CHAPTER 14 - Design and Construction Standards for Recreational Facilities

14.01 Introduction
14.02 Neighborhood Park Standards
14.03 Improvement Standards and Specifications
14.04 Maintenance Standards

14.01 INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this section is to establish criteria and guidelines for the development of neighborhood parks within future developments. This section is designed to assist developers, planners, and engineers in the location, shape, access, linkage, grading and seeding of parklands to be dedicated for park purposes.

14.02 NEIGHBORHOOD PARK STANDARDS

1. Size – The size of a neighborhood park site shall be appropriate to the leisure and recreational needs of the service population and shall be consistent with required donations. The following illustrates the amount of land area generally required for a neighborhood park:
   
   Neighborhood Park – Minimum 7 acres
    
2. Shape – Generally park sites should be rectangular or nearly rectangular in shape.
    
3. Location – Whenever possible, park sites should be located near the geographic center of the service areas. In areas where park sites and/or school sites already exist or have been previously planned, the proposed park donation shall be located adjacent to or provide appropriate linkage with the existing sites. The following plan shall be adhered to in determining the location(s) of park sites:
   
   “Town of Normal Comprehensive Plan”
    
4. Access – Access to park sites shall be provided for convenient pedestrian and vehicular ingress and egress as well as for visual identity. A minimum of 300 feet of street frontage will be required, measured along the curb. Any access way shall be improved with a hard surfaced walkway 1.2 meters (4 feet) in width, constructed in accordance with Chapter of this Manual. The number of accesses will vary with the location and type of park site and its relationship to surrounding land uses. Frontage along a major arterial road may be counted as an access point when sidewalks along that major arterial are present. All access to park sites shall meet current American with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.
    
5. Linkage – The linkage of proposed parks with existing parks or with other desirable land uses (i.e. schools, convenience commercial areas, cultural or institutional centers) shall be encouraged.
    
6. Grading – The proposed grading of a park site shall be suitable for park purposes and shall not differ greatly from that of surrounding land uses. Grades less than 2% or more than 10% will not be acceptable. Exceptions to this may be granted if the developer can show an acceptable secondary use for the grading. Examples are earth berming for visual buffer or aesthetic interest, a sled hill or toboggan run, backstop for special activities, amphitheater, etc.
    
7. Vegetation – Land donated for park purposes shall be planned and designed to minimize impact to vegetation of ecological or aesthetic value. Existing vegetation of value shall be adequately identified and protected from damage during the construction process. The Town shall be given the right to remove/salvage from an area proposed for cleaning any desirable plant materials for which the developer has no intended use.
    
8. Erosion Control – The developer will be responsible for controlling erosion in accordance with Chapter 13 of this Manual on the park sites until final acceptance of improvements by the Town.
    
9. Retention/Detention (if part of a recreational facility)
    
   1. Retention
       
      1. Water Quality Criteria – Water quality criteria adopted by the Illinois Pollution Control Board will be used as the basis for evaluating the quality of ponded water.
      2. Water Quality Maintenance – The developer shall provide plans for aeration, chemical treatment, or other means to ensure water quality standards are maintained.
      3. Pond Design
         1. Slopes from Bank
            1. Top 1 meters (3 ft) of normal pool and the total depth of the required detention volume shall have a 6:1 slope; then 3:1 to bottom.
            2. In areas selected for the planting of aquatic and emerging aquatic vegetation, slope requirements will change with cultural requirements of vegetation type.
         2. Depth – Minimum of 25% of normal water level area is to be 3 to 5 meters (10 – 15 ft) in depth.
         3. Shape – Pond configuration shall be natural in appearance featuring varying slopes running down to shoreline. Shoreline shall undulate at varying degrees around the pond perimeter. Provisions in configuration of pond shall allow for ease in dredging and other maintenance considerations.
         4. Size – No Ponds shall be smaller than one acre.
         5. Bank Stabilization – Protection against erosion and water level fluctuations is required. Stabilization may be provided through the following means:
            1. Complete establishment of perennial ground cover with water tolerant grasses.
            2. Construction of retaining walls.
            3. Use of riprap underlain by gravel placed in the zone to be exposed during seasonal water fluctuations. Minimum zone to be covered is 1 meter (3 ft) above normal water level and 2 meters (6 ft) below the normal water level.
                
         6. Management
            1. Draw down facilities shall be provided to allow for the complete drainage of the lake. Draw down capability is necessary to facilitate fish management and lake cleaning.
            2. Sedimentation – Developer will provide engineering plans estimating probable quantities of sediment coming off the watershed at five-year intervals. Developer will then install sediment traps to handle the aforementioned sediment. A cleaning/dredging plan shall be included. All engineering and installation to be approved by the Town of Normal.
               
               
            Retention basin design shall comply with Chapter 6 of this Manual of Practice.
             
   2. Detention – Detention basin design shall comply with Chapter 6 of this Manual of Practice. The major consideration in the design of a detention basin being proposed for recreational use is its suitability for dual use land – detention and recreation. In order to facilitate review of park areas, the proposed outline of the detention at the approximate high water line shall be illustrated on the preliminary plan. Town-maintained detention basins shall have pipe under drains in accordance with Chapter 6 of this Manual.
       
   3. Park Site Credit – for retention and detention basins, the extent to which the design standards are adhered to will be the basis by which the amount of parkland credit will be determined. A reduced amount of parkland credit may be granted should a proposed park site be deficient in one or more of the above-cited park design standards.

14.03 IMPROVEMENT STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS

The park site shall be improved according to the following standards and specifications (park sites shall be final platted park sites):

1. Utilities – The park site shall be fully improved with water, sanitary sewer, storm sewer and electric service. At the time of installation of public improvements in the subdivision or planned unit development, the developer shall install the above-mentioned utilities for the park site in accordance with the Town approved engineering plans. This work shall be completed prior to the issuance of the first occupancy permit in the subdivision or planned unit development that includes said park site. If the park site has an auxiliary function as a storm water control facility, then the drainage structures shall be installed during rough grading.
    
2. Grading – The park site should be rough graded in a similar manner as adjacent lots. Rough grading should take place at the time of rough grading of adjacent lots for the purpose of building construction, and be completed before occupancy permits are issued within the subdivision or planned unit development. Grading shall be done in accordance with the grading plans prepared in compliance with Chapter 1 of this manual, and approved by the Normal Parks and Recreation Department. Grading shall include the preparation of the subsoil so that it is graded and uniformly compacted so it will be parallel to the proposed finished grade. The sub-grade material shall be loosened and fine graded to a depth of two to four inches, and all stones over four inches in size, sticks, rubbish and other foreign substances shall be removed.
   
   All depressions that may cause future drainage problems shall be filled with acceptable sub-grade material. Positive drainage must be ensured in the directions of swales, or as indicated on a master drainage plan. Finished grades should be uniform of slope between points for which elevations are given, or from such points to existing slopes.
   
   NOTE: The long-term storage of overburden on a park site is prohibited, though temporary storage may be granted in some cases. The Normal Parks and Recreation Department shall determine terms of such temporary storage.
    
3. Topsoil – At the time topsoil is first placed in the subdivision or planned unit development, it shall also be spread on the park site. Topsoil shall be fertile, friable, natural topsoil typical of topsoil free of flooding. It shall be without a mixture of subsoil or slag and shall be free of stones; sticks, rubbish and other extraneous matter, and shall not be delivered or used while in a frozen or muddy condition. Topsoil shall not contain toxic substances that may be harmful to humans or to plant growth. Topsoil shall be spread evenly and lightly compacted to a minimum depth of six inches. Humps or depressions shall be graded and rolled until satisfactory grade is obtained. Completion of fine grading shall be within six months of the completion of rough grading.
    
4. Seeding – Seeding operations should occur during the spring (between March 1 and May 15) or preferably, late summer (August 20 to September 30). The seed mixture shall be a 70% mixture of Kentucky Bluegrass, 20% Perennial Rye Grass (Citation, Manhattan or Penfine) and 10% Chewing Fescue. All seeds shall be certified, 98% purity/80% germination. The seedbed shall be fresh, new crop seed. The method of seeding may be varied at the discretion of the developer as long as a smooth, uniform and stabilized turf is established. The developer shall be required to maintain turf to full establishment.
   
   This work shall occur immediately after the placement of topsoil, fine grading and installation of sidewalks.

14.04 MAINTENANCE STANDARDS

The developer shall maintain the park site until the Normal Parks and Recreation Department have formally accepted the improvements as specified in Section 14.03 of this Manual. Maintenance of the park side shall include:

1. The mowing of the site at least once a month during the spring, summer and fall.
2. The removal of all rubbish and debris.

Until such time as the Town Parks and Recreation Department have accepted a park site, the developer may be held liable for any damages that may occur on such a park site. Upon formal acceptance of the park site improvements by the Parks and Recreation Department, the Parks and Recreation Department will assume maintenance of the park site.

This page last modified 05/14/08.