Ed Good Memorial Park Conceptual Master Plan

Abstract

Stanley is a small Virginia town of approximately 1,400 people nestled in the Shenandoah Valley in Page County. The Ed Good Memorial Park is located in downtown Stanley. It is the site of the Town of Stanley's annual Homecoming event and is also home to the Town's skate park - "The Hawk". The park is bounded on one side by an active railroad track and is divided by an open drainage swale. A group of local residents has initiated the idea of adding a trail to the park for health and recreation. A memorial area has also recently been added to the park, honoring fallen police and firefighters from the area. Pioneer Bank, a local bank, celebrated its 100th anniversary on December 3rd, 2009. In honor of their service to the community, they have donated the cost of a playground to the park.The Community Design Assistance Center was asked to help weave these new uses together and identify possible additional recreational uses for the park through the development of a conceptual master plan. The CDAC team worked with Town staff and community residents to develop a conceptual master plan for the park that looks to optimize the space and increase recreational activities. The CDAC design team considered existing programmatic uses of the site and wove these together with desires for additional facilities. Potential future trail connections to other parks or areas in the Town were also explored. The conceptual master plan addressed the desire for defining the property's edge and enhancing screening from the railroad track; the existing drainage swale to maximize usable space while also seeking to improve stormwater management; and enhanced the current parking lot. Opportunities for additional site plantings were also recommended.The CDAC design team began the project in October 2009 with an initial site visit and meeting with Town Manager Terry Pettit and Parks and Recreation Director Chuck Short. During this visit the team discussed project goals with Town staff, toured and photographed the site, visited the Town's other recreational facilities, and identified possible destinations to link via a town-wide trail system.The CDAC team returned to Blacksburg to develop a base map, photoboard, and site inventory and analysis. The CDAC team returned to Stanley in early November to field check the site analysis and to tour the Luray Hawksbill Greenway with Terry Pettit.The Town of Stanley distributed a short survey to the residents to Stanley, soliciting input regarding recreational needs within the Town. The CDAC design team used feedback from the survey to guide them during the preliminary conceptual design process.Two alternative conceptual designs were developed. These concepts, along with supporting sketches, were presented to community members in Stanley on April 1st, 2010. The conceptual alternatives were revised into a single conceptual design concept based on community feedback and guidance from Town staff. The final conceptual master plan was presented to town staff, town council, and community members on May 18, 2010. Following the final presentation, soil samples were taken and a planting plan was developed.This short, supporting report was prepared to document the design process and describe the proposed design concepts for the Ed Good Memorial Park Conceptual Master Plan.