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DATE: August 21, 2000
TO: Planning Commission.
FROM: Stephen C, Richardson, Planning Manager.
SUBJECT: Request for re -adoption of the Parks and Open Space Element of the Comprehensive
Plan as the "Parks, Recreation, And Open Space Plan: An Element of the
Comprehensive Plan".
FILE: 597 - OB
STAFF REPORT
The re -adoption of the Parks & Open Space Plan Element was last approved on June 23, 1998. Its
re -adoption is being requested in order to maintain the two year re -adoption schedule required by the
plan and City Charter. This schedule also works well in that it would permit us to submit an
approved plan and grant application to Texas Parks and Wildlife for the Fall grant funding cycle if
that is determined desirable.
The current plan has been modified somewhat in order to be consistent with TP&W plan approval
standards. Having an approved plan on file with TP&W gives us an advantage over grant applicants
who do not have an approved plan on file.
The. major differences between the current plan and the proposed plan are as follows:
The large manually produced map has been replaced with a computer generated map using
our new ArcView GIS software. Additionally, illustrations within the text have also been
prepared using that software. This has permitted us to prepare more accurate and detailed
graphic representation of the plan and illustrations provided within the text of the plan. For
example, the Big Thicket Preserve is now shown on the plan. Because the service areas of
the various parks can now be more accurately determined, see Figures A- I and A-2, some
locations of future facilities as shown on the large map were moved from the locations shown
on the current plan.
The current plan, known as the "Parks and Open Space Plan", has been re -named to "Parks,
Recreation, and Open Space Plan". This change makes "recreation" a clear and prominent
subject, separate and apart from park facilities and open space concerns. Future revisions of
the plan will provide more details on the city's recreational programs and services and provide
in depth analyses of the types and number of recreational programs relative to the
demographics of the city. This was not included in this revision of the plan because new
population data will not be available for another 12 to 18 months.
The text has primarily been modified only where necessary to update information on changes
to the facility descriptions and the implementation sections. The listing of projects and time-
lines for short-term improvements has therefore been changed.
The most significant change in this plan is the change in the acreage standard for
neighborhood parks. The current standard of 5 to 10 acres for a neighborhood park has
been changed to permit neighborhood parks as small as 2.5 acres.
Although the park system map has coverage out to the City's ETJ line, future park facilities
are only shown out to the extent of the coverage of the currently adopted Land Use Plan
Element map. When the Land Use Plan Element map is adopted with coverage to the ETJ
line, the parks map will be revised.
Attached exhibits include:
1). The proposed text with changes from the current plan shown in italics;
2). The proposed text in final form; and
3), A black and white print of the new map that accompanies the text,
An Element of The Comprehensive Plan
of the City of Beaumont, Texas
0
Purpose / Intent
This Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan Is the official and complete statement of public goals, objectives, policies,
and recommendations endorsed by the Beaumont City Council concerning the future development and redevelopment
of the City's parks and recreational facilities and open space resources over the next twenty to thirty years. It is needed
in order to insure objectivity, consistency, and equality in meeting the parks, recreational, and open space needs and desires of
all the residents of Beaumont. The Plan makes it possible to document and justify decision making actions in accordance with
predetermined and agreed upon goals, objectives, and policies. Development and adoption of this Plan clearly places the
responsibility for setting the City's parks, recreation, and open space goals, objectives, and policies with the elected officials of
the City.
The Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan has the recommendation of the City Planning Commission and is adopted by the
City Council in order to make it clear to the community that the Plan does, in fact, represent the official views and policies of the
City Council. However, the adoption of this Plan does not mean that its goals, objectives, policies, and proposals are static or
end -state. As conditions change and new issues and information come to the forefront, the City Council may have to amend this
Plan in order to meet those changing conditions. Also, with experience, some policies and proposals may prove to be unworkable
or unrealistic and need to be revised or deleted from the Plan. Therefore, to insure that the Plan is kept up-to-date and reflects
the intentions of the City Council, this Plan is to be publicly reviewed and re -adopted by the City Council everytwo ,years. When
necessary, there may even be a need for a more frequent re -adoption.
This Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan is an official element of the City's Comprehensive Plan.
Park Facilities and Recreational Services
The present park system encompasses more than 2,191 acres spread among thirty-two sites. See Table A-] for details on each
park site. Water oriented recreational activities are provided by two swimming pools, eleven wading pools, three spray
devices, and two sites fronting the Neches River. The Athletic Complex, located on College Street, is one of the largestparks
and is the City's major centerforsof1ball activities. The park is also a major tennis facility. The City's major golf facility, the
Henry Hoinberg Municipal Golf Course, is located at Tyrrell Park A horse riding stable, a garden center and conservatory,
a tree fat -in, and an artificial wetlands facility providing nature and binding watching areas are located in and adjacent to
Tyrrell Park
In addition to the thirty-two recreational parks, there are seventeen landscaped passive recreational facilities including three
water fountains maintained by the department in the Central Business District.
Recreational programs and senior citizen services provided by the City include special summer youth day activities at eight
locations, an age group track program, high school basketball, and learn to swim classes. A free Summer Food Service
Pr ograin is offered atfour locations. Special programs far all age groups, particularly far young children, are provided on
special occasions (i.e., Christmas, Easter, Black History Month, Halloween, etc). Special Senior Citizen programs such as
arts and craft classes, dance classes, table games, social activities including field trips, health services, and social support
groups are provided at the Best Years Senior Center.
The current level of recreational programs and services is broad based and varied however a study of the types and numbers
of such programs, compared to the current and arty projected demographics for the city, might find deficiencies in the provision
of those programs and services. Within twvoyvars the 2000 Census figures should be available and thereby permit the conduct
of a study of the types and numbers of recreational and social activity programs provided compared to the age structure of
the population. This schedule works well with the normal two year review, revision, and re -adoption schedule for the Parks,
Recreation, and Open Space Plan. An expanded analysis and proposal section will therefore be provided in the next review,
revision, and re -adoption of this plan.
Overview of the Planning Area
Over the past ten years or so there has been a migration of population to out lying or suburban communities. However, this
migration appears to be stabilizing or perhaps reversing. Where new development and population growth is occurring within
the City it is generally to the west, while the eastern half of the City has been experiencing a decline in population and little new
development. Current and future City neighborhood redevelopment efforts may be successful in stopping and in reversing out
migration in the eastern parts of the City. For a detailed description of demographic data, see Appendix B: Demographics.
The Planning Process
While most of the "physical, long-term planning" for the park system is achieved by the City Planning staff of the Department of
Economic Development, the planning and provision of park and recreation "set -vices and activities" is accomplished by the
Director of Parks and Recreation and the director's'administrative staff. The City Planning staff is responsible for coordinating
the comprehensive park planning process and producing reports documenting the planning and policies formulations process.
However, a considerable amount of technical assistance is provided to the Planning staff by the Parks and Recreation Department.
The City's fourteen member Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee also provides guidance to the Parks and Recreation' tall
and the City Planning staff in planning for park facilities and recreational services. The following discussion explains how the
process of developing this plan was planned, guided and executed. The discussion begins with work done in 1995 because this
year 2000 plan is an up -date of the adopted plan of June 1998.
Preliminary Stage (mid-1995 to mid-1996)
The primary participants in the early stages of development of this plan were the City Planning and the Parks
and Recreation office staff. At this stage, staff members prepared draft outlines of the plan text and map,
created inventory forms and began inventorying existing conditions, created survey forms and, in general, got
the plan development process started. The Planning staff also began preliminary needs assessment activities.
(See Appendix D for form examples.)
In this early stage of production, the City Planning staff began to formulate evaluations regarding the physical nature of
the park system. This occurred through several field inspections throughout the park system in order to inventory park
facilities and also to obtain firsthand information regarding various issues such as maintenance and park usage. Needs
assessment activities were generally begun immediately following the inventory and analysis of the park system
inventory. Planning for this Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan utilized three forms of needs assessment
methodologies; standard -based, resource -based, and demand -based.
Standard -Based Needs Assessment
The National Recreation and Park Association has set standards regarding the size of a park's service area as well as the
appropriate acreage and number of facilities needed for the given size of a community. A comparison between current
National Recreation and Park Association Standards (See Table C- I in Appendix Q and the number, size, and condition
of existing facilities can indicate whether or not a park adequately serves its giveji service area (See Figure A- I and A-2
in Appendix A). Facilities or parks not meeting current standards indicate areas where new facilities should be provided
or existing facilities be improved (See Table I on page 10).
Acreage standards are intended to be used as general guidelines for analyzing existing park resources and for planning
future improvements and are not to be used as rigid formulas for determining park land needs. In no case should
standards be used as the sole justification for acquiring additional park land. The specific needs of individual
neighborhoods, the availability of funding for park system development at any given time, and factors such as the needs
of additional maintenance personnel and operating expenses that would be generated by the new acquisition should be
carefully evaluated when considering new additions to the City's park land inventory.
Resource -Based Needs Assessment
If the City of Beaumont is to purchase more land to meet future park needs, the cost can be substantial. Inmany eases,
suitable public land needed to meet many of the Beaumont parks deficiencies already exists. By utilizing resource based
methods of needs assessment, existing resources are allocated to meet appropriate parks and recreation needs. The
Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan considers the use of existing resources such as undeveloped park land,
easements, or floodplain property as potential resources for meeting future park and recreation needs. Abandoned school
sites are an example of existing resources which have a great potential for providing park services, especially to inner-
city communities. Also, there are a significant amount of vacant properties in the eastern portion of the City which are
another resource for the redevelopment of inner-city communities.
Demand -Based Needs Assessment
Those recreational services or facilities showing a high demand by the constituency should ideally be provided for in the
plan. Demand for park and recreation services was evident through direct requests from the public. These requests
are sometimes conveyed directly to the planning and parks staff or through the Parks Committee and City Council
members. Demand for recreational services and facilities were also determined from park and recreation staff
observation of citizen participation levels.
Intermediate Stage (Mid 1996 to December 1996)
After the initial development stage, participation was expanded to include input from the Parks and Recreation
Advisory Committee, the Planning Commission, various Neighborhood Associations, other gqvernmental
officials and interested citizens. Several drafts of the plan were produced during this period reflecting the
interaction with these various groups.
Neighborhood Plannine Program
The Neighborhood Planning Program of the Planning Division of the Department of Economic Development is now a
major component of the planning office's work effort. Furthermore, the parks, recreation, and open space planning
components of neighborhood plans contribute to the development of this Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan.
Public participation in the development of neighborhood plans is extensive and involves grass roots, local participation.
Since all neighborhood plans go through a public hearing process prior to official adoption by the City Council, city wide
citizen participation also occurs. Considering all of the citizen participation techniques available, it was decided that
the neighborhood planning process would become the cornerstone of all future neighborhood oriented parks, recreation,
and open space planning and implementation activities.
City Planning staff attended neighborhood association meetings throughout this intermediate stage of plan development.
Park and recreation related issues brought forth from these meetings provided valuable information during the
development of the plan.
Although a city wide parks and recreation citizen survey was not administered during the production of this plan, citizen
surveys were completed on the neighborhood level. For example, the West Oakland/ Pear Orchard Neighborhood
Citizen Survey, the College Street Corridor Area Citizen Survey and the Old Town Neighborhood Resident
Survey are all recent surveys which have provided valuable public input regarding the parks serving those
neighborhoods. Future planning at the neighborhood level should ideally utilize the citizen survey, thus providing more
data regarding public opinions of the parks in the Beaumont system (See Appendix D for survey example).
Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee (PRAQ regularly meets with the Director and staff of the Parks and
Recreation Department to discuss park planning and recreational needs and to identify goals, objectives, and priorities.
The PRAC is responsible on an ongoing basis for advising the City Council and City Manager on these matters.
Therefore the City considers PRAC workshops and public meetings and hearings as the primary citizen involvement
forum for setting priorities and selecting projects. The 1997 Parks and Open Space Plan was presented for discussion
and approval during al)ecember1996 PRAC workshop. The 1998 Parks and Open Space Plan was presented for
discussion and approval during a Spring 1998 PRAC workshop. This 2000 Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan
was presented far discussion and approval during a May 2000 PRAC workshop.
Final Stage (December 1996 to May 1997)
In the later gages of development of the 1997 plan, the City Council, the Planning Commission and the general
public became officially Involved through the public hearing process.
City Council
The City Council and Planning Commission are both involved to the extent that either body may hold public hearings
to solicit' -public input for the planning efforts. Typically, the Planning Commission will hold public meetings during
the intermediate planning stages and a joint City Council / Planning Commission meeting would occur in the later stages
of plan ."development. Official- approval of the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan follows receipt of
recommendations from the Planning Commission and public City Council deliberation and approval of those
recommedations. The Planning Commission held a workshop on the 1997 plan in December 1996 to discuss the plan.
A public hearing was held during ajoint City Council and Planning Commission Meeting on February 3, 1997 to discuss
the final draft of the plan. The resulting document was adopted by City Council on May 13, 1997.
Execution Stage (May 1997 to present)
The final draft of the 1997 Parks and Open Space Plan was placed Into of on May 13, 1997.
Revision Stage (February to June 1998)
In early 1998 revisions to the 1997 plan were drafted and presented in a public foruin -in May 1998. The revised
1997 plan was adopted by the City Council on June 23,1998.
Year 2000 Up -date (Spring 2000)
In March and April of 2000, revisions to the 1998 Parks and Open Space Plan were drafted. Adraflofthis 2000
Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan was presented at a May 8, 2000 Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
(PRAC) workshop. Also presented was a mail -in survey form to get board member opinions onpriorities far the Five
Year Plan. Using inputfromthe PRAC meeting, the planning staff drafted an up -dated plan which was presented
at a June 19, 2000 workshop of the City Planning Commission. A public hearing before a joint meeting of the
Planning Commission and the City Council occurred on July 17,2000. This Parks, Recreation, and Open Space plan
was officially adopted by fire City Council on July 26, 2000. 1?
F1 prej I MA, oft-, 21
Goals and objectives are considered the comerstone of any effective planning process. Among other things, goals and objectives
are needed to: (1) provide direction to the planning studies; (2) to identify specific areas of concern to be researched and
evaluated in the planning process; (3) to provide a mechanism for reflecting public input; and (4) to provide benchmarks for
monitoring and evaluating the success of implementation actions.
A distinction must however, be made between goals and objectives. For the purposes of this Plan, a goal is defined as a "general
expression" of a desired outcome, while an objective is defined as a "specific end" to be achieved through some form of action
taken to achieve a goal. Generally, the more goals which are accomplished by the implementation of any single objective, the
higher the priority would be for that particular objective. The actual process of formulating the goals and objectives moves from
the general to the specific; first, general goals are formulated; then, after base data is collected and analyzed, the goals and
objectives are refined, made more specific and adjusted to be more applicable to the issues and needs that were identified during
the preliminary research and analysis phase of the planning process. Finally, in the advanced stages of the planning process,
policies are formulated which are intended to provide a means of implementing specific goals and objectives.
During the early preparation stage, draft goals and objectives were formulated by the planning staff using goals and objectives
from a 1972 Planning Department parks study, from the 1980 "Parks and Open Space Plan", as amended, and from the " 1991
Recovery Action Plan" (the City's parks and recreation rehabilitation plan for meeting UPARR grant recipient qualifications).
After the data gathering, preliminary mapping, and analysis phases of the planning process were completed, the assumptions
underlying the preliminary goals and objectives were re-evaluated and the goals and objectives were revised as needed. After
refinement of the draft goals and objectives, a set of development and implementation policies were prepared by the planning staff
using the above fisted documents as source material. The intention of those efforts were to provide a policy framework to guide
the future development and continued conservation of Beaumont's parks, recreational, and open space resources.
The following goals, objectives and policies were recommended for City Council adoption by the Parks and Recreation Advisory
Committee and the Planning Commission in late 1996 and early 1997 after a thorough review and with revisions of the Planning
staffs draft efforts. The short and intermediate term objectives listed below are new objectives proposed to be added to the plan.
GOALS - General
To insure an equitable distribution of recreational opportunities among all of Beaumont's neighborhoods.
To provide a full range of park facilities, including neighborhood, community, urban, regional, and special parks.
To provide every neighborhood with a neighborhood park and every cluster of neighborhoods, commonly known as a
community, with a community park.
To improve Beaumont's aesthetic appearance and thereby enhance the quality of life of its citizens by encouraging the
development of green belts, the development and use of " environmentally sensitive" park planning principles, and
adequately supporting park beautification and maintenance efforts.
To preserve environmentally and aesthetically significant natural resource areas, with special emphasis given to water
bodies, wetlands, and flood plains.
To create jogging trails, hiking paths, nature trails, and bike paths in a manner that supports development of a linear park
system linking centers of urban and recreational activities with residential areas.
Provide the public with more water -oriented recreational opportunities, particularly along the Neches River and
Hillebrandt Bayou.
Insure the provision of a system of balanced recreational facilities and services that also meets the special needs of the
City's elderly, physically challenged, and economically dis-advantaged population.
Develop and implement a planned and scheduled maintenance system for the parks, recreational, and open space system.
Utilize existing park land resources at maximum efficiency.
Cooperate with other governmental units/agencies and private entities such as BISD or other school districts, the YMCA,
YWCA, Lamar University, state and federal agencies, and other recreational providers in increasing available open
space areas and recreational opportunities for the general public.
Identify and aggressively pursue additional sources of park and recreational program funding.
OBJECTIVES - General
To acquire land for new park sites in advance of the development of future residential areas.
Wherever possible, acquire land to upgrade existing parks which do not meet acreage standards.
Identify and utilize potential open space corridors along area waterways, drainage ditches, and irrigation canals as linear
parks and conservation areas.
Capitalize upon the urban design and beautification value of natural areas within the city.
Continue development of Riverfront Park and explore possibilities of other recreational usage and conservation efforts
alofig the Neches River and Hillebrandt Bayou corridors.
Use maintenance personnel and equipment as efficiently as possible.
Develop. and implement a city-wide tree planting and maintenance program for public properties as a long term effort
for creating and maintaining an urban forest for improving the environmental and aesthetic quality of life of the
rlormn*ty.
OBJECTIVES - Intermediate -Term (6 to 10 vears)
Acquire sites and/or develop master site plans at a minimum rate of one per year.
Open two new neighborhood parks.
Develop at least one new community park.
Complete at least one element of any unfinished phase of an existing park per year.
Do at least one complete or partial park renovation / rehabilitation project per year.
Dismantle and re -locate at least one existing park site having either a service area or a locational deficiency or both.
Jointly develop or initiate joint operations for two parks with BISD or other such agency:
OBJECTIVES - Suecific Short -Term Priorities (I to 5 vears)
Develop at least one "new" community park.
Jointly develop or initiate joint operations of one park with BISD or other such agency.
Re -locate at least one park having service area or locational deficiencies.
Continue development of at least one project that involves an unfinished phase of an existing park beginning with
Municipal Athletic Complex.
Do at least one renovation /rehabilitation project.
Create one or, if funds become available, possibly two "new" neighborhood parks.
Develop an Activity Center for south Beaumont.
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Implementation of this Plan will be based on the following policies:
Parks should be located and developed in accordance with the functional classification and standards system established
in this Plan.
Specific park improvements shall be based on an approved overall master development / re -development plan created
specifically for each park.
The City will emphasize neighborhood parks as the central element of the City's park system and will use its
Neighborhood Planning Process to ensure that local neighborhood organizations, residents, and users of neighborhood
parks shall be involved in all decisions regarding neighborhood park development / redevelopment efforts.
Special facilities for the physically impaired shall be provided through out the park system.
Public involvement of residents, business interests, neighborhood organizations, and park users are considered a
principle element in the City's ongoing parks, recreation, and open space planning and development process.
Where appropriate, parks and open space areas shall be planned for possible use as a buffer between conflicting or
incompatible land uses. Landscaped buffers shall, where feasible, be provided between residential and commercial or
industrial uses and between single-family and multi -family residential developments.
Cooperation and joint utilization between school and special purpose district facilities and City facilities shall be
encouraged in the planning and provision of parks and recreational facilities and open space areas.
Whenever possible, parks shall be tied together and linked through a series of open space, multi -purpose green belt
re-ITIMI tl=
Recreational and pedestrian / bicycle paths shall, where appropriate, be designed and developed in conjunction with
drainage corridors and other water bodies in order to create a linear parks network.
In appropriate situations, cluster and planned unit developments shall be encouraged in order to provide or preserve
natural areas and open spaces.
The private donation of land to the City for parks, recreational, and open space usage is encouraged; however such land
will not be accepted for dedication unless the site and its location is useable and in accordance with the provisions of the
Comprehensive Plan.
The Pine Island Bayou flood plain area should remain "primarily" as undeveloped open space, however, some limited
recreational functions may be approved where deemed uniquely appropriate.
"Recycling" of abandoned school sites and other public sites or facilities for recreational purposes will be encouraged.
State and federal funding assistance, private sector grants, and material and labor donations shall be pursued in order
to increase the City's capabilities to acquire, develop, and maintain the parks system.
Although the city is committed to providing quality and up to date recreational facilities and equipment to all areas of
the City, the provision of park and recreational services to those who have none generally takes priority over the
replacement of already existing facilities.
Deficiencies evident in the existing parks system were determined based on the initial inventory and analysis of the parks system
conducted in the preliminary phase of the planning process. The existing conditions of the park system were then compared to
standards (See Appendix C) to identify service area, locational, site size, and facility deficiencies. Table Ion page 10 identifies
these deficiencies for all parks in the Beaumont parks system.
Service Area Problems
When talking about the service area of a park, reference is being made to the specific area being served within a given distance
of that park For example, a neighborhood park is generally stated to specially serve those citizens living within a half mile radius
of the park; thus the park has a service area of a half mile radius of its site. Beaurnont's park service area standards, by applicable
park classification, are provided on the fold -out map accompanying this document and in Appendix C. A "service area
deficiency" occurs when an area is not served by any park or when a barrier prohibits or severely restricts citizen's access to a
park. Another type of service area problem occurs when parks are too close to one another and therefore have overlapping service
Areas. This overlapping of service areas results in a redundancy in the provision of services in the overlapped areas, Such
inefficient use of resources needs to be corrected as soon and as best is possible. See Figures A-1 and A-2 in Appendix A for
service area coverage in Beaumont.
Service area problems can be corrected by the following types of action:
* by -the provision of new parks',
* by the re -location of an existing park;
* by correcting access problems which limit citizens use of a park; or
* by the re-classification of a park to place it in another service area classification.
Actions taken to correct the problem of service area overlapping may, in many cases, also correct for the lack of facilities in an
area. By moving a park whose service area overlaps the service area of another park, the re -location can result in the extension
of park and recreational opportunities to areas not previously served.
Briefly, the City's current situation regarding service area problems may be summarized as follows:.
On the western side of the City the problem is a lack of neighborhood and community parks while on the eastern
side of the City the problem is both the lack of parks in some areas and a significant degree of service area
overlapping in others. For the short-term, development of new 12arks should be emphasized on the west side of the
ci1y while the re -location and rehabilitation of existing parks should be the emphasis in the eastern portions of the Ci
(See Figures A- I and A-2 in Appendix A).
Locational Problems
A park may have one or more of a wide range of locational problems which may limit the quality, safety, and enjoyment of the
park. These locational problems include limited accessibility, poor environmental factors such as excessive noise, pollution, or
poor natural resources, and poor safety factors such as nearness to traffic, power lines, and other hazards. Such problems are
difficult to correct once a park has been developed; furthermore, the scarcity of land for park development often creates a necessity
to choose between a park with locational problems or no park at all. Short of re -locating parks, various planning actions and site
design improvements can be implemented to overcome some of the ill effects of locational problems; for example, fencing or
screening can be utilized to reduce safety, noise, and aesthetic problems. The removal of overhead power lines is another example.
According to established City standards, neighborhood parks should be located near the center of a neighborhood, preferably on
a local strect or, if necessary, on a collector street and ideally next to an elementary school. Unfortunately, several existing
Beaumont neighborhood parks are located on the periphery of their neighborhood; a location which does not allow them
to serve their neighborhoods as effectively as desired.
Site Size and Configuration Deficiencies
Park sites need to conform to site size standards as closely as possible in order to effectively serve the population within the service
area, to meet park open space standards, and also to allow for any possible future expansion of facilities within the park. For
Beaumont, one of the most common park site deficiencies, particularly for neighborhood parks, Is that of substandard
acreage. This is due, in large part, to the fact that most of the older, intercity parks were acquired and developed before the
current standards were adopted. To correct a park acreage deficiency, the following five possible courses of action might be
taken.
I ) Acquisition of additional adjacent land to increase total park acreage.
2) Acquisition of a standard size replacement site within the service area of the substandard park.
3) Make design and facility improvements to maximize the recreational utility of the substandard site.
4) Provision of additional special parks within the substandard parks' service area.
5) Utilization of alternate sites for recreation, such as school grounds.
Ideally, the first two actions would be the preferred method of correcting site size deficiencies; however, due to the realities of
financing and land availability, the last three approaches are apt to be more workable, especially in fully developed areas where
vacant land is prohibitively expensive or simply non-existent.
Deficiencies in Facilities and Recreational Opportunities
Overall, the Beaumont parks system provides for a wide variety of facilities for organized sports and active types of
recreation. However, the system has less opportunities for the more passive types of recreational activities which
Individuals can do by themselves. Also, some of the newer recreational activities which are gaining popularity are not provided
for. Specific areas of deficiency include the following:
Roller Blade Arena: Participants in this increasingly popular recreational activity currently use city or private streets,
sidewalks, and parking facilities. Such facilities are sometimes potentially dangerous when used for roller blading
because of the condition of the facilities or the other activities occurring there. Conflicts between roller bladers and
other citizens and damage to property can also result. The provision of a safe, specially designed facility for this type
of recreational activity should be considered. Such a facility would likely draw participants from outside the city and
therefore would be appropriate only for a regional or special park.
Playgrounds: Some parks have playground equipment which are not up to the present safety standards of the recreation
industry or are antiquated and have served far past their useful lives. An example would be playground equipment in
need of substantial upgrading in order to remove the unacceptable safety conditions associated with the materials used
or design of the facility. Such facilities should be replaced as soon as possible. There are also many playgrounds which
are far too spread out to manage or maintain effectively, while others are poorly located on the park site. This can make
accessibility difficult and can also preclude effective parental and public observation or supervision. Playgrounds should
be reconfigured with equipment in play scape arrangements that groups the equipment in a more unified manner.
Recreational Fishing: Although there are numerous bodies of water in the vicinity of Beaumont, there are no established
recreational land based fishing facilities or programs offered by the City. Many area water bodies and water ways are
ideally suited for the development of recreational fishing, including Hillebrandt Bayou and the LNVA canals. (See picture
next page.)
Aquatics Center: The city, and region lacks a quality, state-of-the-art aquatics center. Such a center needs to consist
of a diving well, a wading pool, a main pool marked with swimming lanes, and the necessary support facilities, such as
dressing rooms and offices. The facility should be designed to draw from and benefit the whole metro region.
Swimming Pools: A third city swimming pool has been considered for many years but never built. The southwest part
of the city has usually been and still is considered as a potential site, however a west side site might also be considered.
Deficiencies in the Open Space Network
Based on a park's classification, this Plan establishes minimum desirable percentages of a park's total land area that should be set
aside for undeveloped natural or developed and landscaped open space areas. The percentage of total park acreage so reserved
may however depend upon the uniqueness of a parles location or resources, Desired percentages of open space by type of park
are provided in the legend of the fold -out map and in Table C- I of Appendix C.
Generally, open space is thought of as undeveloped or vacant land, i.e., land not used for urban purposes such as buildings or
structures. 'In the context of this Plan, open space is that and more. Actually, the term open space should be considered as
including any land, water, and air space that is perceived as a void or seam between and which acts to completely or partially
physically separate urban uses or human activities.
Open space areas can be of varying configurations and sizes, They can be single parcels or a linear configuration of parcels;
connected or not'eonnected. A long narrow parcel or a string of parcels is often referred to as an open space corridor. Such
corridors can serve multiple functions including visual and sound buffering between incompatible land uses, providing reduced
,flood hazards byrnaintaining the undeveloped and unobstructed character of natural drainage ways, and providing recreational
opportunities that are adaptable to or require a linear site configuration. It is important to note that recreation is often a secondary
consideration tothe environmental conservation and buffering functions of open space corridors. Because of their configuration,
recreation facilities in these corridors are commonly nature or pedestrian trails and bicycle paths. When possible, corridors with
bike and pedestrian trails should be used to link parks to other parks, schools, or residential areas thus forming a linear park system
or open space network.
There are resources in Beaumont which could be utilized for the development of a linear park system which would
provide increased open space and recreational opportunities within the city. The banks of natural streams or man-made
canals are excellent locations for open space corridors. Utility rights of way; wooded areas, and drainage ways may also provide
greenbelt corridor sites for linking the open space areas into a continuous network, However, usage of pipeline and power line
tights of way should be carefully evaluated for safety considerations. City parks and private recreational open space areas such
as golf courses and driving ranges fort► a major component of the network. Other open space is added in the form of the grounds
of institutions such as universities, public schools and hospitals, and open space associated with high rise structures, office parks
and industrial parks. Private open space areas required in cluster housing projects and planned unit developments should be
worked into the open space network. Rear yards of residential lots backing on arterial streets can also contribute to the net effect
as evidenced by the green belt effect that has occurred along portions of Phelan Boulevard in west Beaumont, Open space areas
such as the one below can provide recreational opportunities such as land or pier based fishing.
Hillebrandt Bayou near the entrance to Tyrrell Park.
[a
Table 1: Deficiencies in the Existing Parks System
Park Name
(Classifwation)
Service
Area
Problem
Locational
Problem
Site Size
Deficiency
Facility
Deficiency
Remarks
Alice Keith (C)
Yes
Yes
Athletic Complex (U)
Babe Zaharias JLJ)
Yes
Caldwood (K)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Central (U)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Chaison OD
Yes
Yes
Yes
Collier's Fe ny (S)
Combest (N)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Cottonwood (N)
Yes
Yes
---------------
Delia HarringLon (S)
Fair Park (S)
Leased to private gro p
Fletcher OD
Yes
Yes
Relocate or expand.
Forest (N)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Gilbert (N)
Yes
Guseman (N)
Yes
Yes
Halbouty
Ida Reed
Yes
Yes
Yes
Jacobs Street (LD
Yes
Yes
Klein (C).
Lefler C)
Liberia (N)
Yes
Yes
Magnolia (C)
Yes
McLean aD
-
-
Yes
Yes
Perlstein (N)
Relocated to Amelia area
Pine Street (N)
Yes
Yes
Pi kin (N)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Partial relocation
Riverfront (S)
Expansion
Roberts
Yes
Yes
Rovers (C)
Sprott (C)
Yes
Tyrrell (R)
Weiss (S)
Wuthering Heights (S)
Not served by any park or a barrier prohibits or restricts access to park,
Accessability limited, poor environmental factors such as excessive noise, air/water pollution, or safety hazards.
Below acreage standards or site configuration restricts use of park.
Includes both facilities and recreational equipment.
Note: Haynes, Hebert, and Oakland/Maple Park were removed from the parks inventory in 1997.
11
I F1 li'lli I I 'I
Current Rehabilitation Needs
Rehabilitation of existing parks and recreational facilities and the adaptive re -use of commercial and industrial structures and sites
or any other facilities for recreational uses are important because they can significantly contribute to the City's urban and intercity
neighborhood rehabilitation effects. City funds spent in a coordinated manner for housing and recreational rehabilitation can have
a greater beneficial impact on a neighborhood than if these activities were carried out separately and without any consideration
of the positive and negative impacts such activities might have on the other. Also rehabilitation, by its very nature of involving
older facilities, generally affects lower income populations-, populations which also are often composed of minority and elderly
persons, Therefore, rehabilitation of neighborhoods usually involves improved recreational services / facilities for those
populations least likely to be able to afford or have access to such services / facilities.
The advisability of remodeling, rehabilitating, or developing new facilities varies with geographic location, age and size of the
existing facility, and its extent of deterioration. Development of new parks in older fully developed neighborhoods is generally
not feasible due to the lack of appropriate vacant sites. Exceptions are the "adaptive reuse" potential of unused public• and
commercial or industrial facilities. A promising approach to improving recreational opportunities in older, densely developed
areas involve the rehabilitation of old, unused school sites and facilitiesfor parks and recreational use. Current potential vacant
school sites include: Edwards, Giles, Tyrrell Park, Dick Dowling, and Charlton -Pollard High.
Potential Parks and Open Space Rehabilitation Projects
Rehabilitation of an existing park may encompass the replacement of obsolete or severely deteriorated equipment, structural
rehabilitation of activity buildings and shelters, upgrading of dirt and hard -surface play areas, repair of damaged sidewalks and
pool aprons, replacement of deteriorated, substandard swimming and wading pools, and landscaping of park and building grounds.
The following parks and open space areas are potential locations for intermediate term rehabilitation p
Alice Keith Park: Rehabilitation of the park grounds and some facilities are needed at this site.
McLean Park: This park might be re -designed as a more passive recreational facility in order to reflect the recently
expressed desires of the neighborhood. The current recreational equipment could be moved to another site in the area.
Riverfront Park 1, 11: Damage to Riverfront Park has resulted in a need of a variety of rehabilitation efforts.
Tyrrell Park: The recreation center, golf course club house, and parking lot all need renovating and up dating.
Potential "Adaptive Re -Use" Projects.
The following parks and open space areas are potential locations for intermediate term adaptive re -use projects.
Edwards Elementary School Site: This potential neighborhood park site, located to the west of Detroit street between
Fillmore and Wilson streets, has been reduced fmm approximately 10 acres to 2.57 acres in size to permit construction
ofa subdivision of City built homes. Access to and public visibility of the site was excellent but this not the case now.
Although the site has been on the parks plan for many years, as a neighborhood park site, it can now only be
considered as a potential site for a mini park or a neighborhood park with significant restrictions on the types of
facilities that can be provided.
Tyrrell Park School Site: This vacant building and its adjacent large acreage playground is accessible from two streets
and is located in a neighborhood composed of large lot residential uses. As this residential area develops overtime, the
need for a neighborhood park will increase. The nearby Tyrrell Park is a regional park and therefore does not serve the
area very well as a neighborhood facility. Although not ideally located within the neighborhood, this site maybe useful
for a neighborhood park or as a swap for land in a more appropriate location.
Is
New Park and Park Expansion Needs
That area of the city which is generally north of Delaware Street and east of Eastex Freeway is deficient in parks and recreational
facilities and in open space areas. Currently, there is a minimum need of one neighborhood park for the area, however, two would
be better. Anew park will be needed to replace a previously leased but now closed site known as Haynes Park. The following
areas are potential INations for intermediate term new or eNpansion projects.
Bigner Road: A location along or in the vicinity of Bigner Road north of East Lucas and south of Bennett Road would
provide a good replacement site for Haynes Neighborhood Park.
Site Near Magnolia Gardens Housing Project: There are several potential park sites near Gill Street and Magnolia
Gardens Housing Project which might be used for the development of a new neighborhood park. A site with frontage
on Magnolia would be desirable because of the greater public visibility and improved accessibly that could be provided
by such a site.
Barrett / Savery Road Area
Piney Point Lane / Sherwood Street Area
Plant Rd. Area East of Helbig '
For the central city area, i.e., within IH-10 and Cardinal Drive (Loop 251) there is a significant need for re -locating existing parks
but a lesser need for developing new parks. The following areas are potential locations for intermediate term new or expansion
projects.
Bingman School: Approximately one-half of this school site, located on the comer of Florida and S. Kenneth, is
underutilized and could be jointly used by the City and B.I.S.D. for recreational purposes. Although the site is somewhat
small, this proposal solves the problem of having to acquire expensive developed land.
Dick Dowling Area: This area, which has lost a significant portion of its population and residential structures, is a
potential residential re -development area that, if developed, would contribute significantly to the economic
redevelopment of downtown Beaumont Development of a park as the centerpiece of that re -development effort should
be considered. The park should be designed to serve the specific needs of the re -development efforts and as a re-
placement for Weiss Park which, with the adoption of this Plan, would be re-classified as a special park.
Dolores Street Site: Using the undeveloped right-of-way of Dolores Street between Fannett Road and Washington
Boulevard plus the acquisition of some scattered lots adjacent to that R/W would permit the City to provide a linear park
serving the area west of Fourth'Street between Cardinal Drive and Washington Street, This would permit bike and
pedestrian access to the Price Elementary school and between the two large apartment complexes of Washington Homes
and Virginia Manor.
Fourth Street Acres Site: The area between Washington and Blanchette west of Fourth Street needs a neighborhood
park to serve its current needs. Ideally, the site would be as centrally located as possible.
Riverriont Park M: Continued expansion and development of the downtown river front is desirable. The City should
continue the northward expansion of Riverfront Park and provide for the development of additional access points to the
park and signs identifying it.
Sprott Park.- Additional land near and adjacent to this park might be acquired and additional facilities built to permit
this site to better meet community park standards.
St. Anthony's Church Area: St. Anthony's Church is an important element of Beaumont's past and future and should
be given a more prominent visual presence in the future of downtown Beaumont. Vacant and dilapidated properties
in the vicinity of the church could be used to create an open space or special use park with the church as the focal point
of the park as seen from nearby streets. This proposal could provide downtown with a significant new "People Place"
that would not only improve the looks of downtown, but contribute to the economic re -development of the area.
13
For the western side of Beaumont i.e., west of EastexFreeway and IH-10, the City's parks and recreational facilities are fairly new
with little or no rehabilitation work needed. What is needed are more parks and recreational facilities, particularly in the form
of neighborhood facilities. The following areas are potential locations for ip_termediatot erm new or expansion projects.
Dishman / Delaware Connector Road Area (Neighborhood Park)
Folsom Between Major and Dowlen Roads (Community Park)
Northwest Beaumont (Voth) Area (Community Park)
Boreley Heights (Old Voth Rd. / Hurly Rd.) Area (Neighborhood Park)
Parkdale Mall-Dowlen Rd. / Hwy. 105 Area (Neighborhood Park)
The Meadows Retention Basin (Community Park)
Tram Rd./ West of City Limits (Community Park)
23rd and Cartwright St. Area (Neighborhood Park)
Wooten Rd. / Shady Ln. Area (Neighborhood Park)
Walden Rd. / Major Dr. Area / Dishman Elementary Area (Community Park)
Re -location / Re-classification Needs
Charlton -Pollard Area: That portion of Pil2kin Park located west of Pennsylvania Avenue is poorly used and should
be re -located to a more accessible site within the neighborhood. Preferably, the site should be located west of Park
Street and south of Langham Street.
Fletcher Park: Fletcher Park either needs to be moved to anew location adjacent to or as apart of Fletcher Elementary
School or the present site expanded or closed. If moved near Fletcher School, the project should be developed as a
neighborhood park and as a joint venture between BISD and the City as BISD expands and remodels the school.
Old Town Area: Because Ida Reed Park does not serve the neighborhood very well in its current location, it could be
re -located to a site more accessible to the residents of the area. With the site bordering 114-10, it could be sold for
commercial / office use and the proceeds used to relocate the park at another location. If McLean Park is redesigned
and redeveloped to emphasize passive recreational activities as indicated in a recent neighborhood survey, a new
neighborhood or community park providing the more active recreational activities might be developed near Smart Street,
possibly in conjunction with the existing recreational facilities of Central High School, Consideration of this option
should only occur in conjunction with the development and adoption of a neighborhood plan for the area.
Weiss Park; This park is no longer needed as a neighborhood park because the residential population has moved from
the area. Because the park is in such a prominent location, consideration should be given to the possibility of re-
designing and re -developing the park as a special park possibly reflecting a commemorative theme based on the
monument located at the center of the site or some other historical aspect of Beaumont's past.
South Park Area: Chaisson Park is poorly located and occupies too small a site to provide the recreational needs
expected from aneighborhood park. Its re-classification as a mini park is suggested Another site, possibly some
portion of the old Giles School site not to be used by anew post office, might be a potential location for neighborhood
park
Open Space Needs
This Plan encourages the development of a linear parks system to provide for increased open space within the City. Not only
would a city wide linear park system make a significant amount of park and recreation space accessible, it could also improve
pedestrian access to the central business district, schools, commercial areas, and places of employment. Such a system could
provide benefits far beyond recreation. It could serve as a catalyst for neighborhood revitalization and sustainable growth. The
following is a discussion of areas in Beaumont which could possibly further contribute to the formation of a linear park system.
14
Significant Natural Resource Areas: Significant natural resource areas, as defined in the context of this Plan are areas which
preserve wildlife and plant habitats, wetlands, natural wooded areas, watercourses or other bodies of water, drainage ways and
watersheds, and water recharge areas. The flood plains of the Neches River and Pine Island and Hillebrandt Bayous should be
recognized as significant natural resources which could provide the basis for an extended parks and open space system.
Protection of these areas from further encroachment would not only provide valuable land for addition to the parks system, but
also may reduce the need for future flood -control or drainage improvements,
Hillebrandt Bayou is a large watercourse located in the southern portion of Beaumont's ETJ which provides habitat for significant
amounts of wildlife as well as attractive vistas of the area. The recreational potential of this watercourse has yet to be exploited.
Crossings of Hillebrandt Bayou at Humble Road and Hillebrandt Road are already beginning to experience a minimal amount
of recreational use such as boating and fishing activities without the existence of developed piers, boat ramps, picnic areas, or
parking spaces. These two areas could become a major provider of water -oriented recreational activities in the region. The
numerous acres of wetlands associated with Hillebrandt Bayou may warrant a conservation easement in the future in order to
protect those natural resources and wildlife,
Drainage ways and Irrigation Canals: Beaumont is criss-crossed with major drainage ways and irrigation canals. These open
space corridors provide opportunities for linear park or "greenbelt" development, which can include hike and bike paths, jogging
paths, landscaped pssive recreation areas, or ran save simply as visually interesting buffers between land uses. Full exploitation
of dim existing open -space corridors will require cooperation between the City, Drainage District No. 6 and the Lower Neches
'Valley River Authority. Any use of these corridors should be designed in such away to minimize safety hazards to potential users
and should not interfere with the primary functions of the drainage and irrigation facilities. Furthermore, the general lack of parks
in the west side of town further emphasizes the importance of keeping canals and drainage ditches in mind when choosing the
location of new parks. These canals could possibly accommodate water -oriented recreational activities such as un-motorized
boating, rowing, or canoeing.
Transportation and Utility R.OX's and Easements: Transportation and utility rights -of -way and casements can serve as
pedestrian and bikeway corridors between residential areas and commercial areas, park and recreational facilities, and natural
resource areas. They also provide valuable geeri, or open space areas for people living and working in urbanized areas since road
righL"f-way often contain landscaped green spaces, especially along thoroughfares Re Phelan Boulevard. Larger open spaces
exist among the IH - 10 W Eastex Freeway tights -of -way. M.L.K. Parkway has also provided a great deal of new landscaped
open space for the older intercity area of Beaumont.
Beaumont also has a significant amount of railroad rights -of -way which cover every area of town and have a great potential for
connecting residential, commercial, recreational and open space areas, Perhaps abandoned railroad rights -of -way could be
utilized as connector trails in the east side of the city where canals and drainage ditches are scarce. Close cooperation with the
railroad companies would be required to accomplish this.
Retention Ponds: Located west of Dowlen Road and surrounding the unimproved Folsom Road right-of-way is a new water
retention basin which is under construction and will, when completed, provide a significant amount of permanent open green
space. This area could however be adapted to a recreational use and is a prime location for a future community park. In fact,
a portion of this area is being developed as a golf course. Another benefit to this site are the many drainage ways in the immediate
vicinity which could accommodate connector trails. Another retention facility which has recently been completed is the Meadows
facility south of Dishman Road. This facility has been developed with soccer fields but still has sufficient land to provide for a
neighborhood or community park.
15
Table 2: Method of Needs Assessment Used for the Identification of Potential Projects
Short and Intermediate Tenn Potential
Pro 1ects
Standard
Based
Resource
Based
Demand
Based
Alice Keith Renovations
x
x
Athletic Complex Improvements
x
x
Bigner Road Park
x
Bingman School Site
x
x
Boreley Heights Area Park
x
Carroll Street Park, Relocation
x
x
Collier's Ferry Park Continued Dev,
x
Dolores Street Park
x
x
x
Edwards School Site Park
x
x
Fletcher Park Relocation
x
x
x
Fourth Street Acres Site
x
Oil] St./Magnolia Gardens Area Park
x
Ids Reed Park Relocation
x
Lefler Park Expansion
x
McLean Park Redevelopment
x
Parks Maintenance Facility
x
Perlstein Park
x
x
x
Pipkin Park Relocation
x
Riverfrdnt Park Expansion & Renovation
x
x
South End Activity Center
x
x
Sprott Park Expansion
x
x
Tyrrell Park Renovations
X,
Walden Rd./Major Dr. Community Park
x
x
Weiss Park Redevelopment
x
=Wooten:Rd:/ShaL Ln, Area Park
x
0
This plan contains a Five -Year "Action Plan" composed of "prioritized objectives" which are intended to provide guidance in preparation
of the City's Five -Year Capital Improvements Plan (CIP). Those prioritized objectives may, however, change over time because of funds
availability, work scheduling or coordination problems, development delays and other unforeseen difficulties. The City's "Capital
Improvements "Program" implements those specific short-term "projects" which the City has determined, through the public hearing
process, that it has the resources and public support to implement during the five years covered by the CIP. The list of specific, non -
prioritized projects identified below as "potential short and intermediate term projects" are generally intended to be the source of projects
to be included in Ram annual updates to the CIP. Any specific fisted project can be used to implement a specifically listed and prioritized
objective of the Five -Year Plan,
CURRENT 2000 -2004 CIP PARKS SYSTEM PROJECTS - City of Beaumont
2000 Projects -Design / Construction Phase
Estimated Cost
Athletic Complex (3 lighted softball fields)
$
1,350,000
Amelia Neighborhood Park (PerlsteQ***
$
NIA i
Carroll Street Park (Relocation) * * *
$
250,000
Neches River Hike and Bike Trail
$
600,000'
Parks Maintenance Facility
$
650,000
Renovate Wading Pools
$ .
132,000
POTENTIAL SHORT-TERM (1-5 years) AND INTERMEDIATE -TERM (41 -10 years) PROJECTS
(Non -Prioritized)
Estimated
Cost
Athletic Complex
N/A
Bigner Road Park
N/A
Bingman School Site (Development)
N/A
Boreley Heights Area Park
N/A
Collier's Ferry Park
N/A
Dolores Street Park
N/A
Edwards School Site Park
NIA
Fletcher Park (Relocation)"
N/A
Fourth Street Acres Site*
N/A
Gill St./Magnolia Gardens Area Park
N/A
Ida Reed Park (Relocation)
N/A
Lefler Park (basketball et. & parking lot) 110,000
Estimated Cost
McLean Park (Re -development)
N/A
Pipkin Park (Relocation)
N/A
Riverfront Park Phase 3 *
N/A
Riverfront Park (Renovations)
N/A
South End Activity Center
2,000,000
Sprott Park Expansion *
N/A
The Meadows Soccer Complex (parking lot) 250,000
Tyrrell Park Golf Course Parking Lot
150,000
Tyrrell Park (Renovations)
N/A
Walden Road (Dishman)Conununity Park ** N/A
Weiss Park (Re -development) NIA
Wooten Rd] Shady Ln. Area Park * . N/A
Note: Projects shown with an estimated cost are considered as having reached the project planning phase.
Acquisition Acquisition and Development Development **** Continued Development
I.Funded as a transportation project. Total project cost estimated at $3,000,000.
17