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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-30-17 CC Mtg - C2. Letter of Support to TPL for Story Mill ParkCommission Memorandum REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commission FROM: Carolyn Poissant – TOP Design and Development Manager Mitch Overton – Director of Parks and Recreation SUBJECT: Letter of Support for Montana State Parks Recreational Trails Program Grant Application by The Trust for Public Land MEETING DATE: January 30, 2017 AGENDA ITEM TYPE: Consent RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the City Manager to Sign the Letter of Support for the Trust for Public Land’s Grant Application (Grant No. 2017-01) to the Montana State Parks Recreational Trails Program (RTP) for the Story Mill Community Park, for Construction of Interpretive Trails and Boardwalks. BACKGROUND: The City of Bozeman has a Memorandum of Understanding with Trust for Public Land for the planning and development of Story Mill Community Park (“Park Project”). Under the terms of the MOU, the Trust for Public Land is authorized to apply for public and private grants and to hold any awarded funds until such time as they can be applied to construction of the Park Project. The RTP grant application is for $90,000 (the grant maximum) and would be applied towards construction of the interpretive trails and boardwalks in the southern portion of the park. TPL is the lead applicant and will receive and administer the grant funds as part of the park construction project under the previously approved MOU. There will be no direct financial contribution from the City. TPL is providing the entire required match. UNRESOLVED ISSUES: None. ALTERNATIVES: As Directed by Commission. FISCAL EFFECTS: The grant application is an effort to bring additional resources to the Park Project. ATTACHMENTS: Letter of Support RTP 2017 Grant Application Report compiled on: January 23, 2017 7 Beth R. Shumate Trails Program Manager Montana State Parks P.O. Box 200701 Helena, MT 59620 January 30, 2017 Dear Ms. Shumate, As City Manager of the City of Bozeman, it is my pleasure to express strong support for The Trust for Public Land’s grant application to the 2017 Recreational Trails Program in for trail construction at Story Mill Community Park. Grant funding in the amount of $90,000 will greatly enhance the community’s trail network and provide opportunities for visitors to enjoy the nature sanctuary as planned for the new park. Currently, the City of Bozeman is working in partnership with The Trust for Public Land on the design and development of Story Mill Community Park, with construction slated to begin in spring 2017 and the park opening scheduled for fall of 2018. The City of Bozeman acquired the site in 2014 utilizing our 2012 Trails, Open Space and Parks bond funding and the City will manage and maintain all facilities in the park in perpetuity. In total, we have committed $4.5 million of municipal bond funding to the project, which The Trust for Public Land is leveraging with significant philanthropic and private fundraising of over $7.6 million for the park development project. Community participation and engagement in the project is significant and ongoing. The Story Mill Community Park Master Plan, unanimously approved by the City Commission in November 2016, provides opportunities for natural and cultural interpretation; community gathering; active recreation; wildlife viewing; river and fishing access; as well as both internal and network trail connectivity. As Bozeman grows, Story Mill Community Park will provide a vital amenity to enhance and preserve our unique quality of life. Located in the “park-poor” northeast quadrant, a priority area identified in the 2007 Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails Plan, the park will be a destination for residents and visitors alike. Trails in the park help connect the downtown core of Bozeman to upper northeast area neighborhoods and to the soon-to-be-constructed shared-use path to the “M,” which is funded by a Federal Lands Access Program grant and bond funds. This 8 connection serves as an important link in Bozeman’s “Main Street-to-the- Mountains” community-wide trail network. Within the park’s nature sanctuary, visitors will enjoy trails winding through diverse grasslands and wooded wetlands following a three-quarter mile stretch of the East Gallatin River, a blue ribbon trout stream. The abundance of birds and other wildlife, as well as numerous scenic vistas, will offer visitors a close-to-home connection to nature. Resting in the shadow of the historic Story Mill along the Spur Trail corridor (leased from Montana Rail Link), visitors will take in both the cultural and natural history of the site along its network of interpretive trails. Beyond the many recreational opportunities it will offer, the Story Mill Community Park will establish a unique sense of place and identity in the Gallatin Valley, improving the quality of life for residents and visitors, while helping foster healthy connections between our neighborhoods. As demonstrated by our recent citizen’s survey parks are one of the most important elements in Bozeman's vision for a sustainable and vibrant community. We support The Trust for Public Land in submitting this grant application and urge you to provide full funding for this important trail facility request. Sincerely, Chris A. Kukulski City Manager City of Bozeman 9 2017 Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Recreational Tr4ails Program Grant Cycle 2017 Project Type: Non-Motorized Grant Amount Category: Big Grant Category ($90,000) Land Ownership: City Concise Project Title: Story Mill Community Park: Nature Sanctuary Trails System Classification of Land: Public Type of Project: Construction of Trails System Intended Use: Non-motorized diversified use Trail Use Types: General park enjoyment: walking, bird-watching, nature exploration, snow-shoeing and cross country skiing and trail connections for bicycles, hiking/jogging, County: Gallatin Land Size: Township City: Bozeman Project Description Project Description* Describe the scope of work and what you intend to accomplish with this project. Clearly define exactly what the requested grant funds will be used for; you can explain project cost details in your project budget form(s). Try to limit your response to approximately 1,000 words. Additional information should include provisions for disabled access, user abilities served and range of abilities served, provisions for cultural and natural resource interpretation, provisions for safety information and education and unique attributes or features of this project that could serve as examples to other projects. Include maps (general area/location and project specific maps). Identify on project specific map locations of structures, access points, trailheads and trailside facilities. The Trust for Public Land (TPL) in partnership with the City of Bozeman and others is developing the 60-acre Story Mill Community Park (SMCP). RTP grant funding is requested to support trail construction and trail infrastructure development within the park’s 30-acre nature sanctuary. We are pleased to submit this grant request jointly with the City and Gallatin Valley Land Trust (GVLT). Today, Bozeman is one of the state’s fastest growing cities with a population of 45,000 and an additional 95,000 within the surrounding Gallatin County. Bozeman attracts a diverse group of entrepreneurs, students, academics, retirees, and young families offering unparalleled scenic beauty, community spirit and easy outdoor access. In response to this growth, the City of Bozeman’s Trails, Open Space and Parks program is expanding parks and trail amenities. SMCP represents an innovative public-private partnership to develop a flagship community park, serving north-side neighborhoods and beyond. It is also strategically situated as a hub within the Main Street-to-the-Mountains trails system. Visitors arriving via car or bus will enter the park along Bridger Drive, a major arterial road. An accessible parking lot, community center and plaza anchor park amenities including a grand lawn, walking paths, teaching garden, picnic pavilions, and amphitheater, among other features. The centerpiece element, a quarter-mile-long playground, will offer integrated adventure play for 10 all ages and abilities. A family-friendly accessible river play area draws visitors to the East Gallatin River and invites them to venture farther into the park’s southern section. There, a 30- acre nature sanctuary provides contemplative, nature-based park experiences. The nature sanctuary and trail network will offer year-round activities including walking, jogging, bird and wildlife watching, outdoor exploration, cycling, river play and fishing, sledding, snow-shoeing, and cross-country skiing. The nature sanctuary is bound by two urban streams – the East Gallatin River and Bozeman Creek. In 2014-2016, the area underwent an extensive restoration, doubling wetland acreage, improving fish habitat, re-naturalizing a small pond, and constructing floodplain water quality enhancements. The site supports over 100 bird species, a blue ribbon trout fishery, and an array of mammals ranging from black bears to muskrat. The area also enjoys a storied cultural history. In the 1880’s, famed town father Nelson Story constructed the nearby Story Mill, growing his fortune by shipping Gallatin Valley wheat and grain across the world. This marriage of agriculture and industry gave rise to railroads, stockyards, and a slaughterhouse. A small ranch was operated at the site of what will today become the nature sanctuary. More recently, the property was slated for an intensive residential and commercial development that fell into bankruptcy and foreclosure in 2008. TPL acquired the property in 2012, putting forward the park proposal to match $4.5 million in funding provided by the City’s 2012 Trails, Open Space, and Parks bond. TPL will significantly leverage the City’s investment with a campaign to raise $11.6 million for design and development, land protection, restoration and other project costs. To date, $10 million has already been secured from private and public philanthropic sources, with $1.6 remaining to be raised. TPL conveyed the property to the City in 2014, executing a Memorandum of Understanding which assigned responsibility for park design and construction to TPL. Design Workshop, a nationally-renowned design firm, was hired in 2014 to develop the park master plan, which was approved in 2016 by the City Commission. The vision for SMCP is being developed through robust community engagement. Hundreds of residents and 20+ community groups have participated in workshops and provided design input via surveys, focus groups, and advisory committees. Park construction will begin in spring 2017 and continue over two constructions seasons, with the park opening planned for fall 2018. Nature Sanctuary Trail Network RTP grant funding will support development of the trail network and supporting infrastructure within the 30-acre nature sanctuary which is located in the southern portion of the park. It includes a planned trail network totaling 4,566 linear feet and will accommodate users of all abilities and ages. The trail network treads lightly on the landscape and will be non-motorized 11 (except for emergency and maintenance access), with two entrances: a northern gateway across a free-span pedestrian bridge over the East Gallatin River, and a southern entrance along the Story Mill Spur Trail. The trail layout plan was designed by landscape architects, engineers, wetland scientists, and community experts to avoid significant impacts to wetlands and streams and was then staked with the City and project partners including GVLT, Sacajawea Audubon, and Run, Dog, Run (a local non-profit dedicated to responsible dog ownership). Compacted, crushed gravel surfacing meeting Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Guidelines will minimize installation impacts, absorb stormwater, and create a forgiving recreation surface. Boardwalks will carry visitors above the wetlands, with a grated surface for grasses to grow through, and helical piers to minimize installation impacts. The design anticipates the visitor experience, accounting for insolation and seasonality, as well as views to mountains, sunsets, and historic structures. The 8 foot wide compacted gravel trail provides a north-south connector, allowing emergency vehicle access from East Griffin Drive. A series of 6 foot wide compacted gravel trails and slightly elevated boardwalks wind through wooded areas and wetlands, leading to pond, river and wetland overlooks. One trail follows the East Gallatin River through shrub lands and a mature stand of aspens, which support a host of birds and wildlife. To the south, boardwalk trails pass over reclaimed wetlands in a sweeping arc leading to the Homestead Pavilion. The pavilion provides a centrally-located, outdoor classroom and gathering space, with cottonwood trees and heirloom lilacs marking the site where an old homestead once stood. The trail proceeds southwesterly to an overlook at Bozeman Creek and beyond to the Bond Street pedestrian bridge. Along the way, the small pond is a destination for viewing wildlife and birds. In the spring, ducks, geese, turtles, and a nesting pair of Sandhill Cranes can often be seen foraging in the pond’s grasses. By design, the trail network touches only the pond’s north end, leaving the remaining shoreline unimpeded for wildlife. RTP grant support for construction of the trail network construction in the nature sanctuary will make a meaningful contribution to the development of Story Mill Community Park. We appreciate the opportunity to partner with the State of Montana, along with our many other community partners, to create this treasured community asset. Consider the degree to which the project provides linkages between existing trails, trail systems, greenways, scenic byways or other natural, cultural, historical and recreation areas. Does this project provide connections within the community (such as links to schools, businesses, recreation or senior centers, etc.), or connect rural areas to backcountry recreational opportunities? The 2007 Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails Plan identified the northeast quadrant as a priority for new parks and trail linkages. With the passage in 2012 of the City’s first Trails, Open 12 Space, and Parks (TOP) bond, there is renewed progress in this area. SMCP’s trail network will significantly expand recreational offerings and provide a uniquely situated connector and central hub within Bozeman’s Main-Street-to-the-Mountains trail system. Expanded trail offerings will serve multiple surrounding neighborhoods and businesses in this growing mixed-use area and link to schools including Hawthorne Elementary, Sacajawea Middle School and Bozeman Senior High School. Trail connections to SMCP also provide routes to the nearby Bozeman Senior Center, REACH (a local nonprofit serving the disabled community), the Bozeman Community Food Bank, and other underserved populations. The Story Mill Spur Trail, a popular commuting and recreation trail, defines the southern boundary of the Park and will provide a park entrance. It connects SMCP with the downtown core including shops, restaurants and offices, the Bozeman Public Library, and Lindley Park. Due east from the park, hikers and mountain bikers can connect to the Story Hills trails and existing pathways and sidewalk routes link SMCP west to destinations including the Gallatin County Fairgrounds, East Gallatin Recreation Area and Cherry River Fishing Access. GVLT has recently secured two small but significant east-west trail linkages – the Bond Street Connector and the Front Street Path to the Spur Trail – which will expand connectivity to the park and improve pedestrian safety along busy north-side corridors. SMCP is also uniquely situated to provide a jumping off point to the forthcoming shared-use path to the “M” and Drinking Horse Mountain trails. These U.S. Forest Service trailheads, located just two miles east up Bridger Drive, are extremely popular day hiking destinations. This new path, is being funded by the City’s TOP bond and the Federal Lands Access Grant program, and will provide a safe route for cyclists and pedestrians along the heavily traveled canyon roadway. Partnerships* Describe partnerships that have been or will be created to implement this project Community-inspired design is a core value of TPL and the City of Bozeman, built on the belief that parks designed by communities will become the most used, valued, and enduring public spaces. When the Bozeman City Commission approved the park proposal in 2014, over 400 residents and 20 community groups voiced their support. Over 600 residents had already participated in a 2013 park design workshop and survey helping to shape the park vision and early concept plan. Subsequent workshops in 2014 and 2015, each with 200-300 participants, provided valuable input to refine the park design through to the master plan. In spring 2015, 36 community volunteers participated in focus groups on Art and Creative Placemaking, Natural Interpretation, Fitness and Recreation, Agriculture, Historical Interpretation, and Trails. The public has also been kept abreast of the park design process through website, Facebook and email updates, as well as regular press coverage by local media outlets. 13 Community partners and the public continue to inform the design process. The Bozeman Parks and Recreation staff have participated at each step, speaking to park design and long-term management. GVLT has worked on trail linkages to and trail design within the park and organized discovery walks; Sacajawea Audubon, undertook bird counts and placed nesting boxes at the site; and Run, Dog, Run stepped up to help design an off-leash dog park. Montana Conservation Corps youth crews adopted the park early on, removing litter and old fencing, hand-pulling weeds, rebuilding a section of the spur trail, and wrapping trees to discourage beaver impacts. This partnership will be continued through the RTP grant with an MCC crew dedicating a week to completion of trail maintenance, by spreading the gravel surfacing and hand-working and seeding the trail edges. Beginning in 2012, the site restoration project brought together a diverse group of stakeholders including the local chapter of Trout Unlimited, Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, Montana Department of Environmental Quality, the Greater Gallatin Watershed Council, the Gallatin Local Water Quality District and others, who have dedicated volunteer hours over the past four years to restoration planning, oversite, and public outreach. Out of these efforts has grown a long-term, ground- and stream-water monitoring project, an annual fall watershed tour, water quality and biodiversity research, and other educational activities centered at SMCP. Montana State University classes are utilizing the site for soils, ecology, and engineering field curriculum, with one student having completed a master’s thesis examining water quality and nutrient cycling. Over two summers, 450 kids from Montana Outdoor Science School, Boys & Girls Club of Southwest Montana, and the YMCA attended summer camps at the site. Field- tested during these camps, Learning by Nature, an outdoor education organization developed a teacher’s guide to SMCP that offers K-8 projects and hands-on curriculum. With partnership from the Gallatin Valley Food Bank, a neighbor to the park, we are designing the Teaching Garden and Edible Food Forest Trail. The project aims to raise awareness about food systems in the Gallatin Valley, connect visitors to our agricultural heritage, and offer programs for school classes. Further, with grant funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, local artists will design two creative place-making elements for the park inspired by the park’s rivers and wetlands. These varied educational activities have coalesced under the umbrella of the Story Mill Living Classroom project, dedicated to utilizing the park site as an outdoor classroom. When the park opens in 2018, park partners will continue these efforts, working with the City of Bozeman Parks and Recreation Department to offer programs that enrich and expand the visitor experience. The city’s Parks and Recreation offices will relocate to the park’s community center, an existing 12,000 square foot facility located at the main park entrance, providing a new base of operations and expanded venues for the city’s robust recreation and fitness programs. 14 Support Special Needs* Will this project construct, maintain, rehabilitate facilities or provide benefits to person’s with disabilities, senior citizens, or other challenged groups? If so, explain. Remember to consider trail head locations and access points to trail systems (parking areas, restroom facilities, etc.). Throughout the nature sanctuary, grades are fairly flat, making trail routes accessible to a variety of users including people with mobility challenges. The nature sanctuary’s Homestead Pavilion will offer shade and ADA-accessible seating for people that may want respite while enjoying the natural surroundings. The compacted trails will be built to the highest standards to ensure that they will weather well and can be maintained to ADA standards. The boardwalks’ metal grating will be wheelchair accessible. The 8-foot wide trail will provide emergency vehicle access off East Griffin Drive and allow for special accommodation for disabled users who cannot travel the full length of the trail from the main parking areas. Parking and restroom facilities located nearby in the north section of the park will meet or exceed City of Bozeman and ADA standards for universal design. From the main parking lot, visitors can follow a paved, ADA-accessible path to the north entrance of the nature sanctuary. The pedestrian crosswalk leading to the nature sanctuary from the north will be fully accessible, employing ADA-compliant textured pavement and ramping. Maintenance During & After Project* Who will operate and maintain this project when completed? Include details regarding planned maintenance schedules or intended plans for both short-term and long-term maintenance. For equipment purchases, explain why the piece of equipment should be purchased as opposed to rental of the equipment for the project(s). The proposed equipment purchase has to provide a demonstrated benefit to recreational trail use in Montana & must be solely used for trail-related purposes. For new trail construction requests that involve an asphalt or concrete surface type, please include a detailed plan as to how the applicant intends to fund or complete short- and long-term maintenance. The City of Bozeman will assume full responsibility for the permanent upkeep and maintenance of SMCP including all park trails. As part of their overall funding commitment, TPL is contributing $200,000 towards park maintenance and will provide a park maintenance plan. Currently, the City of Bozeman funds park maintenance through annually appropriated general operations, however, a feasibility analysis is underway for a Park District to provide dedicated maintenance funding as Bozeman’s parks and trails system grows. Assessment of Need * Consider the degree of potential resource damage or health and safety concerns that may be caused by taking no action (if this project were not to occur). Also assess whether the project and demand is reflected as a user need in current plans or surveys. SMCP will revitalize a property that had been long neglected and fallen into disrepair. Wetland habitats and streams have already been restored, and garbage, dilapidated structures and old fencing removed. 15 Once the industrial fringe of north Bozeman, SMCP will serve a growing business corridor and new residential areas located north and east of park. SMCP will be transformative, bringing new life and vitality to the area. SMCP advances City of Bozeman goals identified in several plans and programs including: - the Trails Open Space and Parks (TOP) program established through a voter-directed bond fund in 2012 to advance park, trails and recreation and protect wildlife and water quality; - the 2009 Bozeman Community Plan to protect natural areas and habitat, cultural properties and advance trail connectivity in the northeast quadrant and across the city; - the 2007 Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails (PROST) Plan which identified the northeast quadrant as a ‘park-poor’ priority area for new parks, trails and resource protection; - the Greater Bozeman Area Transportation Plan 2007 (Updated 2009) to expand trail connectivity and pedestrian-oriented transportation options; - the Bozeman Guidelines for Historic Preservation by interpreting the Story Mill Historic District; and - the Bozeman Creek Enhancement Plan to protect and enhance water quality along Bozeman Creek. At the state level SMCP advances important goals cited in: - the 2014 Lower Gallatin Watershed Management Plan approved by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality which identified SMCP as a model project to advance water quality and wetland protections; - the 2014-2018 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) goals to provide quality-of-life benefits by connecting Montanans with daily outdoor activity near home and work, advance outdoor learning opportunities, sustain community and economic vibrancy and cultural connections, and promote stewardship and better understanding of threats to water quality and habitat at the urban interface; Project-Specific Narratives Mark as Complete | Go to Application Forms Other Education* Does this project include or is it a part of a trail that provides cultural or natural resource interpretation, ethics, safety education or other information of benefit to trail users? If so, describe. The SMCP Master Plan includes trail wayfinding and interpretive signage throughout the nature sanctuary. Signage materials, color and design will be consistent across the park and are inspired by the site’s natural and cultural history. Nature interpretation in the park will explore birds, fish, and wildlife within the wetland system. This rich outdoor resource area, with expanded fishing access along the East Gallatin River, will be permanently protected and dedicated to public use and enjoyment. The park provides a unique ‘teaching moment’ to raise public awareness of threats to water quality at the site and across the valley. Currently, both watercourses in the park – the East Gallatin River and Bozeman Creek – exceed allowable limits for sediment and nutrient loading. 16 At the Bozeman Creek Slough Overlook, visitors will observe firsthand how wetlands contribute to flood attenuation and water quality enhancement, mitigating impacts from stormwater runoff by capturing sediment and nutrients during high water events. Situated in the shadow of the old water-powered Story Mill and adjacent to the Story Mill Historic District, the nature sanctuary trail network provides a unique vantage point from which to share stories of Bozeman’s earliest settlement and to re-connect to Bozeman’s early settlement and enduring agricultural heritage. Park interpretation will lead visitors from the early industrial uses of the site to its present-day protection, restoration, and enjoyment as a community park. Widen an Existing Trail* Will this project widen an existing trail? If so, describe the extent and locations of widening and the rationale for it. N/A Project Impact* What impact will this project have on the current types of trail users? Are certain types of users likely to be adversely impacted or displaced by this project? The project will not impact or displace any current trail users. The development of this area as a public park will make this unique natural area accessible to the public for the first time and significantly expand access to the East Gallatin River, a prized, blue ribbon trout fishery. Resource Protection and Enhancement* Please describe whether or not your project would protect and enhance natural resources, or consider avoidance of problem areas, or mitigation of unavoidable damage to the resources. Such activities might include rail-trail conversions, utility right-of-ways for trails, soil erosion control, and re-routes to avoid wet areas, highly erosive soils, or critical wildlife habitat. Consider both immediate, long-term and cumulative impacts. The SMCP Master Plan envisions a park that first and foremost maintains, celebrates and protects this significant area. During the restoration process, historic impacts from draining and ditching associated with past agricultural use were reversed, doubling the wetland acreage, restoring stream banks along a half mile of the East Gallatin River, and re-connecting historic river floodplain areas. Building upon the extensive knowledge gained through the site restoration process, the trails network of the nature sanctuary have been designed to protect these precious conservation values. Trail routes avoid wetlands and floodplain areas wherever possible, are being built at grade to minimize the use of fill within flood-prone areas, and raised boardwalks are used where trails do cross wet areas to avoid filling wetlands and to maintain hydrological connectivity. In preparation for permitting the park construction within sensitive areas, trails and other features were designed to minimize impacts to natural resources and all required permits will be obtained to comply with federal and state regulations as per http://dnrc.mt.gov/licenses-and-permits/stream-permitting. 17 19