01/11/2012
Download Draft Fort Williams Park 2011 Master Plan update (37 MB)Fort Williams Park Master Plan 2011 update set for public hearing Feb. 13
The Town Council will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13, 2012 on a proposed 2011 update to the master plan for Fort Williams Park.
"This is a growing time for Fort Williams Park as the Town and (Fort Williams Advisory) Commission seek to evaluate and guide this extraordinary park into the future for the enjoyment of generations to come," said John Mitchell of Mitchell and Associates, the consultant hired to assist with the update, in the introduction to the 94-page document.
For the first time, the park's master plan includes feedback from park users gathered through a survey conducted in the summer of 2011.
The proposed master plan update accommodates recent initiatives for the park, including the arboretum and Battery Blair restoration, as well as the need to generate revenue in the park to fund capital needs. Priority recommendations include estimated preliminary costs.
The plan sets six goals for the park, based on the Town Council's 1976 Policy Statement for Fort Williams' natural, scenic and historical qualities. It goes on to include 88 recommendations, "Some are as simple as moving the swing sets near the Ship’s Cove parking area to a less visible location, while others are much more significant in terms of the scope of work and capital funding required," the draft plan says.
In order of priority, the proposed update lists these recommendations:
- Expand Ship Cove parking area and incorporate turn-around at the end.
- Upgrade group picnic area slab at Ship Cove, including potential use of a canopy structure.
- Review the feasibility of a group reception area located at the westerly end of the overflow parking area above the Parade Grounds.
- Evaluate Cliff Walk safety along top of slope, identify safety improvements and or modifications to path location.
- Improve vehicular and pedestrian accessibility at the intersection of the main access road (Ocean Road) and the road (Wheatley Road) leading to the grass overflow parking area.
- Review and repair Central Power Station (along the entrance road) to avoid structural and water damage. Remove vegetation from lower roof and evaluate use of bituminous sealant.
- Review the feasibility of improving the intersection of the main entrance road and Ship Cove parking lot; and widen sidewalk to six feet with a new curb along the northerly side of the main access road (Ocean Road) from Ship Cove parking lot to the pull-off. Repair stone wall along the sidewalk as required.
- Reconfigure circulation and parking areas in the vicinity of the maintenance buildings to improve circulation, provide usable parking and maintain access to maintenance facilities.
- Investigate potential for a second picnic shelter to be located west of Merriam Road in close proximity to the multi-purpose field and central parking area.
- Reconfigure picnic shelter parking lot to provide more efficient use of space.
It is the third rendition of master plans for the Fort Williams Park, acquired by the Town in 1964 and established as a park in 1976. The first master plan was developed in 1990 and updated in 2003. The plan is recommended for update every seven years. Summaries of previous plans, as well as those of other park-related plans and reports, are included in the 2011 update proposal.
At the Jan. 9, 2012 meeting of the Town Council, councilor and liaison to the Fort Williams Advisory Commission Jim Walsh thanked the advisory commission, its leadership, and especially Mitchell and Associates for their work on the year-long project.
The council is also scheduled to review the draft plan at their workshop Jan. 11, 2012, 7 p.m. at Town Hall.
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