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Home My WebLink About2024 12 09 Awards/Presentations 100 - Central Winds Park Master Plan UpdateAWARDS AND PRESENTATIONS ITEM 100 CITY COMMISSION AGENDA | DECEMBER 9, 2024 REGULAR MEETING TITLE Central Winds Park Master Plan Update SUMMARY The City sought bids for Planning services to aid the Parks and Recreation Department in updating the Central Winds Park Master Plan. RFP# 05-24-03 LH was posted on May 22, 2024 to DemandStar and the City's website. The response deadline was June 14, 2024. At the time of closing, the City received four (4) responses. Of those responses, GAI Consultants, Inc. was selected by internal staff for consulting services not to exceed $144,500.00. Consent agenda item 2024-253 was approved by City Commission on July 15, 2024. As a result, GAI Consultants, Inc. performed a public engagement activity at the City of Winter Springs' Hometown Harvest event on October 26, 2024, that encompassed display boards and a scavenger hunt. The Hometown Harvest public engagement depicted the park as divided into areas that were displayed on boards: Area 1: Event Lawn, Area 2: Upper Fields, Area 3: Lower Fields, Area 4: Western Edge, Area 5: Passive Park, and Area 6: Natural Edge displayed on boards. Each board provided a description of the respective area, and, to aide in facilitating ideas, illustrations of existing conditions were provided alongside proposed amenities. Results from this event were presented to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee (PRAC), which meets quarterly, on November 06, 2024. The display boards provided during Hometown Harvest were also placed on display during the PRAC meeting to garner additional input from the committee and attendees. Committee members and the public provided additional input during the meeting. The PRAC recommended garnering additional input prior to submitting for City Commission approval. The intent of this presentation to City Commission is to garner the recommended additional input from for the Central Winds Park Master Plan Update. FUNDING SOURCE GL: 001-72-7230-530314 Parks & Recreation - Parks & Grounds - Consulting RECOMMENDATION No action is required 6 City Commission Central Winds Park December 9, 2024 Prepared by: 7 AGENDA Process Overview Existing Conditions Public Input Consolidated Master Plan Your thoughts! Next Steps Central Winds ParkPickleball Courts 8 Master PlanStrategy Target Date:City Commission 2/24 Public EngagementConcept Plans PRAC 11/6City Commission 12/9 Site AssessmentNatural Resources Assessment Building a vision for Central Winds Park Master Plan Process Task 1: The Foundation Task 2:Exploring Task 3:The Vision We are here 9 Existing Conditions Site Analysis 10 Site Visits Strengths Existing Tree Canopy - Character Oak Trees Sustainable Stormwater Practices Tournament and practice sports fields Passive Park Uses Events 11 Site Visits Weaknesses Confusing navigation Drainage concerns Pedestrian circulation Limited Parking 12 Site Visits Opportunities Potential event venue Connections to Cross- Seminole Trail Natural Resources on-site Enhance Lower Field edges Replace and enhance passive area 13 14 15 16 Public Engagement Hometown Harvest 10.26.2024 17 Public Input Format October 26, 2024 Tent at Hometown Harvest Scavenger Hunt – 100+ given Input Boards – park subdivided into 6 areas What are your favorite aspects of this area of the park? What would you like to see in the future? Participants 24 people signed-in, more in attendance – input estimated from over 100+ 18 Public Input Scavenger Hunt 19 Public Input Key Points October 26, 2024 •Access to Nature •Tree canopy (shade) •Boardwalk •Trails •Places to Gather •Playgrounds •Pavilions •Connectivity •Sidewalks •Cross-Seminole Trail •Wayfinding •Park is confusing and difficult to navigate 20 Consolidated Master Plan 21 22 23 24 25 Next Steps •Final Master Plan •Diagrams •Circulation (Transportation) •Lighting •Landscape •Wayfinding (Signage) •Lodge Feasibility Assessment •Cost Estimating and Phasing 26 Master PlanStrategyPublic EngagementConcept Plans PRAC 11/6City Commission 12/9 Site AssessmentNatural Resources Assessment Building a vision for Central Winds Park Master Plan Process Task 1: The Foundation Task 2:Exploring Task 3:The Vision We are here Next Steps Lodge Feasibility Assessment Consolidated Master Plan Cost Estimate & Phasing Master Plan Report Target Date:City Commission 2/24 27 UPPER FIELDS ORAN G E A V E N U E CENTRAL WINDS PKWYCENTRAL WINDS PKWYHICKS AVENUECROSS SEMINOLE T R A I L LOWER FIELDS SR-434 CITY OWNED PROPERTY LAKE JESUP Welcome to the Central Winds Park Master Plan Public Workshop! Help us envision the future of YOUR park. Central Winds Park provides a variety of functions as a public park. It provides neighborhood park uses through its playgrounds and passive spaces, community park uses through its sportsfields for both practice and tournament use, and serves as a regional destination for events such as the Hometown Harvest and Highland Games. The City of Winter Springs is looking to enhance and improve Central Winds Park to better function the needs of park users and accommodate a variety of uses. Initial Observations The following diagram shows some initial observations of the site that may guide the design direction. Now it’s your turn! The following boards break down the park into six different areas providing additional information as to the function of each area as well as the potential proposed enhancements of the site. What do you think? Explore each board and let us know what you love or would like to see improved within each area of the park. Place sticky notes with your comments on each of the appropriate boards. Areas 1 - The Event Lawn 2 - The Upper Fields 3 - The Lower Fields 4 - The Western Edge 5- The Passive Park 6 - The Natural Edge 234 6 5 1 YOU ARE HERE CENTRAL WINDS PARK MASTER PLAN City of Winter Springs, FL | 10.26.24 | Public Workshop | 1 28 UPPER FIELDS ORAN G E A V E N U E CENTRAL WINDS PKWYCENTRAL WINDS PKWYHICKS AVENUECROSS SEMINOLE T R A I L LOWER FIELDS SR-434 CITY OWNED PROPERTY LAKE JESUP Existing Conditions What are your favorite aspects of this area of the park? Proposed Amenities What would you like to see in the future? YOU ARE HERE Area 1 includes the multipurpose lawn and stage and is currently the site of large events in the park. This portion of the park slopes unevenly from a higher elevation along the road to a lower elevation before reaching Lake Jesup shoreline. This uneven slope limits views into the lawn and stage so that the functional performance area is limited. Past the stage is a retention pond and Lake Jesup where there is an opportunity to connect to the future planned boardwalk and provide access into the lakefront. Currently, views of the lake are mostly blocked by vegetation which could be improved with selective trimming. DESTINATION PLAY AREA FESTIVAL/ FARMERS MARKET SPACEEVENT LAWN PLAZA WITH SHADE STRUCTURE AMPHITHEATER SHADE STRUCTURE Amphitheater not visible from top of hill Opportunity to provide architectural feature with shade Central Winds Park Master Plan | Area 1: The Event Lawn 234 6 5 1 RETENTION POND MULTI-PURPOSE LAWN STAGE Uneven slopes limit event use and sight lines Uneven slopes limit event use and sight lines CENTRAL WINDS PARK MASTER PLAN City of Winter Springs, FL | 10.26.24 | Public Workshop | 2 29 UPPER FIELDS ORAN G E A V E N U E CENTRAL WINDS PKWYCENTRAL WINDS PKWYHICKS AVENUECROSS SEMINOLE T R A I L LOWER FIELDS SR-434 CITY OWNED PROPERTY LAKE JESUP Existing Conditions What are your favorite aspects of this area of the park? Proposed Amenities What would you like to see in the future? YOU ARE HERE The Upper Fields currently host competitive sports games on the diamond and rectangular fields. The site is home to several Babe Ruth baseball and softball tournaments as well as national youth baseball AAU tournaments that are held annually. Additionally, it can support football, soccer, and lacrosse games. The area includes support amenities such as shaded parking, a playground, concessions, and a maintenance shop to provide access to high quality recreation amenities. This parking lot also provides separate fence-controlled parking during larger events such as the Highland Games. Access control, through fencing, allows the competition fields to be maintained the high level required for this type of play. However, this also creates a feeling of separation from the rest of the park. The Cross-Seminole Trail runs along the south of the property and is sandwiched between high school and park fencelines. CONNECTION TO CROSS SEMINOLE TRAIL GROUP PAVILION SHADED WALKWAYS FORMALIZED GRAVEL PARKINGRELOCATED SCULPTURE Well maintained fields host large sporting events Playground ramps lead directly into parking with no buffer. Central Winds Park Master Plan | Area 2: The Upper Fields 234 5 1 COMPETITION BASEBALL DIAMONDS PLAYGROUND CONCESSIONS PARKING COMPETITION SOCCER FIELDS MAINTENANCE SHOP TEE BALL Trail is sandwiched between fences with no openings from park. Established tree canopy provides shade. Parking medians limit tree root zones. 6 CENTRAL WINDS PARK MASTER PLAN City of Winter Springs, FL | 10.26.24 | Public Workshop | 3 30 UPPER FIELDS ORAN G E A V E N U E CENTRAL WINDS PKWYCENTRAL WINDS PKWYHICKS AVENUECROSS SEMINOLE T R A I L LOWER FIELDS SR-434 CITY OWNED PROPERTY LAKE JESUP Existing Conditions What are your favorite aspects of this area of the park? Proposed Amenities What would you like to see in the future? YOU ARE HERE Area 3 includes all of the practice fields including unlit soccer and softball fields as well as a covered sculpture in the center of the space. Aside from large expanses of sportsfields, this space is marked by various elevation changes and stormwater features. Throughout the space, drainage swales carve limit the free movement between the various fields which limit the flexibility and circulation of the multi-use fields. Additionally, drainage issues occur along the parking lot edge to the south. The eastern and northern edges provide canopy shade under which spectators often sit. The eastern edge is much higher than the rest of the space providing sloped lawn to view the games. While there are sidewalk connections into the softball quad, most of the space has no formal walkways. Orientation is a major challenge within the Lower Fields with users unsure of where to find parking or specific fields. WALKING LOOP CELEBRATE EXISTING TREE CANOPYSHADED SPECTATOR AREA EXPANDED DETENTION AREASCENTRAL PAVILION WITH SEATINGTREE LINED FIELDS Drainage swale limits flexibility of multi-use fields Natural edge provides nice views Beautiful character oak Heavily used soccer fields Central Winds Park Master Plan | Area 3: The Lower Fields 23 5 1 4 PRACTICE SOFTBALL DIAMOND FIELD PRACTICE SOCCER FIELDS COVERED SCULPTURE PARKING LOT PRACTICE SOCCER FIELDS PRACTICE SOCCER FIELDS 6 CENTRAL WINDS PARK MASTER PLAN City of Winter Springs, FL | 10.26.24 | Public Workshop | 4 31 UPPER FIELDS ORAN G E A V E N U E CENTRAL WINDS PKWYCENTRAL WINDS PKWYHICKS AVENUECROSS SEMINOLE T R A I L LOWER FIELDS SR-434 CITY OWNED PROPERTY LAKE JESUP Existing Conditions What are your favorite aspects of this area of the park? Proposed Amenities What would you like to see in the future? YOU ARE HERE The Western Edge is organized along the north-south roadway which provides access to the dog park, parking lot, and new pickleball courts eventually leading into the water augmentation plant and fishing pier area. The dog park includes both large and small dog areas as well as an agility course. The new pickleball courts receive heavy use and are supported by a new sustainable parking lot and restroom building. The water augmentation plant at the north end includes a large storage tank which may provide some opportunity as a observation deck or other hardcourt recreation amenity overlooking Lake Jesup. Major challenges along this area include limited parking during event days and the lack of a north-south pedestrian walkway to connect the different amenities. This results in vehicle and pedestrian use conflicts along the spine road. There is also no clear connection between this area of the park or the rest of the park. PAVILION WITH SEATING SPORTS COURTOBSERVATION DECK EXPANDED PARKING ENHANCED ENTRY SEQUENCE Active dog park amenity area Heavily used state of the art pickleball courts Central Winds Park Master Plan | Area 4: The Western Edge 234 5 1 DOG PARK PARKING PICKLEBALL Opportunity to add pedestrian circulation Sustainable parking drainage and permeable paving 6 CENTRAL WINDS PARK MASTER PLAN City of Winter Springs, FL | 10.26.24 | Public Workshop | 5 32 UPPER FIELDS ORAN G E A V E N U E CENTRAL WINDS PKWYCENTRAL WINDS PKWYHICKS AVENUECROSS SEMINOLE T R A I L LOWER FIELDS SR-434 CITY OWNED PROPERTY LAKE JESUP Existing Conditions What are your favorite aspects of this area of the park? Proposed Amenities What would you like to see in the future? YOU ARE HERE The passive park area of the park is located within a clearing of the wooded area and includes passive amenities such as a playground, pavilions, sand volleyball court, basketball half-court, and open space. This area of the park provides opportunities for unstructured play and enjoyment of the outdoors. Both pavilions are frequently used by both casual park users and users participating in sports practices or tournaments. This area also provides access into the adjacent nature trails. There are some drainage challenges within the space particularly around the pavilions as the area slopes down towards the lake. The playground is well-loved and may be in need of replacement. A unifying feature, such as a walking loop, may help unify the various amenities and provide accessible routes to the various offerings of the site. NATURE PLAY LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT PARKING FORMAL GARDENS COVERED EVENT SPACEEVENTS CENTER/ LODGETREE-LINED ENTRY Playground may need replacement Pavilions are well loved and used for parties and gatherings Active basketball court with adjacent shaded area Drainage issues limit use of pavilion Central Winds Park Master Plan | Area 5: The Passive Park 234 5 1 MULTI-PURPOSE LAWN VOLLEYBALL BASKETBALL PAVILION PAVILION PLAYGROUND 6 CENTRAL WINDS PARK MASTER PLAN City of Winter Springs, FL | 10.26.24 | Public Workshop | 6 33 UPPER FIELDS ORAN G E A V E N U E CENTRAL WINDS PKWYCENTRAL WINDS PKWYHICKS AVENUECROSS SEMINOLE T R A I L LOWER FIELDS SR-434 CITY OWNED PROPERTY LAKE JESUP Existing Conditions What are your favorite aspects of this area of the park? Proposed Amenities What would you like to see in the future? YOU ARE HERE The Natural Edge includes a variety of natural communities including the lake shore, wetlands, and upland tree canopy that provide much of the site character. Along with the future planned boardwalk, there is an opportunity to highlight the natural character of the site and provide access to the various natural communities present. Opportunities for low impact recreation, such as nature trails and disc golf, as well as environmental education would help highlight the natural assets of the park while protecting natural resources. ACCESSIBLE PATHWAYS RENTABLE GROUP PAVILIONS BOARDWALK ALONG LAKE SHADED PICNIC AREAINTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE DISC GOLF Opportunity to access water’s edge Natural canopy provides shaded area for spectators Central Winds Park Master Plan | Area 6: The Natural Edge 234 5 1 NATURE TRAILS FISHING PIER FUTUR E B O A R D W A L K UNPAVED PARKING Keep existing memorial benches Opportunity for interpretive signage to highlight natural community Opportunity to formalize path and make accessible Large open shaded area create opportunities for passive activities 6 CENTRAL WINDS PARK MASTER PLAN City of Winter Springs, FL | 10.26.24 | Public Workshop | 7 34