BRADDOCK PARK – MASTER PLAN REVISION

Public Information Meeting – Oct 1, 2020

• Introductions • Judy Pedersen, Park Authority Public Information Officer

Welcoming Remarks• Pat Herrity – Springfield District Supervisor, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors

• Mike Thompson – Park Authority Board Member, Springfield District

• Master Plan Presentation - Doug Tipsword, Park Authority Landscape Architect/ Planner

• Master Planning Process & Schedule

• Braddock Park Master Plan… Past, Present, & Future

• Facilitated Public Comment Period – Q&A

The Park Authority has developed a public survey to help inform our master planning process. Access the survey at the end of the presentation.

MASTER PLANNING PROCESS

Fairfax County Park Authority at a GlancePARKS

428TRAILS

324miles

LAND

23,300+acres

TOTAL VISITATION

17,754,788

Park Authority MissionTo enrich quality of life for all members of the community through an enduring park system that provides a healthy environment, preserves natural and cultural heritage, offers inspiring recreational experiences, and promotes healthy lifestyles.

Park Authority Board• Park Authority’s Governing Body

• 12 Members Appointed by Board of Supervisors

• One Representative of the 9 Supervisory Districts and 3 At-large Members

• Written report and a Conceptual Development Plan (CDP)

• Clearly defines park design goals & objectives

• Documents site history and conditions

• Sets expectations and informs financial decisions

• Requires approval from the Park Authority Board

What Is a Park Master Plan?

Why Are Master Plans Important?

• Clearly defines land uses within parks

• Address the recreational needs of an ever-changing population

• Protect valuable natural & cultural resources

• Establish long-term vision and assists in prioritization

• Developed through a public process

• Set community expectations

Public Information Meeting

Public Comment Meeting

Draft Master Plan Meeting

Public InputDesign

Development

Project Initiation

Research & Data Collection

Announcement

Public Comment

Design Refinement

Public Comment

Finalize Master Plan

Board Approval

Master Planning Process

It’s a Public Driven Process

We Are Here

Announcement

Announcement

• Public Information Meeting (Virtual)Early October

• Online Survey for Public Input (30 day period)October - November

• Staff Designs and Develops Park ConceptsNovember - January

• Public Comment MeetingLate January

• Public Comment PeriodFebruary - March

• Staff Creates the Draft Master PlanMarch - May

• Draft Master Plan Presentation to Park Authority BoardMay - June

• Draft Master Plan MeetingJune

• Staff Finalizes Draft Master PlanJune - July

• Park Authority Board ApprovalJuly

Braddock Park Revised Master Plan Schedule (2020 -2021)

We Are Here

BRADDOCK PARK MASTER PLAN

PAST

• Agricultural land until acquired by the Park Authority in 1974

• Located at the junction of Braddock Road and Union Mill Road, two miles southeast of the Historic Town of Centreville

• Resides in Fairfax County’s Pohick Planning District and is part of the Springfield Supervisor’s District

• Park was constructed 1983 - 1984

History of the Site

1974 Aerial

Fairfax Co. Supervisory Districts

What Were the Goals & Priorities of the Original 1981 Master Plan?

• Provided a variety of active and passive recreational activities

• Emphasis on active sports facilities as a priority

• Provide adequate parking

• Preserved western portion of the site as a Resource Management Area

• Social plaza at the center of the park

1981 Master Plan Amenities✓ Softball Fields✓ Soccer / Football/ Lacrosse

Field✓ Batting Cages✓ Picnic Area✓ Tennis Courts✓ Volleyball Courts✓ Walking and Running Trails✓ Onsite Surface Parking✓ Social Plaza✓ Restroom Building✓ Concessions Building✓ Tot Lot✓ Games Tables

(Modified in 1997)

1997 Master Plan Amendment✓ Mini Golf (Added in 1997)✓ Open Play Area

“Social Plaza” Enlargement

• Centrally located at the park’s nexus

• Passive recreation

• Paved gathering space, heavy foot traffic

• Food and water, restroom, shade, safety

• Vehicular drop off

BRADDOCK PARKMASTER PLAN

PRESENT

What Does Braddock Park Look Like Today?

• A sports focused recreation facility

• Centreville High School (est. 1988)

• Twin Lakes golf course expansion (est. 2001)

• Miniature golf course lease expired in 2018

• Little Rocky Run watershed to the west and Johnny Moore Creek to the east

N

Park Structures

• Picnic shelter• Restroom building (1994)• Maintenance shed

N

Recreation Facilities

• (6) Softball fields- Natural grass- 300 ft outfield fence

• (1) Rectangular field- Synthetic turf (2008)

• Batting cages• Open play area• Removed Miniature golf

course 2018

N

Utilities & Easements

• 90 ft VEPCO easement• 15 ft electric, water, and

sanitary sewer easements serve the restroom facility, irrigation shed, batting cages, and ball field lighting

• Fields 1 through 7 are lighted

• Western parking lot and batting cage area are lighted

N

Paving & Circulation

• Surface parking332 spaces

+13 ADA spaces345 total

• ADA pathways• Gravel roads for

maintenance crews

N

Topography & Soils

• Site mostly level, fields are terraced

• Extreme slopes (>20%)• Naturally occurring asbestos

soils at 2 ft – 5 ft depths.

N

Hydrology• Surface drainage • Subsurface drainage• Storm Water Management

areas to capture surface run off

N

Johnny Moore Creek

Little Rocky Run

Vegetation

• Resource Management Area

• Vegetated buffer• Wildflower meadow

N

SUMMARY OF CONSTRAINTS

• Facilities, parking, utility infrastructure to remain intact

• Resource Management Areas & buffers

• Topography

N

SUMMARY OF OPPORTUNITIES

• Undeveloped areas for new amenities

• 5.32 acres of 60 acre park

• Improved circulation

• Improved ADA accessibility

2.50 Acres

0.83 Acres

0.68Acres

0.45Ac 0.29

Ac

0.23Ac

0.34Ac

BRADDOCK PARK MASTER PLAN

FUTURE

• Conduct a Site Analysis of the site as it exists today. Identify opportunities and constraints.

• Review the Current Master Plan and revisit the original goals & priorities.

• Review agency Long-Range Plans to determine if public needs are being met.

• Interview Stakeholders to better understand the success of the current programs and partnerships.

• Engage the community through a Public Survey to determine if new facilities and uses are desired.

Research & Data Collection

REVISED MASTER

PLANCURRENT

MASTER PLAN

LONG-RANGE PLANNING

STAKEHOLDERS

SITE ANALYSIS

PUBLIC SURVEY

PROGRAM ELEMENTS Today MP

Baseball / Softball Field (x6) P

Soccer / Football (x1) P

Open Play Area P

Batting Cages P

Restroom Building P

Picnic Area (tables & grills) P

Tennis Courts (x4) P

Volleyball P

Mini Golf P

Multi-Use Court (basketball) P

Social Plaza P

Tot Lot P

Game Tables P

Concession Building P

Walking/Running Trails P

Parking 345 478

Master Plan ReviewN

Park Today Vs. Current Master Plan

• Walking / Jogging Loop Trails – Identified as the most desired park activity in the 2016 Needs Assessment

• Playground – Review of the service level standards indicate a need for more playgrounds

• Dog Park – Recent Park Authority research provides additional insight on this need

• Pickleball – A popular trend that is on the rise in Fairfax County

Long-Range Planning

A Look at the Needs Assessment & Service Level Standards

• Opportunity to review the success of the current programs and partnerships

• Opportunity to evaluate future needs and desires

Stakeholder Meetings

✓ (FXA) Fairfax Adult Sports ✓ (FAS) Fairfax Adult Softball✓ (NVSS) Northern VA Seniors Softball✓ (SYA) Southwestern Youth Association✓ (CHS) Centreville Highschool

Public Survey

• WE WANT TO KNOW

• Who is using the park?

• What are the park users doing at the park?

• Where do they live?

• When are they using the park?

• How are they getting to the park? How long does it take?

• What could we do to improve the park?

• WE NEED YOUR INPUT!

How Could We Improve the Park User Experience?

Here Are Some Ideas…

✓More parking and better vehicular circulation

✓More sidewalks and trails for connectivity and exercise

✓New facilities and amenities such as playground, dog park, pickleball, volleyball, outdoor fitness area, etc.

✓ Improvements to existing facilities

✓Concession stands with outdoor dining area

✓More seating opportunities

✓More natural habitat areas, pollinator gardens, trees for shade

✓More covered pavilions for picnics, parties, & social functions

ANY QUESTIONS?

SHARE YOUR IDEAS, COMMENTS, AND QUESTIONS

By Computer Via the Public Input Chat Portal

Or By Phone: Phone: 1-(855)-925-2801

Access Code: 6608Press * Press 3

• Turn down your computer’s volume• Listen carefully for when your turn is identified• State your name before making your comments

What’s Next? Take the Public Survey!

Still have questions? Send an email…

Doug Tipsword, Senior Landscape Architecte-mail: parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov

THANK YOU! STAY SAFE!

Continue to check the Braddock Park webpage for project updates:

https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/planning-development/braddock-park-master-plan-revision

www.publicinput.com/W5580

PUBLIC SURVEY WILL CLOSE ON OCT 31, 2020