The City of Concord Parks and Recreation Department will be hosting the Second community workshop to discuss the latest revisions to the Master Plan for James Dorton Park. If you are in receipt of this email, you were in attendance at the first workshop on April 8that the McGill Baptist Church. This workshop will be at Dorton Park (5790 Poplar Tent Road)starting at 9:30 AM on Saturday, November 23, 2019. It will be an interactive-style meeting where the latest plans will be shared at the large shelter, and staff and consultants will be on site to answer questions and to walk to and identify where within the park, certain amenities/items are proposed, and some of the revisions that have been made since the plan that was presented in April.
Attached is a summary of the comments that were received in April (I COPIED THE DETAILS BELOW – HOP). City staff and consultants have worked very hard over the last several months to coordinate and address as many of these comments/concerns that we could. Also as you may know, NCDOT has plans to widen Poplar Tent Road, which has had some impacts on the park, and staff has also been in coordination with the State. If you have any questions, please call or email me directly and please do not reply all to this email. Also let me know if you are unable to attend, and I will discuss any comments you have and share our latest plan with you once it is ready.
o Burck Drive can be like a drag strip in regards to speeders.
o It is very unsafe and is used as a cut through.
o It is already tight and traffic backs up and creates bottleneck.
o Peak hours of traffic backup includes7:00am – 8:30am and 3:00pm – 6:30pm.
o The QT was recently placed at other entrance for Afton Village and it has created an extreme traffic issue and bottleneck.
o There are three entrances to the Afton Village neighborhood: Burck, McCurdy and Village Drive.
o The park is located between two schools (Cannon School and Cabarrus Charter) creating more traffic in Afton Village.
▪ Additionally, many of the teenage drivers speed and create unsafe conditions.
o Would like speed bumps along Burck and have tried in the past but it is designated as a thoroughfare.
o Would like a stop light at Burck and Poplar Tent Road and crosswalk.
o Would like designated crosswalks, flashing lights and/or flags for crossings along Burck.
o Many people feel like they take their own lives into their hands when walking or crossing Burck.
o Have asked for the police to patrol and ticket speeders.
o Many kids cross Burck at the concrete sidewalk connector from the park.
o Crime/Break-ins/security a concern with this parking lot – cars getting broken into, scoping out houses, and people staying in the park until very late hours.
o Burck Drive access would cause an accident.
o Potential solutions if remove Burck parking lot:
▪ Yorke Street can be used for on-street parking.
▪ The YMCA is building a parking lot at the lower fields with 123 PS.
▪ Cannon School is possibly building a new parking lot?
▪ Put a parking lot where the tennis courts are and move the tennis courts off of Burck.
▪ Expand the Poplar Tent Road parking.
o Should put more elements for kids where the Burckparking lot is. Parking lot is a not a good use of the space.
o Should be a greenspace where the Burck parking lot is. Feel like the parking lot takes away greenspace.
o There should be a playground where the Burckparking lot is.
o Adding the parking lot removes bird habitat.
o There is traffic on Burck and this will cause more traffic on Burck.
o Vehicular speeding is a concern.
• Do we have to add parking?
• There should be parking over on the soccer field.
• No parking in front of homes.
• On-street parking on Burck Drive is used heavily.
• Move everything and take out additional parking lot.
• Should consider a parking garage.
• Bad circulation in existing parking lot.
ACCESS
• Add steps from on-street parking on Burck Drive down the incline.
• Greenway connections are necessary.
• Would like to access the park by walking or biking but right now do not have a safe way to do that (lives outside of Afton Village, south of park)
• Would like for the park to be connected to other greenways across the City.
• The greenwayconnecting to the YMCA is good.
LIGHTING
• The park needs more lighting for early morning and evening use.
• The park needs lights specifically on the trail.
• The park needs lights for running.
• More lighting on Burck Drive.
• Keep light pollution down.
TRAILS
• For trail surface, would prefer more paved trails because the rocks/gravel get in shoes (runs there frequently). Currently, tries to stick to only paved portions if possible.
• Gravel trails are preferred but it washes out.
• The gravel on the trail washes away.
• As a runner, would like a loop or lap design with trail system.
• Leave the trails.
• Keep the dual surface trail in the plan.
• Raise low spots on trails, so after it rains you an still walk without going through the water.
• The concrete sidewalk around the field is good – less gravel trails.
• Asphalt trails
• Extend boardwalk into woods.
• Fitness stations are a plus. There is a group that comes there every morning to workout.The fitness stations would be used.
TENNIS
• Do not see a need to expand the tennis courts.
• Tennis courts should go back to three.
PLAYGROUNDS
• Need a younger kids playground.
• Need an older kids playground (i.e. Freedom Park)
• Have a low ropes course in the woods to accommodate different ages.
• Have an obstacle course.
• Would absolutely recommend creating an outdoor play space with natural structures in the space along the soccer fields. I consult with child care centers to create natural learning environments and would be happy to serve on a committee to design that.
• Should still have a fenced in playground for younger children.
• Have a natural playground/ropes course.
• Hammocks are needed in the area where the natural playground is.
SWINGS
• Would like more swings.
• Have more kids swings and have adult swings.
• Swing set/disc golf/sport fields are used heavily even though not voted for on park amenity board.
SPORTS
• Cricket and lacrosse are two sports to consider.
• Bleachers are not used and may not be needed.
• Teams do practice in the open green space area.
• Pickle ball should be incorporated into the park.
LANDSCAPING
• Would like more trees in the park.
• The landscaping needs to be revitalized.
• Keep the park green.
• Do not touch natural trees.
• The greenspace in the master plan is good.
• Open space shrinking is fine.
SUSTAINABILITY
• Should consider zero water toilets.
• Energy efficiency
STREAM/STORMWATER
• It floods around the north bridge.
• Move the maintenance facility to the north side of the park.
• Drainage improvements are needed.
• The third bridge has failed before – washed away. Need a substantial structure if going to have one there. Does not see a need for it since two separate uses on each side.
• Clean up creek of trees.
• Creek interaction/viewing station needed.
SPLASH PAD
• Why does the park need a splash pad?
GENERAL
• Afton Village does not have any many kids.
• In general, need more parks.
• There is a grazing pasture north of the park that recently got approved that will be a therapy program.
• Competition with Afton Park.
• Afton Village resident that uses the park every day weather permitting with children. It is a huge asset for their family.
There are problems in the woods.
• The park increases traffic.
• Safety and traffic are important elements to consider.
RESTROOMS
• New restrooms are a good idea.
OTHER AMENITIES NOT DIRECTLY IDENTIFIED IN THE PLAN
• The park should be a dog friendly park.
• No dog park at Dorton Park.
• Trash cans are needed.
• The park should have an information plaque on who Dorton is.