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Schoolside Park Near Bacon Elementary School#

landscape of future park site

The future park near Bacon Elementary School is 5.3 acres in size and it is located just north of the elementary school. The park site is bordered by the Mail Creek Ditch to the north and east, South Timberline Road to the west, and Bacon Elementary School to the south.

Construction of the Mail Creek Trail east of Timberline is now complete. The new trail will provide a connection from the park west to the Power Trail and east to Kinard Middle School.

Park features may include seating, passive and active recreational spaces, walking paths, natural spaces, a playground, a basketball court, a rectangular field, picnic areas, and an outdoor event space/outdoor classroom.

Neighborhood Open House
February 15, 2024 from 6:30-8 p.m.
Bacon Elementary School
Neighborhood Meeting #2
April 4, 2024 from 6:30-8 p.m.
Bacon Elementary School
Anticipated Start of Construction
Spring 2025
Anticipated Grand Opening Celebration
Fall 2025

Project Details#

Public Outreach Summary#

Initial public outreach included a drop-in open house and an online survey. Overall, the outreach efforts show the community would like to see a park design that provides rolling, open and enclosed spaces, while providing natural buffers. Community members would like the park to have a muted or earth-tone color palette. Additional feedback was received on preferred playground features, and it was clear that bouldering, climbing, spinning, swinging, and a zipline are all priorities for the playground. 

  • Attendance - 105*
  • Comment Cards - 27
  • Open House Votes - 840
  • Online Surveys - 51

*This number is extrapolated from the number of community members who signed in and the number of votes that were cast.

The most supported passive recreational activities include:

  1. Shaded and Quiet Seating Areas (57 votes)
  2. Picnicking (38 votes)
  3. Dog Walking (32 votes)
  4. Hammocking (25 votes)
  5. Soft Surface Trails (23 votes)

The most supported active recreational activities include:

  1. Fitness Stations/Obstacle Course (51 votes)
  2. Swinging (40 votes)
  3. Bouldering (39 votes)
  4. Irrigated Lawn (30 votes)
  5. Event Space/Gathering Space & Basketball (Tied for 5th) (22 votes)

Concerns that will be addressed in the final park design include dog waste and pedestrian safety. Although there is interest in pickleball courts, due to the proximity to Bacon Elementary School and nearby residents, the noise levels associated with this activity are not appropriate for this park site. Pickleball courts are available for use at the nearby Twin Silo Park. Additionally, although interest was shown in a splash pad the cost of extending a sanitary sewer connection to the park makes it prohibitive for installing a splash pad.

Open House Event#

  • The open house event was held at Bacon Elementary School on February 15, 2024, from 6:30-8 p.m.
  • Over 5,200 invitations were distributed through a mailed postcard to residents within 1 mile of the future park site. Outreach was also conducted through local schools including Bacon Elementary School, Preston Middle School, Kinard Middle School, and Traut Elementary School. Community members were also encouraged to attend through notifications on Nextdoor and nearby Homeowner Associations. 
  • At the open house event, stations were set up with visual displays, maps, and informational materials to educate attendees about the park project and its goals, objectives, opportunities, and constraints. In addition, displays offered opportunities for attendees to weigh in on their preferences for overall park character, types of park uses, and playground features.
  • Facilitators from Park Planning and Development were available to guide discussions, gather input, and record comments and suggestions from participants.
  • Comment cards were provided for attendees to express their opinions, preferences, and concerns regarding the park design.
  • Open house feedback was collected and analyzed to identify common themes, preferences, and priorities among respondents.

Online Survey#

  • An online survey was created and made available on the project website to reach a broader audience and accommodate those unable to attend the open house event.
  • The survey was promoted through various channels, including social media and community forums, to encourage participation from residents, stakeholders, and future park users.
  • The survey consisted of 13 questions related to demographics, park amenities, playground features, park characteristics (color palettes, terrain features, and overall design preferences).
  • Survey responses were collected and analyzed to identify common themes, preferences, and priorities.

Additional Participation Results#

Top 5 Inclusive Playground Features

  1. Nature/science-based interpretation (34 votes)
  2. Quiet Spaces for Retreat (28 votes)
  3. Ramp or stair access to play features (24 votes)
  4. Perimeter fence around playground (22 votes)
  5. Perimeter walk around the playground (19 votes)

Top 3 Color Palette

  1. Muted or Earth Toned (44 votes)
  2. Unsure/No Preference (15 votes)
  3. Both muted and bright (13 votes)

Top 3 Spin Playground Features

  1. Unsure/No Preference (21 votes)
  2. Group spin structure – standing (11 votes)
  3. Group spin structure – seated (4 votes)

Top 3 Swing Playground Features

  1. Zipline (42 votes)
  2. All-user Swing (8 votes)
  3. Traditional Belt Swing (8 votes)

Top 3 Climb Playground Features

  1. Climbing Wall (20 votes)
  2. Net Climbing (20 votes)
  3. Log Climb and Crawl (10 votes)

Top Slide Playground Features

  1. Slide integrated into a hillside (38 votes)
  2. Enclosed tube slide (26 votes)
  3. Unsure/No Preference (6 votes)

Top 3 Park Terrain

  1. Some open and enclosed spaces (49 votes)
  2. Rolling and defined separate spaces (34 votes)
  3. Unsure/No Preference (3 votes)

Public Outreach Summary

The second phase of public outreach featured an open house and online survey. The community's feedback overwhelmingly favored Concept A, "Fitness for All." Additionally, community members expressed interest in incorporating a bouldering area from Concept B into Concept A. The combined results indicated strong support for various amenities, including playgrounds, basketball courts, hammocking areas, ziplines, event spaces, teen hangout spots, bouldering, and obstacle courses. Notably, bouldering generated more interest than the obstacle course among respondents.

  • Attendance - 99
  • Comment Cards - 28
  • Open House Votes - 103
  • Online Surveys - 24
  • Combined Results:
    • Concept A: Fitness for All - 78 votes
    • Concept B: Adventures in Nature & Science - 43 votes

In summary, concerns were raised regarding the connection between the park and the school parking lot, potential use overlaps with Bacon Elementary School, and the positioning of certain amenities in relation to the Mail Creek Crossing subdivision. These concerns will be carefully evaluated and integrated into the ongoing development of the concept plan as it progresses toward a final design.

Open House #2 Event:

The second open house for the neighborhood park was an engaging event aimed at gathering community input on two proposed park concepts. Attendees were provided with background information about the park project and the objectives of each concept. The event featured visual presentations and displays showcasing the proposed park designs, allowing participants to compare the two concepts. Attendees also had the opportunity to vote on their preferred park plan and provide valuable feedback through comment cards. The open house fostered community involvement and will help shape the future development of the schoolside park based on resident preferences and input.  Community members were also asked to vote on a preferred plan. 

  • Concept A: Fitness for All – 68 votes
  • Concept B: Adventures in Nature & Science – 35 votes

Overall, community members seemed to agree that Concept A was preferred because of:

  • Playground location;
  • Obstacle course/ Basketball court location;
  • Multi-purpose lawn location;
  • Picnic shelter, event space, restroom location;
  • Pathway network;
  • Parking lot access and location;
  • Proximity of amenities to Mail Creek Trail;

Online Survey #2:

  • An online survey was created and made available on the project website to reach a broader audience and accommodate those unable to attend the open house event.
  • The survey was promoted through various channels, including social media and community forums, to encourage participation from residents, stakeholders, and future park users.
  • The survey presented the two concept plans presented at the Open House and asked what features or aspects of each concept were desired and asked for a preferred concept.
  • Survey responses were collected and combined with results from the Open House event.
  • Summary of Online Survey Results:
    • Concept A: Fitness for All - 10 votes
    • Concept B: Adventure in Nature & Science - 8 votes
    • I don’t have a favorite, I like both! – 4 votes
    • I don’t like either concept – 1 vote  
  • Overall, community members seemed to agree that Concept A was preferred because of:
    • Proximity of park amenities to Mail Creek Trail
    • Network of pathways
    • Location of hammocking and quiet seating areas
    • Location of obstacle courses/ basketball court
    • Location of playground
    • Design theme