Need to Know: Birmingham's Parks and Recreation 2012-16 Master Plan

The Birmingham Parks and Recreation Board , and though the plan has yet to go before the City Commission for final approval, it contains a blueprint of where the city’s parks are heading in the next few years.

The basics

• The city has 26 parks totaling 230 acres.
• That’s 10 percent of the city’s total acreage.
• The city also has two nine-hole golf courses, the , sled and cross-country skiing at the , the and an outdoor skating rink at .

The city’s park system is made up of three kinds of parks:

• Mini parks: Typically between 2,500 square feet and one acre in size, mini parks are used to address limited, isolated or unique recreational needs.
  Example: Baldwin well site, Derby well site
• Neighborhood parks: Typically five to 10 acres, neighborhood parks serve as the recreational and social focus of the neighborhood, focusing on informal recreation.
  Example: , ,
• Community parks: Usually 30 to 50 acres, community parks focus on meeting community-based recreation needs as well as preserving unique landscapes and open spaces.
  Example: , ,

What the city maintains:

• building
• Landscaped areas surrounding parking lots and structures
• Various city parks
• Snow removal from city-owned property and sidewalks
• Various city plantings and landscaping, including flowers and hanging baskets

The history

In November 2001, Birmingham’s residents voted to authorize the city to issue general obligation, unlimited tax bonds. The proceeds from bond sales would then be used to implement the 2006-11 Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

The first bond issue was sold for $15.7 million December 2002; the second was sold in June 2008 for $4 million.

Proceeds from these sales was used for:

• Dredging and recreational improvements at
• Construction of the skate park at
• Various site improvements at the
• Improvements at , and parks

For the 2012-16 Master Plan, the city held a , asking residents what they wanted to see the city focus on in upcoming years. On Sept. 13, the Parks and Recreation Board then held a special public hearing on the finalized draft, which was .

The cost

The Parks and Recreation Department is operated using funds allocated in the annual city budget. The department typically operates on a deficit of at least $2 million every year, based on the difference between projected revenues and expenses. In 2010-11, the department brought in $1.8 million in revenue while spending $3.8 million.

For the next few fiscal years, expenses are projected to hover around $3.8 million — topping out at $3,876,606 in 2013-14 — while revenue is expected to climb to around $1,958,925 in 2013-14.

The goals

The Parks and Recreation board identified seven key goals for park projects going forward:

• Create a sense of community and belonging.
• Provide parks and recreation facilities that are high quality, that preserve open space and history and that are accessible to all residents.
• Provide various opportunities to encourage healthful lifestyles.
• Meet the needs and interests of the community by providing various programs.
• Use existing community resources efficiently.
• Become a leader in sustainable, innovative practices to protect our natural resources.
• Operate the Department of Public Services in an effective and efficient manner.

What's next

Upcoming projects

To meet these goals, the Parks and Recreation Department has identified a number of general projects to be implemented in all city parks from 2012-16. The following is a list of those projects and their estimated cost (to be paid over five years):

Enhancement

Year to Be Implemented

Estimated Cost (over 5 years)

General landscape and beautification

2012-16

$25,000

General baseball/softball field maintenance

2012-16

$25,000

General tennis court maintenance

2012, 2014, 2016

$45,000

Installation of bike racks

2012-16

$10,000

Installation of drinking fountains

2013, 2015

$35,000

Installation of electric outlets

2014, 2016

To be determined

Installation of park benches and picnic tables

2012, 2014

$40,000

Installation of park shelters (location to be determined)

2016

$20,000

Installation of park signs

2013, 2014, 2015, 2016

$100,000

Land acquisition opportunities

2012-16

To be determined

Open space maintenance

2012-16

$80,000

Playground equipment maintenance

2012-16

$50,000

Reforestation of public property

2012-16

$25,000

Site furnishings (benches, waste bins, tables, etc.)

2012-16

$80,000

Individual master plans

The Parks and Recreation Department regularly picks individual parks and creates a master plan detailing upcoming projects and programming specific to that location. For 2012-16, the following parks have been identified for master plans:

Park

Stage of Plan

Year to be Implemented

Adams Park

Development

2014

Implementation

2015

Barnum Park

Implementation, Phase 2

2012-13

Kenning Park

Development

2013-14

Implementation

2014-16

St. James Park

Development

2014

Implementation

2015

Specific park projects

Several parks have been identified in the 2012-16 Master Plan for specific projects. The following is a list of those projects, with the year(s) in which each would be implemented:

Park

Project

Year to Be Implemented

Booth Park

Re-evaluate entrance plaza

2014

Fairway Park

Bank stabilization

2013

Kenning Park

Parking lot reconstruction

2015-16

Lincoln Hills Golf Course

Construct dog park entrance from the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center

2015-16

Lincoln Well Site

Improve parking lot

2013

Linn Smith Park

Installation of pedestrian bridge

2014

Pembroke Park

Improve athletic areas

2012-13

Poppleton Park

Analyze athletic fields

2014

Analyze parking lot for possible expansion

2015

Crown baseball diamonds

2015

Install basketball courts

2016

Update playground equipment

2014

Rouge River Corridor

Removal of woody debris and riverbank stabilization

2014-16

Trail system improvements

2012-16

St. James Park

Investigate private and public partnerships

2014