Gunston Park Diamond Field Renovation

November 9, 2016

Park DevelopmentArlington County Parks and Recreation

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Gunston Diamond Field Renovation

Today’s Meeting• Background• Demographic Changes• Opportunity to Partner with Arlington Sports

Foundation• Project Comparison

– Natural vs Synthetic Turf • Community Feedback

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Background

• Parks Maintenance Capital Project– Funded FY 2016– Design and construction $1.4 M

• Project Goals– Bring field up to current design standards– Decrease impact to existing trees– Meet regulatory requirements for stormwater

and accessibility

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Background

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Background

Looking from 28th Street

• Permit takes priority• Primary use - adult softball

• Programmed 635 hours in FY 2016, eight months/year

• APS uses during school day• DPR uses after school,

weekends, summer months• 5:00-10:45 p.m. weeknights• 9:00a.m. – 10:45 p.m.

Saturday• 12:00 – 10:45 p.m. Sunday

Background

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Background

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Existing Elements Proposed Elements

Backstop Backstop

Bleachers Bleachers

Dugouts Dugouts

Fencing Fencing

Site Furnishings Site Furnishings

Field Lighting Field Lighting

Signage Signage

Storage Storage

Drainage Drainage

Accessibility Improvements

Pedestrian Lighting

Batting Cage

Stormwater Requirements

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Background

Stormwater Requirements / Regulatory Overview

• Stormwater management required by County code (Ch. 60) and State code.

• State sets the performance standards, computational methods, menu of stormwater management facility options and specifications.

• Both impervious and turf surfaces must be managed.• Stormwater pollution reduction (Ch. 60).

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Background

Demographic Changes

• Arlington County population continues to grow– 12-year growth: 2002-2014: 190k to 220k (+ 14%)– Projected growth: 2015 – 2030: 220k to 283k

(+25%)– 25% increase = approx. 27,500 youth participants in

outdoor sports by 2025• 35 diamond fields county-wide

– six youth-only diamond fields– 3,646 youth baseball participants in FY 2016

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PROPOSAL TO CONVERT GUNSTON DIAMOND FIELD #1 TO SYNTHETIC TURF

Arlington Sports Foundation (ASF)

Greg PattonExecutive Director

ASF Mission & VisionASF local non-profit, 501(c)3 OrganizationMission Serve as charitable, community based organization to advocate and raise funds for capital improvements to sports fields and facilities in Arlington CountyVision Become an integral partner with Arlington County/DPR, local youth and adult athletic leagues regarding existing and future athletic field renovations and development◦ Work closely with Arlington Youth Sports Organizations to: Advocate and build consensus for improved youth athletic field

conditions Renovations to existing athletic fields and facilities New project development in DPR pipeline

◦ Provide additional resources to offset County/DPR Capital Improvement Costs

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ASF Background• Youth Field Petition (Signed by youth sports groups

November 2015)• Overall goal of the “Youth Field Petition” is to

increase synthetic turf capacity of multi-sport, multi-season, multi-configuration fields:

• Safe fields available all the time (No weather cancellations)• Increased utilization Ability to allow kids to have

practices/games without concern regarding field availability/playability

• Expand athletic field usability• Rectangle and Diamond Sports Groups are working together

(Baseball, Softball, Soccer, Flag Football, Youth Football, Lacrosse, YULA)

• Discussed opportunity to convert Diamond Field at Gunston to synthetic turf (May 2016)

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ASF ProposalCurrent Goal GUNSTON Project Enter into a partnership with DPR re: diamond field renovation via LOI and MOAProposal Contribute funding towards installation of synthetic turf

◦ Unique opportunity to reconfigure this field to allow for multiple youth sports groups to be able to use this field throughout the year (multiple diamond configurations, removable mound, can also serve as a rectangle field(s)

◦ Synthetic turf enables field to remain open five months mid-November to mid-March.

◦ Equivalent of 880.75 hours of available field time (prime time hours)

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ASF FundraisingFunding Sources◦ Donations $100,000+, contingent on local diamond

leagues coming together and supporting synthetic project renovation

◦ DPR Field Funds $100,000+◦ ASF Board◦ Campaign to local small businesses, foundations and

individuals in November and December◦ Possible additional support from stakeholder leagues

Commitment of Funds◦ ASF to DPR January 2017

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Natural Turf• Bermuda grass / Sod• Underdrain System

(simple)• Amended Soil and Infield

Mix• Irrigation• SWM Bio-retention

Facility

• Artificial Grass• Underdrain System

(complex)• Edge Restraint (concrete

curb)• Infill• SWM Storage Facility (stone, piping, control structure, appurtenances)

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Project Comparison

Synthetic Turf

Natural Turf• Field Use

– 1,899.75 available DPR hours

• Budget– $1.4 Million

• Field Use– 2,780.75 available DPR

hours

• Budget– $ 1.77 Million (ASF Funding

Required - $370K)

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Project Comparison

Synthetic Turf

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Community Feedback

Public Engagement Process (2 Months)• Discuss and record community input• Present and discuss final conceptual design• Agree on final design

Improvements• Secure Funding for Synthetic Option (January)• Finalize Drawings / Plans (3 Months)• Permitting (2-3 Months)• Bidding / Board Approval (2 Months)• Begin Construction (Fourth Quarter 2017)

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Next Steps

• Prepare Final Concept– Based on community input

• Community Meeting #2 - TBD– Present final concept design

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Questions?

• Questions or comments?

• Go to parks.arlingtonva.us and search GunstonPark Project for updates and to get on listserv for updates.