HomeMy WebLinkAboutDRB140510_Submittal Narrative Final_1414523340.pdf
October 27, 2014
Jonathan Spence
Town of Vail, Department of Community Development
75 S. Frontage Road
Vail, Colorado 81657
Attn: Planning and Environmental Commission
Re: PEC/DRB Submittal Narrative: Amendment to existing Conditional Use Permit for Ford
Park Improvements (Lower Bench), New Construction DRB Application
Jonathan:
The Gerald R. Ford Park is a highly-visible, well-attended and important asset to the Town of
Vail. As such, it is important that the facility be maintained to meet the needs of its guests while
complementing the beauty of the Vail Valley. Over the past three years, the Town has
completed a series of improvements around the Park, working toward those goals. The Vail
Town Council has allocated funding for improvements to two general areas on the lower bench
of the Park. The improvements generally include reconfiguration of the playground restrooms,
swing set and adjacent plaza.
Presently, the playground restrooms are under-sized, there is minimal seating and picnic areas,
the swing set is awkwardly disconnected from the rest of the playground, the basketball court is
aged and cracked, and the adjacent plaza does not meet current accessibility requirements. As
shown on the attached plans, the following modifications are proposed in order to improve the
facility:
1. Construct a new, larger restroom with an attached, covered picnic area;
2. Relocate the swings to be more near the playground;
3. Reconstruct the basketball court;
4. Reconstruct the plaza and the connections to West Betty Ford Way and the Manor Vail
Bridge so that the entire route meets current accessibility codes and pedestrian traffic
flow is improved; and
5. Add areas of landscaping to complement the Park.
These proposed improvements are consistent with the 2013 Ford Park Management Plan.
Light pollution is anticipated to be minimized as all new site lights at Ford Park are compliant with the town’s full cut-off requirements. Air pollution is assumed not to be changed as a result
of this project. Accessibility to the lower bench of Ford Park will be improved by the adding 2
additional accessible spaces near the amphitheater entrance. A gate system, with audio/visual communication to the Vail Police Department will allow guest with special needs to access the
lower bench accessible parking.
Town of Vail Page 2
We appreciate PEC’s support of this project. Please let us know if any further information is
required.
Sincerely,
Todd Oppenheimer, Capital Project Manager
Town of Vail
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