Kennesaw New Park Should Increase Property Values

If you live in Kennesaw and like to walk, jog or skate, you are as anxious as I am for the new Swift-Cantrell Park to open this coming spring! Although new signs state it will be open soon, construction has not started yet on this large field with rolling terrain and mature trees.

Soon, however, according to the master plan, Phase 1 will begin and the park will include:
walking trails
a pond with a fountain
parking areas
picnic shelters with restrooms

Future long-term plans include:
a dog park,
plaza for gatherings
band shell with large open seating grassy area
a 75,000 sq. ft. acquatic center with indoor-ourdoor pools
a 35,000 sq. ft. recreation center for basketball and other indoor sports
frisbee golf
a 25,000 sq. ft. performing arts center
skate park
4 tennis courts
sandcourt volleyball
a woodland picnic area
adult softball field
soccer field

Here are comments from the final plans from the city's web pages:

MASTER PLAN ELEMENTS

Entrance and Internal Drives

Two entrances will allow access to the park from Old Highway 41. The eastern entrance takes advantage of the existing driveway and mature hardwood trees lining that drive. Care must be taken in aligning this entrance to leave the root systems of the trees undisturbed. The eastern entrance is to be the main entrance, as it leads directly to the Entry Plaza (see below) and views across the Central Lawn. This is to be the only entrance built in phase 1. The western entrance joins Old Highway 41 across from the Heidleburg Road intersection. This entrance will serve as the primary entrance to the Performing Arts Center, when and if it is built.

Traffic control at the Old Highway 41 entrances must be addressed in the next design phase. We highly recommend a traffic study to determine the most suitable traffic control measures. At the minimum, turn lanes, for both right and left turns, will be needed at both entrances. It is possible that one of these entrances may warrant a traffic signal. This should be addressed by a traffic study prior to the construction document phase. If the traffic study concludes that only one entrance is required, that entrance can be located across from the Rutledge Road intersection.

The internal drives are all asphalt, and connect the two entrances to the parking lots and other park elements. In addition to the asphalt drives, there are two minor access routs that are composed of a reinforced grass surface (shown as 'Grasspave' on Master Plan). These routes serve for fire truck access around the Recreation Center and for occasional vehicular access to the Amphitheater. These routes, which will appear to the eye to simply be lawn areas, are not to be considered primary circulation routes.

Recreation Center

The roughly 35,000 sq ft Recreation Center is located on the slopes north of the prominent east west ridge. This two-story Recreation Center will house two indoor gymnasiums, with full court and cross-court basketball courts; a mezzanine level indoor track; activity rooms; classrooms; and locker rooms. 220 parking spaces have been provided for the Recreation Center.

The location of the Recreation Center at the eastern edge of the property near the elementary school was due in part to the relatively high levels of activity anticipated at the center. It was deemed important to keep the Recreation Center back from the residential neighbors to minimize the chance of noise and light disturbance.

Performing Arts Center

This 25,000 sq ft building will house a theater, as well as studio and classroom space, practice rooms, craft areas, meeting rooms, offices, and storage facilities. The Performing Arts Center is anticipated to have far less activity associated with it than the Recreation Center. Even so, care must be taken to locate the building far enough from the western property line to allow for a substantial vegetated buffer. It is also important that the parking lot be located on the east side of the building as shown on the Master Plan, to avoid light spilling onto neighboring residences. 160 parking spaces have been allocated for the Performing Arts Center, with room for approximately 300 more cars if lawn areas are used for overflow parking.

Aquatic Center

The 75,000 sq ft Aquatic Center is located on the gentle slopes on the southeast corner of the site. It will be highly visible from Old Highway 41, and should serve to draw people into the park. This Aquatic Center will have both indoor and outdoor facilities. The outside area will be oriented to casual and family recreation, with a zero-entry pool, lap-lane area (3 lanes), and water slide. The whole Aquatic Center will be fenced with an ornamental fencing, and outdoor areas will be lighted for evening use.

The indoor areas (approximately 35,000 sq ft) will house swim competition facilities, with an Olympic sized pool, spectator stands to hold approximately 750 people, locker rooms, and concession area. 176 parking spaces have been allocated for the Aquatic Center. When large swim meets or other events are scheduled at the Aquatic Center, other activities at the park can be limited in order to free up most of the parking on site for Aquatic Center visitors, which, combined with overflow on the lawn areas, could allow up to 900 spaces for the Aquatic Center.

Maintenance Complex

Located at the eastern edge of the property, on the flat ridge top, is the Maintenance Complex. The Complex will consist of a 1,200 sq ft maintenance building and 7,200 sq ft fenced maintenance yard/parking lot which will provide adequate parking for maintenance vehicles and storage of moderate amounts of materials. Screening will be necessary between the Maintenance Complex and the Tennis Courts.

Entry/Festival Plaza

Centered at the end of the main entry drive, this plaza provides a focal and gathering point for visitors to the park. At 15,000 sq ft, the plaza is large enough to provide a setting for small festivals or markets. The plaza will not be lighted, but should have seating (possibly a seat wall at perimeter), and distinctive decorative paving.

The plaza is included in the 1st phase of the park, and sited as it is below the gentle slopes of the Central Lawn, it can function early on as performance space, with spectator seating on the lawn to the north.

Central Lawn

As much a focal point as the Entry Plaza, the Central lawn is a 3.5 acre gently sloping grass lawn that lies just beyond the Plaza in the center of the park. The lawn is to be used as a passive recreation area, perfect for kite flying, sunbathing, picnics, or throwing a Frisbee. Adjacent to the Entry Plaza and Amphitheater, the lawn can also serve as overflow for festivals or fairs on the plaza, or distant seating for the Amphitheater. The Central Lawn is associated with the picnic areas and playgrounds described below.

Picnic Areas

Three picnic areas are included in the Master Plan. The main picnic area is located on the Central Lawn near the Entry Plaza. It has a large group picnic shelter with a restroom as well as several one-table shelters. This picnic area is adjacent to a very large (roughly one acre) playground intended for use by children of all age groups. A second picnic area on the east side of the Central Lawn has several small, one-table, shelters, a free standing restroom, and a small playground. Some of the shelters at this picnic area are placed back in the existing woods north of the inner trail. A third, woodland picnic area, sits on a gentle slope near the north property line at the edge of the existing stand of mixed hardwoods and pines. There are several open air picnic tables here, some in the open field, others tucked into the shade of the stand of trees.

Amphitheater

Located in a natural bowl in roughly the center of the park is to be an informal Amphitheater. The stage/bandshell called for in the Master Plan would be a prefabricated structure that would double as a picnic shelter. The front of the seating area should have three to four rows of low, backless stone or concrete benches built into the slope. Beyond the front benches, seating would be on the smooth, graded lawn that rises up the bowl and merges with the Central Lawn. Total seating capacity could cover the majority of the Central Lawn, 3,000-5,000 people. Parking for this many visitors would be off site. Spectators should be expected to use restroom facilities at the two picnic/playground areas at the edges of the central lawn, and for large events portable toilets may be needed.

Multi-Use Trail

The Master Plan Includes a 12' wide asphalt trails for pedestrians and bicyclists that, combined with the concrete sidewalks that lie at the edges of the parking lots, connects all the recreation elements in the park. The 1.5 mile trail exists in roughly two loops: the outer loop that runs at the perimeter of the park, and the inner loop that circles the Central Lawn and Amphitheater. Some parts of the inner loop exist as concrete sidewalk at the edge of parking lots rather than 12' asphalt. This trail is well shaded as it passes through several of the vegetated buffer areas, as well as the two acre stand of preserved forest in the northeast corner. It also crosses a short bridge over the proposed stormwater pond just to the east of this stand of forest. The Master Plan calls for lighting this trail for night use with medium height post lights approximately every 150'. At intervals along the trail will be exercise stations and benches.

There was interest expressed by members of both the public and Steering Committee in exploring the possibility of a softer or more resilient trail surface. Maintenance needs and budget restrictions should be carefully considered during the design phase if a surface other than asphalt is to be used.

Tennis Courts

A battery of four Tennis Courts is to be located between the Recreation Center and the Aquatic Center. These will be asphalt surfaced, fenced as a unit, and lighted with low overspill sports lighting. The nearby parking lot for the Recreation Center will serve the Tennis Courts.

Volleyball Courts

Two sand lot Volleyball Courts have been included in the Master Plan. These are located at the front of the park near the proposed Skate Park. The 40 space parking lot that server the front Picnic Shelter and Playground will provide parking for the Volleyball Courts.

Skate Park

During the planning process there was much public support for a Skate Park. The optimal park would be the in-ground concrete bowl type. This type of Skate Park is preferred by skaters over the cheaper, though arguably more dangerous, modular component built Skate Parks. The target size is 12,000-15,000 sq ft. There were several local groups who volunteered to assist the City in developing a funding campaign for this element. The Skate Park is adjacent to the 40-space front parking lot and close to the restroom in the large picnic shelter near the Entry Plaza.

Dog Park

Located west of the amphitheater will be a 2 acre Dog Park. This Dog Park, which drew much support from the public, is to be a fenced area where dog owners can play with their dogs off leash. Within the park should be a small, separately fenced area for small dogs to play. The area shown on the Master Plan for the Dog Park includes one of the wooded agricultural terraces. When grading the site, efforts should be made to preserve the mature trees along this terrace in order to provide shade and a more interesting, attractive play area for the dogs and their owners.

High use areas of the Dog Park will need to be surfaced with a deep layer of wood chips, while peripheral areas will be able to support turf. Benches, trash receptacles, and water fountains for both humans and dogs should be provided.

Disk Golf

Located north of the dog park is an area of moderate slopes that will make an excellent location for a Disk (Frisbee) Golf Course. Disk golf is a game based on the rules of golf, but instead of hitting balls, players throw small flying disks (similar to the classic Frisbee) at targets, usually metal baskets. The typical Disk Golf Course consists of little more than either 9 or 18 baskets on posts, and 9 or 18 corresponding 'tee' areas. The course requires no maintenance beyond ordinary mowing, and should require no fees or reservations for players. The more challenging courses are often wooded, and for this reason the disk golf can be played amongst the existing trees in this part of the site. Additional trees should be planted as shown on the Master Plan, to shade and beatify the other areas of the disk golf course and nearby sections of the Multi-Use Trail.

Parking

Parking is provided by four asphalt lots: Recreation Center lot (220 spaces), Aquatic Center lot (176 spaces), Performing Arts Center (160 spaces) and Front Picnic Area lot (40 spaces). The lawn areas at the park can serve as occasional overflow event parking, adding capacity for approximately another 300 cars. All paved lots will be lighted in the evening and should have trees planted along the edges and in islands within the lots to provide shade.

To see a map of the planned amenities, go to the city's web page (http://ga-kennesaw.civicplus.com/documents/Parks%20&%20Rec/Swift-Cantrell%20Park/final_overall_swiftcantrell.jpg).

Since many residents of the area, including our family, live within walking distance of the park--we can't wait!

City officials promised that the park would not become another high-traffic baseball park when bond proposals passed to fund purchase of the land. The former owners wanted the city to keep the land as open space in an increasingly built-up town with little available parkland. Kudos to city officials and staff for working hard to make this dream become a reality and avoiding just another subdivision.

The amenities for the park were designed after extensive meetings and input from residents who put wish lists before the town council. It will be exciting to see each building completed and used by the children, youth and mature residents of our town. At this time, one has to go to Kennesaw Mountain, or sneak into Legacy Park if you want to walk without cars whizzing by on busy Main Street.

Contrast the excitement this park will generate with my hometown of Williamston, Michigan, where stagnating job markets and low growth mean no funds for much-needed repairs to the town library, and no facilities for young people other than the town grocery store parking lot. It will take a lot of work by local groups to make our Kennesaw park a reality, fund raising and even some sweat equity -- but it will be worth it for our children and our community!