, public road ends, private association beaches, public and private boat ramps, marinas, and moorings. Most recreational facilities and programs have been offered at no charge or priced where revenues offset expenses. Access to Ttown beaches is provided by purchase of passes and stickers at the office of the Town Clerk. Year-round residents and property owners may purchase a sticker for $6 while guests and lessees pay $30 per vehicle. Non-residents may purchase a sticker for vehicle and trailer for $150 and visitors pay $25 for a daily pass for access to three beaches. The Recreation Department provides the use of Ttown fields and facilities at no charge for non- profits, local schools, charitable groups, little leagues, etc. Other user groups are charged a fee to use the fields.$25 for up to four hours of utilization for residents to $50 for non-residents. Objectives: 1) Provide recreational opportunities to residents that are centrally located as well as geographically tailored for all ten10 hamlets. 2) Partner with existing sites and facilities (i.e., Peconic Landing in Greenport West hamlet, Human Resource Center in Mattituck) to offer programs in different geographical areas in Ttown for residents who do not want to travel to Peconic. 3) Utilize Parks and Recreation fees to ensure that recreational facilities comply with the Americans for Disabilities Act. 4) Deliver programs and activities that are reasonably priced so that most households would beare able to participate. 5) Promote discussion with Parks Districts to enable all Ttown residents the ability to access Parks Districts; this access could be in the form of such as a town-wide “beach pass” that residents could purchase. 6) Engage the residents of Fishers Island (via surveys, focus groups, etc.) to ascertain convey their needs in order to develop appropriate activities and programs to be offered on Fishers Island. 7) Enhance the promotion of recreational activities through continued advertising in local papers as well as email notification, social media, and website postings. 8) Create a central database of recreational offerings that include activities not sponsored by the Town and post on the Town’s website. Parks & Recreation Southold Town Comprehensive Plan Update 11 Responsible Parties: Recreation Department, Southold Town Board, Town Clerk, Peconic Landing, Human Resource Center, Parks Districts Goal 4. Promoting Health and Wellness Initiate a town-wide wellness campaign to improve physical and mental health. As the Southold Parks and Recreation Department evolves into providing greater educational opportunities for the public, opportunities exist to introduce people to many ways to optimize healthy lifestyles. Objectives: 1) Work with School Districts to develop a “fit pass” allowing residents the opportunity to use school facilities (playground, gymnasium) during evening hours. 2) Offer educational classes throughout Town with topics relating to stress management, obesity, smoking, depression, etc. 3) Provide recreational activities in conjunction with classes to maximize the ability to promote better health. This could include posters, information packets, and resources. 4) Work with schools and human service providers to tailor more programs that support a lifestyle absent of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs towards local youth and tweens that supports a lifestyle absent of alcohol, tobacco and drugs. 5) Work with the Human Resource Center to tailor programs towards seniors. 6) Sponsor monthly contests and activities that will offer prizes for changing behaviors to more healthy lifestyles. Responsible Parties: Recreation Department, Suffolk County Department of Health, Southold Youth Bureau, Schools, Human Resource Center Possible Partnerships: School Districts, Eastern Long Island Hospital, Southampton Hospital, Peconic Bay Medical Center, Stony Brook Hospital, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Suffolk County Department of Health, New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, Suffolk County Prevention Resource Center.