Parks and Public Landscaping Advisory Board Agenda and Packet 2024 04 03

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The Design Concept is to maximize open turf area, keep trees out of the bottom of the basin area. Tiered steps, front stoop effect. Entire park will not be a completely open turf area, can surrounding slopes and contours be natural (groundcover/turf)? The concept has evolved: Plantings around dry stream bed effect vs straight concrete edge Public comments: Questions and feedback from Enclave neighbor, Monty Henderson: Question about a large grate in the park (ball catcher). Answer is this is a forebay for sediment collection before it goes into cobble swale. Drain has a horizontal and vertical component, a limiting factor to maintain minimum slope and still have curvature in the drain (naturalized aesthetic). Happy about the covered patio area and playground. He believes the trees placed in the design are accurate. There was discussion about what will happen to old cottonwood trees in the park, which are home to several owls in the neighborhood. Is it possible to add a trail for through access? Becky Nelson, Enclave neighbor, "This park does flood often in large storms, water floods the existing play area. Asked, does the curved path need to be deeper to get water to the drainage gate? The grate for the drain on the lower right-hand corner, gets clogged." Also asked to try to keep cottonwood trees as home to a big owl and falcon which keep local rabbit and vermin populations under control. There are many rodents due to construction - we don't want to lose the neighborhood owl. Council member Deb Fahey, also an Enclave neighbor, has heard, "please keep mature trees to a degree if possible, there are many birds which nest in mature trees." Deb loves the gathering space and shade structure. Mentioned that several neighbors gather in the park and would like to maintain the view to the east for 4th of July fireworks. Please consider more than 2 swings - a lot of swings is good. Deb suggested: 1) Would like to see a pollinator garden added to this plan. This land was originally designated as a water retention area, hailstorm and rainstorm and entire area flooded, so need to be prepared for those occurrences. PPLAB Comments: • There is a path in the upper right-hand corner. Could we add trees to shade this path? Could we experiment with a little forest in the non-functional turf area? • looks good, please double check existing vs planned trees to ensure accurate coverage in the design plan. • Could we create a retention pond? Would like to see more pollinators, could we do a meadow, seeded wildflowers in the native grasses area? • in response to comments about a small forest or trying to plant substantially more trees here, more trees need more water - only 2 natural trees to Colorado and it will be years before they provide shade. Ellen also agrees about natural sandstone, and flat big rocks for seating and kids jumping on. Also recommends shade close to play structure. • We have bad ozone in the front range, ask staff to let us know where we are on water consumption based on decisions on median design, reductions in other areas (so perhaps a mini -forest could be feasible for water use). • Ginger Cross: North Open Space has a lot of trees, a miniature forest is hard to maintain/mow, part of the reason we use open grazing. • PPLAB member: this park features lovely sloping areas, great native shrubs - habitat for native critters, suggests serviceberry, mountain mahogany plantings. Cottonwoods require a fair amount of water, but maybe not enough water for all the other trees we might be thinking of. Is there any turf replacement we can do with native grasses? Slope areas don't get flooding. • Question to Carter Marshall, Bryon, Abby: Is there the opportunity for input to public art in this park? Could a labyrinth be incorporated in this area? We would like one more round of public input and then to see final plans. Next steps are Design Development Spring 2024 and construction in 2024 Bryon Weber: Will come back one more time with plans in May