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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAppendix FAppendix F NYS OPRHP Open Space Guidelines I-1 APPENDIX I RECREATION FACILITY DESIGN GUIDELINES Standards and Development Guidelines Recreational Opportunity Standards* Facility Type Critical Min. Approx. Size Standard Per Max. Travel Means of Comments Pop. Density in Acres 1000 Pop. Time Access Play lot 2500/sq.mi. 1-2 2 acres 10 min. By foot or Combined with By bicycle residential development or school Pocket park 2500/sq.mi. .25-.50 .25 acres 10 min. By foot or For office workers, by bicycle shoppers, neighborhood residents Neighborhood Park 2500/sq.mi. 4-7 1 acre 20 min. By foot or Should contain passive areas by bicycle with landscaping, as well as active areas such as play fields, court games, tot lots, etc. District Park 500/sq. mi. 20-100 2 acres 30 min. Automobile, Should include comfort Mass transit, station, interests for all ages; bike, hiking 1/3 capacity for winter or trail activities(e.g., ice skating, sledding) City Park ** 50-100 5 acres 30 min. Automobile, Extensive day use areas mass transit, bike, hiking or trail Large Regional Parks ** 40+ 15 acres 1-2 hrs. Automobile, Camping, picnicking should charter bus, include water access and mass transit, selected winter activities ski or major trail touring, snowmobiling Metro 10,000/sq.mi. 25 .124 30 min. Limited auto Urban parks emphasizing access or any special recreational cultural or non-auto historical themes and activities, mode day and evening operation during all seasons *Partially derived from National Recreation and Parks Association **Not applicable I-2 Facility Development Standards Instant Max. Standard Per Facility Type User Density 1000 Pop Comments Skating Areas (natural) 500 users/acre 1 site/2,500 This category includes non-refrigerated rinks Camping 20 users/acre N/A Density figures based on 5 sites per acre, 4 users per site Picnicking 35 users/acre N/A Density figures based on 10 tables per acres, 3.5 users per table Boating 6-8 acres/boat N/A This figure is for both powered and sail boating. There are generally 3 users in each boat. Skiing 30 users/acres of N/A This figure is for both powered and sail developed slope boating. There are generally 3 users in each boat. Big Game Hunting 1 hunter/5 acres 200 acres/1,000 Fishing (Stream) 5 users/mile .5 mi. stream/1,000 Golf Course 8 users/hole .5 holes/1,000 Field Games 15 users/acre 3 acres/1,000 The following may be provided through off- peak use of school facilities Swimming Pool 1 user/25 sq. foot 750 sq. ft./1,000 The following may be enclosed to extend seasonal use Tennis Courts 4 users/court 1 court/2,000 The following can be lighted and converted for ice skating Basketball (Courts) 16 users/court 1 court/1,999 I-3 Recommended Park Design Criteria Durability - At highly developed parks, permanent features, such as buildings, roads, utilities, should be designed to have a probable life expectancy as set forth by State Law, and incur only normal annual operating maintenance costs. Ground Cover - Pedestrian diagramming anticipat- ing the movement of the recreating public and studies of natural plant cover should be under- taken to allow design which will assure the preservation of 75% of the existing or planted ground cover (grass, trees, forest litter, etc.) Drinking Fountains and Toilets - All parks developed for concentrated public use except those to which users travel 5 minutes or less should have drinking fountains and toilet facilities; consideration of winterization should be made at facilities in urban areas or in winter sports areas, location depending on activities to be served. Traffic Hazards - Intensively used facilities, par- ticularly tot lots and playfields, with high vol- ume peripheral roads or streets should be fenced or have naturalistic barriers provided to protect users from traffic hazards. Noise Levels -Noise buffers should be provided so that should not exceed approximately 68 dBA (the level which impedes normal conversation) in day-use areas in parks - in urban passive parks, lower noise levels (in disruptively narrow pitch ranges) should be masked through natural “white noise” generators (e.g. waterfalls, brooks, leaves rustling) which produce a less obtrusive, broader-range sound. Road Design - Road design within parks should be oriented toward speed control (e.g., super- elevation, vertical and horizontal curvature, etc. which allow higher speeds on curves should be avoided); pedestrian and bicycle areas should be clearly marked; roads should be built to accommodate recreational trailers and busses where activities allow these uses; roads should be designed only for intended usage (width and classification of construction should correspond to intended carrying capacity and seasonal or year-round-use); directional and regulating signage should comply with current acceptable standards. Mass Transit Access -Facilities which accommo- date large crowds should be designed to facili- tate bus and other mass transit services on a priority basis. Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities - All park facilities design should facilitate access and use by persons with disabilities and the aged - see the Accessibility section in Chapter III for more information. Parking - Formal parking areas should accommo- date no less than 50 cars (if the facility capacity warrants) and no more than 1,200 cars in one area; the amount of parking area which should remain unpaved (turf) depends upon antici- pated use patterns and soil conditions — bus unloading platform should be closest to the activity areas. Safety - In an urban context, lighting should be added to increase hours of use and help assure personal safety; play areas should be paved with resilient material; where important for safety purposes, appropriate signing, marking, clearance of lines of site, and similar measures should be a component of any project. Picnic Areas - There should be at least 80 to 120 picnic sites for economical operation; maximum of 10 sites per acre; toilet facilities within 500 feet of sites; drinking fountains within 250 feet. Swimming Areas - Size developed to meet needs, maintenance capability, safety and aesthetics should be first consideration; provision for off- peak use of the facilities for competition and instruction should be made where possible. Camping Areas - Should be composed of loops with approximately 25-35 sites to a loop; 7,500 square feet per site; no site should be more than 500 feet from toilet facilities; sites should have approximately 75 feet frontage; drinking foun- tains within 250 feet. I-4 Trails - Motorized and non-motorized trail uses should be segregated; consideration should be given to winter uses; bicycle surface should be considered in urban or suburban areas or major statewide trails; trail connections to all major parks systems and internal trail routes should be provided. Boating - Boat launch ramps and adequate park- ing areas should be provided at all marine facilities; conflicting uses should be adequately separated; provisions should be made to allow fishermen access to water and winter uses, such as ice fishing, skating, or snowmobiling where program potential exists. Extended Season Use -Basic park facilities should be designed and constructed for extended season and off-hour use; enclosed facilities with minimal heating requirements would afford early and late seasonal use of urban and suburban parks; lighting of game and activity areas would encourage extended use. Energy Conservation - Now recognized as a national goal, energy conservation consider- ation should be applied to construction, opera- tion, and maintenance of park facilities. Shorelines - Construction in or near shore areas should be avoided. Any construction within these areas should have adequate setbacks to accommodate long-term erosion with a margin of safety for the life of the facility. Coastal Erosion Areas - Non-structural measures should be utilized if possible to address erosion control in coastal areas. Fresh and Saltwater Marshes and Wetlands - Construction within these areas should be avoided and management strategies should be developed to protect hydrolic function, water quality and habitat values. I-5 Recreational Boating Facility Development Standards In 1996, the States Organization for Boating Access (SOBA) published an updated set of boating facility development standards in a book entitled Design Handbook for Recreational Boating and Fishing Facilities. The following lists further guide- lines for designing and constructing boating facilities in New York State. k The land areas should provide a minimum of 1.25 - 1.5 the size of the gross water area within the marina basin. k The water area should provide for 3-5 still fishing boats per acre or when trolling, one boat per acre. k The following do not provide optimum condi- tions but rather represent a minimum require- ment Sail Boats 6-8 acres/vessel Water skiing 15-20 acres/vessel Row Boating 1 acre/vessel Power boating 6-8 acres/vessel Trip canoeing 1.25 mi. of stream/canoe k Channel width should be at least 60 feet or four times the width of the largest vessel using the marina. k Maneuvering areas should be 2.25 times the length of the largest vessel using the marina. Piers and bulkheads must be fitted with ad- equate cleats or bollards, spaced approximately 20' apart. The cleats should preferably be hardwood 10’ - 12’ long; and through bolted rather than lag bolted in place. Bulkheads should be provided with vertical fenders or wearing strips extending well below and above the water level, and spaced approximately eight feet apart to preclude the possibility of vessels being caught or hung under stringer pieces. Areas at ramps should be provided with a minimum of one 75’ diameter vehicle turn- around. k Predicated upon an average 15 minutes per launching, retrieval and parking, it is deter- mined that one single lane ramp should be provided for the launching and hauling of every 20 vessels using the site. k Parking area facilities vary greatly in size de- pending on the number of cars, trailers and number of launching ramps. The design of stalls should be laid in a manner to allow pull through movement and to eliminate a need to back the trailer from a congested location. The area should be located no more than 500’ from the launching site. Hard surfaced walks be- tween the two must be provided to accommo- date wheel chairs. Parking space sizes recom- mended by SOBA are as follows: Standard vehicle towing 10’ x 40’ R.V. towing 10’ x 50’ Vehicle Only 10’ x 20’ Handicapped Parking 15’ Wide The grade or slope should be a minimum of 2% and not exceed 8%. Handicapped spaces should have a maximum grade of 2% within spaces. k Launching ramps may be concrete, gravel, expanded metal, or asphalt. Concrete ramps should be scored transversely to provide a good gripping surface. k The Army Corp of Engineers suggests that the width of launching ramps should be guided by the length of the specific ramp. Ramps under 50’ should be 12’ wide, between 50’ and 75’ - 14’ wide, over 75’ - 16’ wide. k Recommended grade of ramps will vary de- pending upon water depths, fluctuations, hull forms, size of vessel, and weight and power of the towing vehicle. The graduation should generally lie between 12% and 15%. In some instances a double sloped ramp is advisable in which the upper grade approximates 8% and the lower grade approximates 17% to 20% to float the transom easily and to obviate a need for submergence of portions of the towing vehicle. k Tops or pilings should be heavily coated with asphalt and topped with concrete, metal or I-6 fiberglass caps. Floating piers must be fitted with pad eyes to facilitate handling. k All timbers around piers should be impregnated with a colorless preservative rather than with creosote. k Pilings should be of oak, Douglas fir, green heart, or yellow pine because of greater wearing qualities. Decking should be of oak, maple or green heart for similar reasons. k Main walkways and catwalks should be 6-8’ feet wide to accommodate movement of equipment. Minor walkways should be at least three feet wide. These dimensions also allow for easy wheelchair access. k Walkways should be fitted with low lights for illumination of deck areas and boats. Walkways and gangways must be free of cleats to allow ease of movement for handicapped persons and wheelchairs. Anti-skid material should be placed on gangways and pedestrian ramps. Gradients should not exceed 10%. k Deck planking should be spaced 0.25’ apart to provide for proper drainage and allow for swelling when wet. k Life rings should be provided at all supervised launching and fishing sites for emergency use, and ladders should be provided where hoists, rather than ramps, are used for launching of vessels. k Handrails should be placed at vessel boarding sites to steady those boarding. Where no tidal rise and fall or significant fluctuation exists, handrails might be extended out over the water. k At fishing sites, toe rails should be placed along the edge of the pier to prevent wheelchairs rolling into the water. k Shelves should be provided to hold gear and equipment and inclined arm rests should be provided for handicapped fishermen. I-7 Park Design Considerations The design criteria recommended here reflect considerations in park design that have, through practical experience proven to be indispensable to acceptable park development and use. A primary consideration is the physical characteristics of the site. Preservation of the natural and historical character of a potential recreation site, which constitutes so great a part of the recreational experi- ence, is dependent upon proper assessment of the site’s ability to accommodate man-made intrusions. The type of soil and the slope of the site are among the most significant factors since they affect the natural vegetation, drainage, and susceptibility to erosion or soil compaction. Another significant factor is how the potential recreationist’s needs can best be satisfied within prevailing physical con- straints. This requires a full examination of antici- pated use patterns, such as a day use, camping, parking accommodations, roadway layout, pedes- trian flows, user safety, etc. Microclimatic considerations should be major determinants in the location and orientation of facilities within a park. Transportation, prevailing wind direction, density and height of overstory, and seasonal variances of the angle of the sun can seriously affect the comfort of park users in various activities. Access to recreation facilities is another major design consideration. Improvement necessary to accommodate cars is among the largest expenditure in the development of most parks. The use of non- auto modes for access, particularly mass transit, bicycle, and pedestrian should be encouraged since it will minimize investments for parking and road facilities, conserve land resources for actual recre- ational use, conserve energy resources, and pro- mote use by a broader socioeconomic sector of the population. To this end, arrangements for bus loading and unloading should be located near the recreation areas within parks and exclusive bus lanes should be provided where traffic warrants. Safety considerations within parks are critical to good park design, not only from the view point of liability, but also because hazardous conditions may detract from the park patrons’ enjoyment of the recreational experience. Obviously, swimming facilities must be designed with safety as the para- mount criterion. High traffic volume roads and other dangerous features, such as cliffs or mines, should be screened or fenced -off. Less obvious improvements, such as the clearance of low dense shrubbery and the installation of lighting that en- ables a person to better see potential hazards add to feelings of well-being. Clear and concise signing is also important to warn users of hazards that may be an unavoidable part of their recreation experience. In addition the intrusion of peripheral influences should be screened where necessary and practi- cable. For example, planting band or earth berms cut external traffic and other noises. Conflicting activities should be separated where possible and points of potential conflict must be clearly marked. I-8 I-9 Maintenance Considerations The amount of maintenance required per recreationist is very much related to intensity of use, user attitudes reflected in vandalism and misuse, site characteristics, type of activity, and age of facility. Anticipated use and site characteristics must be recognized in site location and design, choice of materials, and programming of maintenance and services. As with new development, maintenance requires sound fiscal planning. Maintenance of facilities for less intensive activities, such as hiking, canoeing, backpacking, and even camping, depends on the innate ability for the environment to absorb user impacts and activity rotation practices. The ability of the natural envi- ronment to regenerate varies greatly because of variations in soil conditions, types of vegetation, slopes or climates. While five years is adequate to restore most brush cover, areas with thin soil and cool climate, as exemplified by alpine conditions, may require centuries for recovery. Facilities should never be designated to attract use beyond the level at which environmental deterioration can be quickly repaired by natural processes. If facility design is compatible with site characteristics, those facilities that generally receive more intensive use are less expensive per user due to decreasing marginal maintenance costs. Mainte- nance costs increase, however, when the carrying capacity is exceeded and severe site degradation occurs. In fact, several years revenue may be lost if the facility must be closed for regenerative purposes. High maintenance requirements are inherent in certain specialized facilities. Golf courses, and clay tennis courts, for example, require far more mainte- nance than trails serving the same number of people. On the other hand, these specialized facilities frequently can generate revenues to offset their higher maintenance costs. Older facilities require more maintenance then new facilities. This is partially due to normal attri- tion associated with age. Contemporary changes in park design are intended to avoid some of the maintenance and operation headaches of the past. Efficient scheduling of major rehabilitation projects can reduce excessive maintenance and operation costs. Also, safety and programming components should be recognized as a potential deterrent to vandalism as well as a necessary part of the recreation services provided. I-10