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Memorandum

TO:	City Council
FROM:	Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission
Date:	November 13, 2002
SUBJECT:	Parks, Trails and Open Space
Attached are the Parks, Trails and Open Space Plan Proposed Long-Term Properties list and the Summary of Update--Parks, Trails and Open Space Plan. Both were approved by the Parks Commission at its October 28, 2002 Regular Meeting and will be presented to you at the November 19th City Council Meeting.

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Parks, Trails and Open Space Plan
PROPOSED PROPERTIES Long--Term (50 years)

• Ashland Creek Corridor--purchase or easements (trail and conservatbn)
• Beagle Property on Mountain Avenue across from N. Mountain Park-.-purchase or donated
• Billings Property- purchase or easements (trail and conservation)
• Golf Course Extension Crowson Road-- purchase or donated
• Tolman Creek/Mistletoes-purchase or donated
• Walker Site on East Main--purchase or easements (trail and conservation)
• Old Waldorf School site on East Main--purchase or easements (trail and conservation)
• So. side of Grizzly Peak, i.e. area visible from within the city limits--conservation easement
• Connection across Ashland Creek between Helman and Oak Streets--purchase or easements (trail and conservation)

approved by motion October 28, 2002

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SUMMARY OF UPDATE - - PARKS, TRAILS AND OPEN SPACE PLAN
APPROVED BY APRC MOTION OCTOBER 28, 2002

A goal of the Commission for fiscal year 2001-2002 was to complete an update of the Open Space and Park Land Acquisition Program. The original plan was appreved in 1991. Starting in the fall of 2001, the Commission held a sedes of community meetings to gather input from citizens on updating the 1991 plan. Following the meetings, the Commission developed an updated plan that included changing the name of the program to the 'Parks, Trails and Open Space Plan". The updated plan now consists of both a short-term and a long-term component. Most of the preperties on the 1991 plan that have not been acquired or privately developed remain on the updated plan.

Short-Term Properties Component
The short-term component consists of properties that would be purchased in the next ten years and would accomplish the following:

• One of the goals of the Comprehensive Plan is to have a neighborhood park located within a 1/4 mile of every resident living inside the current city limits. This goal will be met when the properties identified on the Short Term Plan are acquired. (Note: There are a few areas that do not have a neighborhood park because no suitable property has been located. The Gresham-Taylor-Idaho Streets area between SOU and Lithia Park, and, the Oak Knoll area are examples. If suitable property in these areas is found or becomes available in the future, it would be added to the plan. Some areas more than 1/4 mile from the nearest neighborhood park with Iow density zoning such as the urban/forest interface with few residents and large lots were deemed by the Commission to not be cost effective areas to locate a park.)
• Provide sufficient land for athletic fields.
• Provide trails and trail connections. (Note: The goal is to secure land, through outdght purchase, donation, grants, or easements, on which to develop a trail system that would encircle Ashland and provide connecting links to neighborhoods and additional trails throughout the city for non-motorized use. Efforts to accomplish this goal will be advanced through collaboration with other organizations, such as the Ashland Woodland and Trails Association.)

Short-Term Properties - - Options to Acquire

Active Athletic Fields

• Property adjacent to YMCA City Park on Clay Street - - purchase or donated
• Helman Street preperty adjacent to Helman School - - purchase or donated

Neighborhood Parks

• Jacquelyn & Grizzly Property - - purchase or donated
• Upper Clay Street Property - - purchase or donated

Trail Corridors

• East Main along Bear Creek - - purchase or easements (trail and conservation)
• Wdghts Creek Corridor- - purchase or easements (trail and conservation)
• Upper Liberty Street - - purchase or easements (trail and conservation)
• Nevada Street to N. Mountain Park - - purchase or easements (trail and conservation)
• Trail connection in Willows area (behind 8th and A Streets) - - trail and conservation easement
• Hamilton Creek Corridor - - purchase or easements (trail and conservation)
• T.I.D. Trail Segments - - trail easement

Long-Term Properties Component
The long-term component consists of property recommended for acquisition over the next fifty years, mainly trails and open space. Should the City expand its UGB, the Long Term Open Space Plan would be modified to reflect the priority of the Park Commission to continue to add neighborhood parks to meet the 1/4 mile goal.

Lonq-Term Properties - - Options to Acquire

• Ashland Creek Corridor- - purchase or easements (trail and conservation)
• Beagle Property on Mountain Avenue across from N. Mountain Park - --purchase or donated
• Billings Property - - purchase or easements (trail and conservation)
• Golf Course Extension Crowson Road - - purchase or donated
• Tolman Creek / Mistletoe - - purchase or donated
• Walker Site on East Main - - purchase or easements (trail and conservation)
• Old Waldorf School Site on E. Main - - purchase or easements (trail and conservation)
• So. side of Grizzly Peak, i.e. area visible from within the city limits - - conservation easement
• Connection across Ashland Creek between Helman and Oak Streets - - purchase or easements (trail and conservation)

After extensive review of 1) the Open Space Plan developed in 1989, 2) nominated properties and 3) public input, and after creating and applying selection criteria, the Parks Commission and Staff have identified properties for inclusion in this revised plan. The Commission understands that properties of exceptional merit may have been omitted inadvertently. Not withstanding the specificity of this plan, it is understood that the plan may evolve to include properties unintentionally overlooked.

All properties on this plan were rated using the selection criteria developed by the Parks Commission. All of the highest-ranking properties were included. If property in the future is identified as having merit for inclusion in the plan, the same or similar selection criteria may be applied. Comparing the ranking of a proposed property to the ranking of properties already on the plan would assist in determining the merit of adding the property to the plan.

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Letters recieved via email in support of the Parks Plan:

Parks Plan - Letters in Favor.pdf (238.3KB)

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