Community Invited to Review Design Options for County Sports Park


Jackson County is creating a new master plan to improve the Jackson County Sports Park. Three different design options have been created for the park based on public comments received to date and an analysis of the site. The three design concepts will be unveiled at a Community Open House on Tuesday, February 9, from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Robert and Phyllis Mace Watchable Wildlife Memorial Center at the Jackson County Fairgrounds & Expo Park.

“The updated Sports Park Master Plan will reflect the community’s need for recreation opportunities, plus Jackson County’s need for a financially self-sustaining park,” said John Vial, Director, Jackson County Roads and Parks.

A brief PowerPoint slide show will be presented at 6:15 p.m. and 7 p.m., providing an overview of the three options. Between presentations, community members can view the different designs and provide feedback on a comment card. Jackson County staff and consultants will be on hand to answer questions. If you cannot attend the meeting, the design options will be posted on the Jackson County Parks website from February 9-19 at http://www.jacksoncountyparks.com/.

“This is your chance to have an impact on the Sports Park,” said Steve Lambert, Jackson County Parks Program Manager. “We want to know what residents like, what they don’t like, and what recreation opportunities they want to see in the future.”

Community feedback will be used to help create one preferred concept for park development. The final preferred concept will take into account the cost of park development, operating costs, and a variety of other factors. The last part of the planning process will be devoted to developing and refining the Sports Park Master Plan and presenting it for approval. The entire project is expected to be completed by late summer of 2010.

About the Sports Park Master Plan
In Summer 2009, Jackson County began creating a new Sports Park Master Plan. As an update of the 1991 Master Plan, the Sports Park Master Plan will propose a new park design, plus a strategy for park development, renovation, and management.

So far, the following has been completed:
1) An information gathering booth was displayed at the Jackson County Fair in July.
2) Comments have been collected on the Jackson County website.
3) Meetings were held with Advisory Committee members, County Commissioners, and leaseholders to identify needs and a community vision for the park.
4) A site analysis was completed, with findings presented in the Opportunities and Constraints Report (posted on the Jackson County Parks website).
5) An operations analysis was completed, with findings presented in the Economic Framework Memo (posted on the Jackson County Parks website).

For more information, please contact Steve Lambert, Jackson County Parks Program Manager, at (541) 774-6303 or (541) 401-2460 cell, (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), or visit the Jackson County Parks website at http://www.jacksoncountyparks.com/.

DOWNLOAD THE PLAN HERE: http://www.jacksoncountyparks.com/sportspark_plan.htm
VIEW MAIL TRIBUNE STORY & ONLINE COMMENTS HERE: http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100206/NEWS/2060303

Where:

Other

Cost:

FREE

Contact:

Steve Lambert     Phone: 541-774-6303