08-98-Resolution-Approving an amendment Parks Open Space to the Comprehensive Plan-07/20/1998i
RESOLUTION R08-98
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANGER,
TEXAS, APPROVING THE AMENDMENT TO THE CIWS
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN,
WHEREAS, the City of Sanger has made numerous improvements to parks throughout the
community; and
WHEREAS, the City of Sanger wishes to continue to improve all of it's parks; and
WHEREAS, the Ciry of Sanger wishes to update it's comprehensive plan to include proposed
projects for the future.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
;ANGER, TEXAS, that,
The city of Sanger's Comprehensive Plan is amended to include the attached
information.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 20th day %A July, 19980
ATTEST:
Rosalie Chavez; City
Mayor Pro-Tem
C/TY �F �AHC:ER
,, LOCAL PARK, RECREATION AND OPEM SPACE
MASTER PLAPt
I. INTRODUCTION
The City of Sanger is located ten miles north of Denton on Interstate Highway 35.
According to the 1990 Census figures provided by the U.S. Census of Population, Sanger
had a population of 4,100.
The City of Sanger has an overall effective tax rate of $.4726 per $100 valuation. At this
time Sanger does have the 4A and 413 economic development sales tax.
For the year ending 19975 the following financial information is available:
a.
Total o eratin bud et excludin bond retirement and ca ita! list rovements
$4.3651547
b.
Total expenditures for capital improvements current revenues
$230,510
c.
Total expenditures for bond retirement
$4959859
d.
General obligation bonds outstanding Tax
$2,4459615
e.
Revenue bonds outstanding
$5 326 004
f.
Total ad valorem tax collections 1990 fiscal ear
$324,624
g.
Total water, sewer, garbage fee collections
$972 706
h.
Total other income (sales tax, parking fees, etc)$162,381
The City of Sanger's utility service if provided by the following:
1.
Gas --Lone Star Company
2 - 16" Lines
Size of transmission lines serving city
250-300 PSIG
Transmission line pressure
2.
Water -- City Wells
Maximum system capacity (daily)
1,500,000
Maximum daily use to date
7401000
Pressure on mains
45-50 psi
Storage capacity
1,550,000 gallons
Size of mains
6" to 12"
Is system looped
Yes
Projects under construction
None
3.
Sewer — City of Sanger
Maximum capacity
780,000 gallons
Maximum daily use to date
3007000
Projects under construction
None
4.
Telephone" Southwestern Bell
Type of central office
Remote Switching Center
Fiber optics available
Yes
Switched 56 KBPS available
Yes
High Capacity Digital (T-l) Available
Yes
Digital Data Service available
Yes
911 Service available
Yes
Other Network/Special Service available
None
5.
Electric Power - City of Sanger
Distribution voltage
4200 and 7200
Number of transmission lines
2 Sub Stations
The City of Sanger is inclose proximity to the following area universities and colleges:
Texas Women's University - Denton, Texas
University of North Texas - Denton, Texas
Tarrant County Junior College - Ft. Worth, Texas
Texas Christian University - Ft. Worth, Texas
North Central Texas College - Gainesville
Southern Methodist University - Dallas
II. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
�l.
Areas required for public recreational facilities are intended to be provided in advance of
need, to be of adequate scope and variety to serve all age groups in the Community, and to
be located so as to be conveniently accessible to those for whom they have been planned to
serve. Facilities for active and passive recreation for all age groups are to be provided for
use during all seasons of the year.
In order to achieve the above goal, we must:
a) Reserve and develop park and playground sites according to the Planning
Standards for Parks.
b) Acquire land adjoining each new elementary school in accordance with Planning
Standards.
c) Strictly enforce the Subdivision Regulations, Article III, Section 4.03, Public
Sites and Open Spaces, as amended; and, require the reservation for
neighborhood parks, playgrounds and elementary school purposes of five
percent of the total area within a proposed subdivision.
d) It should be provided that, where areas to be developed contain less than 40
acres, payment of money in lieu of land for neighborhood parks and playgrounds
may be made at the discretion of the City Council. This money should be
reserved for the purpose of acquiring neighborhood park and school sites. Also,
it should be provided that funds be spent for the acquisition of land located not
more than one-half mile from the area for which monies were paid in.
e) The Subdivision Regulations require that when any area is subdivided, which
includes a neighborhood park, playground, or elementary school site designated
on the Official City Plan Map, an appropriate area must be reserved. When an
area exceeds the five percent required to be provided for neighborhood park or
playground purposes, the excess area should be reserved until such time as it is
purchased by the City of the School District, or until seventy-five percent of the
lots within the subdivision are fully developed, whichever time is shorter. This
will protect the developer in that it will be the obligation of the school district or
the City to acquire such land as would be needed for neighborhood park and
elementary school purposes in the amount that it exceeds the five percent
required dedication. This required temporary reservation of land should not
create an undue hardship for the developer in that acquisition would have to be
made before the subdivision is fully developed. If it was not made at the time
the subdivision was seventy-five percent developed, then the developer would be
free to make whatever use of the land he desired. Use of these procedures
should provide an orderly land acquisition program for neighborhood parks,
playgrounds, and schools on a minimum cost basis.
Strictly enforce Section 2.15, Marginal Land, of the Subdivision Regulations.
Reserve as open space those areas of the City where land is unsuited for
development by reasons of being subject to flooding, irregularly -shaped site, or
excessive slopes. When possible, this land should be utilized as a part of a
greenbelt or greenway. These greenbelts should be used as buffers between
residential and nonresidential land uses, designed as pedestrian pathways to link
parks, schools or other public areas, and employed to assure the provision of
occasional scenic sport in the Community.
III. PLAN DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
The City of Sanger approved a Comprehensive Plan in 1987. This Comprehensive Plan was
completed by Governmental Service Agency. This plan was financed and approved by the
Texas Department of Community Affairs. Its major components were Capital
Improvements Program and Revised Zoning Ordinances.
Since that time, the City of Sanger has completed many of the recommendation made in this
Comprehensive Plan, The City has also revised its priorities through public hearings and
surveys. [The results of this survey have been included in Section VIII of this amended
pIan]. The public hearings were held each year in conjunction with the Community
Development Block Grant Program and the survey was held in May of 1998. The City
recently held a public hearing to receive input to amend the existing Comprehensive Plan
and for future parks and recreation planning. This public hearing was held in July, 1997.
This plan is simply an amendment to the original 1987 Comprehensive Plan.
IV. AREA AND FACILITY CONCEPTS AND STANDARDS
There are 5,942 acres of land in the Sanger Planning Area. 3,621 acres are developed.
However, portions of it are urban oriented and will be in the path of future urban
development. Much of this land has open space value. As the pattern of urbanization
pushes the countryside farther away from the built up area, the opportunity to reserve
needed open space within built up areas is reduced. As a result, potentially valuable open
spaces are lost to urban development.
Since requirements for recreation activities are related to the amount, distribution and
characteristics of the population to be served, the establishment of population based
standards is an important step in planning for recreational space. Therefore, the following
recreation standards are provided to establish a general guide for providing recreation
facilities in Sanger through year 2000. They should, however, be periodically reviewed and
adjusted in the future if trends show a change.
TYPE PARK
PLAYLOT
NEIGHBORHOOD
COI\IIv1UNITY
Acrea e/1,000 People
.5 - 1 Acres
2 Acres
2 Acres
Location
Sub -Neighborhoods
Preferably adjacent to
Preferably adjacent to
elementary school
junior high school.
Near major
thoroughfare
Site Size: (Acres)
.25 Acres Minimum 1.0
5 Acres when adjacent
20 acres when adjacent
Acre Desirable
to elementary school; 10
to junior high school.
acres when adjacent to
Otherwise - 40 acres.
junior high school
Service Area
1/8 to '/, We radius
%z mile radius 2,500 -
'/s mile radius 18,000 -
2000 people
5,000 people
25,000 people
Type Facilities
Variety of play,
Multi -purpose courts,
Athletic fields,
preschool play
children's wading pool,
recreation center, multi -
equipment, open space
landscaped area,
purpose court,
playground apparatus
landscaping, family and
group picnicking
facilities
PlaLots-Sub-neighborhood Parks
These type parks are small areas located within individual subdivisions and sub -
neighborhood areas and are intended to be used primarily by pre --school children. They
provide opportunities for informal play and will substitute for backyards in areas of medium
and high residential densities. These type areas should also be provided in neighborhood
and community parks. The preceding Standards for Parks permit a determination to be
made of total playlot space requirements on a continuing basis as population changes.
Sanger has 2 playlots containing approximately .5 acres each. According to the Planning
Standards, the City should have a desirable 4 acres to adequately serve the local population
of 41100. This lack of playlots is probably due to existing vacant lots in residential areas. In
the future as population increases and mobile homes occupy more vacant lots, as is
currently evident, this type of park will grow in importance.
Neighborhood Parks
Neighborhood parks are intended to serve at the neighborhood level. Although this type
facility is primarily intended for active recreational use by elementary school children,
passive recreation areas containing landscaping and benches should be provided for adults
and protected areas for pre-school age children.
The Planning Standards set forth an adequate total supply of neighborhood park area for the
future as well as the present. However, it must be realized that the effectiveness of this
total space will depend upon its distribution relative to the people to be served.
This type of park should be located so as to be within safe walking distance (generally one-
half mile radius) of the population to be served. In order to achieve this safety factor, the
park should be located so that the people who use the facility will not be required to cross
any major thoroughfares to reach the site. As a rule, it is highly desirable from a planning
and economic standpoint, to locate each such park adjacent to an elementary school. This
offers several advantages to the tax payer. First, the amount of land needed to adequately
serve a combined school -park site is considerably less than if a separate site for each facility
is provided. Second, since one set of playground equipment will normally serve both school
and recreation needs, unnecessary duplication of equipment is avoided. Third, some of the
school facilities, such as gymnasiums, auditoriums and work shops, could be utilized in the
summer months for organized recreation programs. Fourth, the cost of providing utilities to
serve joint facilities is less due to the multiple use of one system. Thus, the taxpayer who
pays the bill for both municipal recreation programs and school district educational
programs would realize substantial economic benefits from such cooperative efforts.
Neighborhood parks should contain a minimum of five useable acres when located adjacent
to an elementary school, and ten useable acres when not so located. This standard will
permit maximum flexibility in the design and arrangement of space for the types of activities
and facilities to be accommodated. This factor becomes important as the composition of
future population and their recreation habits change, resulting in the need to redesign and
re -equip parks.
The types of facties these parks should contain include multi -purpose courts, children's
wading and spray pool, landscaped areas, open space, restrooms, shelter house, playground
apparatus, family picnic areas, pre-school children's area, field for sports, older peoples area
and improved parking space.
Currently, Sanger has 2 parks which meet the standard of facilities if not for size of this type
of park. (a listing of these parks and their size and facilities offered are included in section
V. of this plan) According to the Standard, Sanger should have at least 8 acres of
neighborhood park area to adequately serve the population.
Community Parks
A community park should serve the entire population of Sanger, and should be designed to
provide opportunities for supervised programs and organized athletic competition,
particularly for junior high and high school age children. Generally, two (2) acres of space
should be provided for each 1,000 population in Sanger. This standard establishes an
adequate basis for determining community park space requirements as the population
changes.
Since the desirable effective service radius is one and one-half miles, many residents living
beyond the 1 '/2 mile radius limit will normally drive the younger children to the facility.
Also, older people residing some distance away may desire to drive to the site. Therefore, it
is preferable that a community park site be accessible by a major thoroughfare.
The site would be more adequate with 15 - 20 acres. This acreage would be sufficient for
accommodating the diversified activities for which the park should be designed, and permits
maximum flexibility in the spatial arrangement of facilities and equipment to be supported.
Facilities normally include baseball diamonds, basketball courts, tennis courts, and other
active athletic areas. In addition, a community park normally contains a large area for
picnicking, as well as facilities which serve the community as a whole, including a
community center and swimming pool.
Switzer Park, located at Freese and Austin, is the only park in the Community serving as a
park in this category. However, is does not contain adequate acreage or facilities to
accommodate the entire population needs. Railroad Park could be completed to expand
and improve this area as a Community Park. It is located on Railroad Avenue. At the
present time, its general location is in the southeast section of the Community, but if the
approximately 160 acres adjoining the area on the east were ever opened up to
development, the park location would be somewhat more centrally located in the
Community.
The existing park contains two baseball fields, restrooms and concession stand.
Regional Parks
Regional parks and recreation areas are large land and/or water areas serving communities
or at the inter -county level. These sites usually are capable of supporting a variety of non -
urban activities and frequently contain unusual natural features, unique scenic attractions, or
historical sites.
These type parks should generally serve up to 40,000 people within an effective radius of
one -hour's driving time, or usually 40 miles distance. This distance factor is directly related
to the degree of site accessibility. Regional parks served by improved highways or
expressways will easily be reachable from 40 miles within one hour travel time, while
unimproved roads will require more than one hour to drive 40 miles. These parks are
intended to serve all age groups, but families are the main users of these facilities, and the
dominant activities are usually family oriented.
A regional park or recreation area should generally contain a minimum of 600 acres, or
which at least 100 acres is developable. This standard does not apply to preserving historic
sites or regional significance, scenic views, and other resource -based recreation attractions
not requiring large amounts of space. This amount of space affords the urbanite the
opportunity to enjoy contact with nature away from the noise and congestion of urban
living. In addition a site of such size is conducive to the distribution of facilities so that the
tendency to overcrowd one single developed area is minimized.
The types of activities normally found in regional type parks and recreation areas are:
picnicking, camping, boating, fishing, water sports, lake swimming, riding and hiking,
nature studies, organized camp activities, driving pleasure, etc.
Deveoopment of regional parks should be in a manner which will preserve the natural
qualities of the site while providing necessary facilities for the various activities.
In addition to Lake Ray Roberts in the region which fall into this category of parks, there
are two additional areas...Lake Dallas and Lewisville Lake. Lake Ray Roberts is located
approximately three miles east of Sanger, and Lake Dallas and Lewisville Lake located
approximately fifteen miles from Sanger. All have considerable potential for regional
recreation activities. Outdoor recreation facilities should be considered around these
facilities in order to provide convenient water oriented recreation opportunities for residents
living in the northwestern area of the region. Since this type of area can serve all residents
of Denton County and Denton as well, joint governmental efforts should be employed in the
planning and financing of improvements.
Open S ace Areas
Since the location and amount of space needed for flood plain control is directly related to
the location and extent of areas subject to flooding, the establishment of fixed standards to
guide provision of this space is inappropriate. However, the following general principles
should be considered when allocating space for controlling flood plain development:
a. The amount of protective open space needed along major water course and drainage
channels should be based on engineering studies of potential flooding conditions.
b. Flood plain open space should, when possible, be provided in a manner which
l permits uses, especially recreational uses, ,which are compatible with the purpose of
establishing flood plain control.
c. Since streams are natural barriers to physical development, the provision of open
space along stream channels should be utilized to serve as a buffer between various
land uses and to help shape urban growth patterns.
d. Facilities placed in flood plain areas should be of anon -permanent nature and
designed to withstand the effects of flooding.
e. Developers should be charged with the responsibility for providing adequate open
space along stream channels within and adjacent to their development in consonance
with (a) above. This assures the home buyer of protection from flood hazards while
permitting other uses during non -flood periods.
f. Areas along or near stream channels which have unusual growths of trees or
outstanding examples of wildlife should be preserved as greenbelts wherever
possible.
g. Greenbelts should be located to establish buffer strips between residential,
commercial, and industrial areas within the community.
� h. Greenbelts should be designed to link parks and recreation areas. They should be
capable of providing pedestrian pathways.
i. Cluster or "planned unit" type development should be encouraged within urban
areas so that usable open space can be effectively provided.
j. Public easements in strategic locations should be utilized and maintained as essential
greenbelt buffers.
k. Golf course and similar facilities should be planned, not only for their primary
recreation uses, but also for their uses as buffers.
Areas along FM 455 and Spur 138 (IH 35) are areas with potential for open space
development.
V. Inventory of Areas and Facilities
PARK LOCATION SITE TYPE FACILITIES
• 2 picnic tables
• 1 swing set
Gainey Patton • 1 basketball goal
• 1 slide
• 1 merry go round
• 1 teeter totter
Downtown • 1 slide
Park • 1 swing set
• 3 vicnic tables
Community • 1 swimming pool
Center • 1 wading pool
Building • 1 tennis court
• 4 basketball goals
• 1 baseball field
• 4 picnic areas with tables
• 1 swing set
• 1 slide
Railroad Park • 2 baseball fields
• restrooms
• concession stand
Park at 5 tether ball poles
Intermediate • Jungle Gym with 2 slides
School • Monkey bars
Chisolm Trail . Jungle Gym with slide
• Monkey bars
• Walk Across
• Swing Tire
• Small Slide
• 6 seat swing set
• 5 slide and climb
• 2 basketball goals
• Small baseball field
• train climb
• wagon climb
• 2 slides
0 2 tether ball poles
VI. Needs Assessment & Identification
The parks and recreation needs of the City of Sanger were determined first through the
Comprehensive Plan completed in 1980 that incorporated standard -based and resource -
based recommendations. These recommendations have been included in this amendment to
that plan.
Due to the fact that the City of Sanger has increased the number and quality of the parks
since 1980, the city is now able to base its needs by the demand for services. In June, 1998,
the city, in conjunction with the Sanger Independent School District mailed 400 survey
forms. The following are the results of that survey:
uestion: Would you like to see the Railroad Park completed?
136 Yes 0 No No Opinion/Undecided
uestion: Would you like to see the city apply for a matching funds Parks and
Wildlife Grant to complete the Railroad Park?
136 Yes
0 No
estion: Would you like to see the roads to Railroad Park improved?
136 Yes 0 No
estion: Would you like to see improvements made to the Community Park?
136 Yes 0 No
estion: Would you like to see an indoor recreation center with basketball
and roller skating?
136 Yes 0 No
uestion: If the neat High School is built east of the railroad tracks on
Highway 455, would you like to see a road built to connect
Highway 455 and McReynolds Road?
52 Yes 0 No
OR
Extend Railroad Avenue to Highway 455?
0 No
I. Plan Implementation and Prioritization of Needs
The following are the cities prioritized needs based on the demand determined by survey:
1. Community Park - Railroad Park
The Railroad Park area is recommended for improvements as a community -
type park. The area should be maintained and used for picnicking and family
and group activity. Currently, Railroad Park has the picnic and recreational
facilities, however is in need of the following improvements in order to make
it available for use by the majority of the public:
• Ball Fields
• Bathroom Facilities
• Concession Stands
• Playground Equipment
• Pitching Machine Area
• Additional Picnic Areas
• Nature and wildlife Area
• Walking and Wheelchair Trail
• 15 Station Fitness Centers
• Parking Lots
• so
gnage
• Fencing
• Beautification
2. Public Golf Course
To date, population estimates have not warranted a public golf course until
after the year 2000. However, the following elements should be considered
when planning this course.
Nine holes, utilizing approximately 90 acres, is the minimum required. The
golf course must be beautiful in order to appeal to both golfers and non -
golfers. A 9-hole or a par 3 with a driving range would be financially
preferable.
Every effort should be made to build a great golf course. It costs no more
and people will be attracted to it from the whole region. Great holes stir the
imagination and quicken the blood. Golfers never stop talking about the. As
a result, they are the cheapest advertising there is.
The course must be beautiful... containing eye -pleasing greens, traps, tees,
water areas, and three groupings... the beauty should be structural, resulting
from clean, bold shapes and forms growing out of the ear rather than from
cosmetics and skins graphs.
3. Open Space
The usage of "Open Space" here emphasizes natural features, and is defined
as undeveloped or predominately undeveloped land. More technically, it is
any area where natural ecological processes are not being disturbed or
significantly influenced by human activity. When man "develops" land, he
alters these natural processes. As development becomes more intense, the
human influence on the land character increases.
There are critical areas that contain sensitive ecological processes which
limit their carrying capacity for development. These critical areas should be
left undeveloped or limited to those types of development which are
compatible with the environment. Utilizing these areas according to their
carrying capacity will minimize problems and take advantage of
opportunities.
Protection of this natural drainage system can reduce flooding as well as the
cost of flood control devices. Maintenance of as much natural vegetation as
possible and the use of porous paving materials are recommended measures
to control disruption of the natural processes.
Little will be accomplished if only a few. areas along the environmental
corridors are protected while others are carelessly developed. These
environmental corridors may also provide extensive train opportunities, and
link fiiture park areas.
Recreational development is recommended as the most compatible land use
foI these critical areas. Passive activities will exert minimal pressure on
these areas because intensity of use is low. This will require less upkeep and
fewer supporting facilities such as restrooms, backstops, roadwork, and
lighting. The corridors, however, could support scenic areas, golf course
fairways, natural trails for educational purposes, hiking and bicycling trails,
picnicking, etc. One neighborhood park, proposes for the future, is
recommended near the westside corridor for intensive activities.
These critical areas will become more important in the future as urban
development takes place, causing runoff to increase.
For implementation aspects, the City's Subdivision Regulations, Article II,
� Section 2.15, Marginal Land, should be strictly enforced. Consideration
should be given to amending Section 2.15 on the basis of establishment of a
delicate balance between the various natural systems and urban development,
to protect the long-term stability of the corridors.
Recommended methods and strategies for acquiring and protecting open
space is as follows:
--Acquisition of fee simple title to the property
(1) negotiated sale
(2) eminent domain (condemnation)
(3) donation
--Partial fee acquisition
(1) easements
(2) leases
--Police powers
(1) zoning ordinance
(2) subdivision regulations - platting
--Taxation
(1) deferred property taxes
(2) tax revenue for open space acquisition
--Private Section actions
Other Strategies include:
--Provide for the right of FIRST REFUSAL for all property designated in
the open space plan as Critical Areas, with particular emphasis on
environmental corridors. These areas must be first offered to the City
Council for sale before any land transactions can occur.
--Encourage the School District to assist in the acquisition of critical areas
for environmental education purposes
--Work to provide, where appropriate, maximum open space and
recreational use of existing linear easement corridors. These can include
power line and transmission line easements. These can be used to link more
critical areas in a continuous system which provides extensive trail
opportunities.
--Seek out owners of undeveloped open land and investigate the prospects
for short term leases for recreation use with the option for future acquisition.
--Provide readily available professional and legal counsel for private citizens
who may desire to make a gift of land or property rights to the City. The
professional assistance would be useful in exploring the tax an other
advantages to the private citizen for such action.
4. Rerional Recreational Area
This type recreational facility should be provided at Railroad Park.
Picnicking, scout camping and similar activities could be provided.
5. Special Use Area
Downtown Park City Park located at City Hall should be improved with
amenities conducive to the leisure noon time of Downtown employees.
6. Pla eld
The Community Center Park, and the Park that the Intermediate School
should continue to be maintained as Playfields. Ample auto parking should
be improved and possibly a small playground area added.
7. Nei�,hborhood Parks
Five neighborhood
gh type parks are proposed for the Planning Area. These
parks should provide for the following recreational activities:
Surfaced area for court games such as tennis,
horseshoes, team dodge ball, etc.
Open field area for ballgames
Shelter for summer playground program
Play apparatus such as swings, merry-go-round
climber, moon rocket, slides, etc.
Landscaping, picnic area, parking
8. Playlots
There are 11 potential sites for sub -neighborhood type parks in the Planning
Area. Only two of these area somewhat developed. These parks are small
areas within subdivision and sub -neighborhood areas, and area intended to
be used primarily by pre-school children. They provide opportunities for
informal play and will substitute for backyards.
� Possible Sources of Fundinu
Many cities in the United States have tended to give consideration to their park and
recreation needs only after the financing of streets, water mains, sewer lines, and
other public utilities have been worked out. The urban dweller has formed the habit
of demanding pure water at each water tap. He ,complains long and loud to public
officials about poor street surfaces. Sewerage systems are taken for granted.
However, few voices are raised in those cities where inadequate park and recreation
programs exist, primarily because citizens do not recognize the important place a
well-rounded recreation program plays in American life. Consequently, it is often
necessary for public officials to take the leadership in the development of such a
program.
Since there are several types of recreation facilities needed to provide a well-
rounded recreation program, several types of policies are required to insure that
each need is met. It has been fundamental in municipal government that the
construction of municipal utilities such as streets and sanitary sewers, which increase
the value of the properties that these utilities serve, should be paid for by the
properties benefited. These improvements usually are financed by special
assessment. At the same time, municipal facilities which benefit all of the people
within the municipality should be paid for by all citizens. It is reasonable to assume
that the same application should be made to the acquisition of recreation facilities.
For instance, a lighted ball diamond having city-wide use should be paid for by all of
the citizens. The neighborhood park and playground which primarily benefit only
those people within the individual neighborhood which it serves should be paid for
by the people of that neighborhood. Consequently, policies relating tot he
development and financing of neighborhood parks will be different from those for
acquisition of city-wide facilities.
Acquisition of City -Wide Facilities
The financing of land and facilities used for recreation on a city-wide basis can be
accomplished through the use of general obligation bonds of financed directly out of
the general budget. The financing of facilities from the general budget can be
accomplished where adequate sources of revenue exist year in and year out to
provide such facilities. Most cities, however, do not have adequate revenue for this
purpose.
Acquisition of Neighborhood Parks
There are several methods open to the City of Sanger for the acquisition of land to
be used for neighborhood parks. First, where deficiencies exist in the present
system, a bond issue or general fund monies might be used, provided all sections of
town receive equal benefits at the same time. This would mean that added benefits
would accrue to each neighborhood. Second, as Sanger grows, it is advisable to
provide for neighborhood parks at the time of initial platting and development so
l
that the cost of park land would be based on undeveloped land costs rather than on
platted urban property costs.
Many cities in the United States have required that each developer set aside for park
purposes amount of land ranging from two to ten percent of the total land which is
being developed. There is an alternate provision usually employed when small areas
of less than 20 acres are being platted. At the option of the City Council, an
equivalent amount may be required in lieu of giving land. This money is then
obligated to be reserved for the purpose of providing a neighborhood park in the
area.
There has been considerable argument, pro and con, relating to the use of such a
policy. Proponents state that the neighborhood park is just as necessary to the
welfare of the inhabitants of the area as are streets, sewers, and other public utilities.
For this reason, parks should be provided by those persons creating the demand and
should be planned for when each individual subdivision is planned. Also, the
neighborhood park is designed primarily to serve the individual neighborhood.
Consequently, it would be inequitable to use money obtained from citizens living in
other parts of town to finance facilities for a small portion of the population,
particularly where new and often speculative development is involved. These
arguments have a great deal of merit.
Opponents of this method of park land acquisition state that the new developer
would be placed in an unfair competitive situation because he is required to
contribute a larger portion of his land to public use than those developing
subdivisions before the requirement was placed in effect. They also state that money
reserved for neighborhood park development by one developer may be used to
construct park facilities across town which would be of no benefit to his subdivision.
Concerning the competitive situation„ it is highly probable that the addition of
neighborhood parks to a carefully planned subdivision would increase the value of
each lot within the neighborhood where the subdivision is located. However, the
increase in lot values would accrue only to the area which could be serviced by the
park. Lots located a distance greater than on -half mile from the park would not be
materially benefited. Where monetary payment is required, provision should be
made for the money to be expended for recreation facilities located within a
reasonable distance of the area for which the money was paid.
This policy has been used by cities throughout the United States and has proved to
be reasonably effective when applied to the acquisition of neighborhood parks. In
several instances, attempts have been made to obtain city-wide facilities in the same
manner. In such cases, the individual land developer has contributed a
disproportionately large share of the cost.
Another method commonly used for the acquisition of neighborhood parks land,
either as a supplement to the above policy or a s a separate policy, also has met with
considerable success. A master land acquisition program for parks has been
prepared in considerable detail showing the approximate size and location of parks
needed in new areas. Regulations are passed requiring that when property is
subdivided where a park site is proposed in the master plan, the park site must be
reserved in the plat. The city then is given a reasonable time, usually from one to
three years, in which to acquire the site.
If this policy supplements the one based on the developer's reserving a percentage
of the land for park purposes, the developer hen would be compensated only for the
portion of the park area that was greater than the amount for which he was
responsible. For instance, if a city has a five percent park reservation requirement
and the developer platted forty acres of land, he would be required to set aside two
acres for park purposes. If the master plan proposed a six acre park site within the
forty acres, then the developer actually would be developing thirty-four acres of land
and would be responsible for giving slightly less than two acres, of five percent of
the thirty-four acres. He should be compensated therefore for the 4.3 acres which
he was required to reserve but which did not come within the five percent
requirement. If the city did not exercise its option to purchase the land for park or
educational purposes during the period in which it was reserved, it should revert to
the developer for his use., The merits of this system are based on the fact that the
city does not have to purchase or hold for long periods of time parcels of property in
undeveloped areas in anticipation of their becoming part of the city residential area,
yet land is acquired at the time of need.
A financial program for the acquisition of park land should be supplemented with
plans for financing equipment and maintaining the facility, and to provide an
adequate annual budget for staffing the recreation program. Equipment costs could
be covered in the initial funds for acquisition, or be financed as a project of some
civic organization. The cost of maintenance and programming is a continual
responsibility which probably would have to be included in the general budget.
Fees and Charles
In Sanger, fees and charges are being used on a very limited basis. Small energy
fees are charged for team participation in athletic programs, and for janitorial
services in party houses and gymnasiums. These small fees help defray the cost of
administering and maintaining such programs and facilities.
Swimming pools charge for admission, but again these facilities are not self-
supporting from these charges. Very few park and recreation authorities would
recommend or even promote the theory that all community park and recreation
services should be financially self-supporting. However, the technique of fees and
charges does provide one source for supplementing budget funds.
Gifts and Donations
There are tax advantages for donors of land and other gifts and perhaps the most
satisfying reward is the thanks of many who will use and enjoy these gifts.
Land Price Escalation
"Prices for recreation lands and waters are increasing rapidly, and the most effective
means of controlling land price escalation is to acquire needed lands
promptly"...Bureau of Outdoor Recreation,
School -Park Relationship
As a rule, it is highly desirable from planning and economic standpoints, to locate
each neighborhood park adjacent to an elementary school. This offers several
advantages to the taxpayer. First, the amount of land needed to adequately serve a
combined school -park site is considerably less than if a separate site for each facility
is provided. Second, since one set of playground equipment will normally serve
both school and recreation needs, unnecessary duplication of equipment is avoided.
Third, some of the school facilities, such as gymnasiums, auditoriums and work
shops, could be utilized in the summer months for organized recreations programs.
Fourth, the cost of providing utilities to serve joint facilities is less due to the
multiple use of one system. Thus, the taxpayer who pays the bill for both municipal
recreation programs and school district educational programs would realize
substantial economic benefits from such cooperative efforts.