TITLE: Title
Discussion of Future Development of the Martin Luther King Jr. Park Property
PURPOSE: The purpose of this agenda item is for the Board of Aldermen to revisit the potential development of Martin Luther King Jr. Park scheduled for 2016.
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DEPARTMENT: Recreation and Parks and Planning
CONTACT INFORMATION: Anita Jones-McNair 918-7381, Patricia McGuire 918-7327 and Wendell Rodgers 918-7371
INFORMATION: Funds were approved in FY 2013-14 budget to update the Martin Luther King Jr. master plan. Staff is currently working on a RFQ and is seeking Board comments and direction prior to moving forward.
The idea to update the plan completed in 2004 has been discussed over the course of several years. The current plan was approved by the Board in October 2004. Since the current plan was completed, requests for space to hold art and vendor oriented events have increased and the needs/wishes of the community have evolved. Additionally, changes in population also make the need to update the master plan for the park more pertinent.
The construction was originally slated for 2008-2009. In the 2007-08 CIP it was recommended and adopted to delay the construction until 2010-11 in order to minimize any potential impact or ballooning effect on the potential tax burden due to implementation of the Fire Station and issuance of bonds for sidewalks and greenways. In the 2009-10 CIP it was recommended and adopted to delay the development until 2011-12 for the same reasons. Also in the 2011-12 CIP it was recommended and adopted to delay the construction until 2012-13. The park is currently slated for planning and design in 2016 and construction in 2017.
In 2011 the Board had an opportunity to discuss the park plan which was scheduled at that time to begin construction in 2013. During that meeting the Board provided the following direction to Town staff:
1) Preserve space for the Community Gardens with the unders...
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