7. Open Space - City of Englewood

ENGLEWOODMASTER PLAN2009Recreation and Open Space ElementNovember 24, 2009

RECREATION AND ENGLEWOOD OPEN SPACERecreation and Open SpaceIntroductionAmong a community’s most importantpublic facilities are its parks, playgroundsand open spaces. This is particularly truein a suburban city such as Englewood,which derives much of its attractivenessfrom its uncrowded character, andwhose residents want the best possibleliving environment for themselves andtheir families. The value of outdoor recreationfor people of all ages is well established,and its importance is bound toincrease in the future as advances intechnology give the average personFigure VII - 1: Little League Field in Mackay Parkgreater amounts of leisure time. Likewise,in preserving the character of acity, which in time can develop agreater degree of intensity, the establishmentand preservation of landscaped,permanently open spaces will assumean ever increasing importance.Englewood has numerous parks, rangingin size from intimate pocket parks to alarge park serving the entire city, MackayPark, which covers over 20 acres, to140 acre nature preserve (Allison Parkand Flat Rock Brook Nature Center).Englewood has well over 300 acres ofopen space, including 200 acres ofparks.The parks vary considerably in character:some feature playgrounds, ball fields,and other recreational activities that attractathletes and youngsters; otherparks are tranquil places for relaxation,while Flat Brook Nature Association is a140-acre conservation area with a varietyof trails, a rock quarry, meadows,and ponds.This open space constitutes a preciousresource for the residents of Englewood,and it must be preserved for future generations.In 1996, the City adopted a zoningdistrict that recognized all existingFigure VII - 2: The Director of the Flat Rock Brook NatureCenter, Stephen Wiessner with his assistantavailable open space as a distinct andvaluable asset. The Planning Board recommendsthat the City maintain this importantordinance so it reflects currentconditions in the City.In 2009, the City took position of an importantproperty in the northwest sectionof Englewood. Eleanor Harvey, a longtime resident and activist in Englewood,deeded her property to the City ofEnglewood. This is a 2.10 acre propertyin a location that does not have a park.This property will be maintained by theCity of Englewood as passive openspace in accordance with Ms. Harvey’swishes.Englewood currently has 214 acres ofparkland and recreation areas whichamounts to approximately 6.8% of the2009 Master Plan page VII - 2

RECREATION AND ENGLEWOOD OPEN SPACEtotal land area of Englewood. There areseveral methodologies to calculate whatconstitutes a healthy amount of openspace in a built up suburban community.The Balanced Land Use methodology isshown on the following page.The Balanced Land Use methodologyhas been utilized by the State of NewJersey to assess open space needs of acommunity. The current park inventory isover double that which is calculatedthrough the Balanced Land Use Criteria.However, the Balanced Land Use methodologyalso recommends that substantialopen space be set aside by theCounty, the State and the Federal Governmentand Englewood is devoid ofany such set asides.Figure VII - 3:Inventory ofEnglewoodParksAn alternate estimation of need is providedby the National Park and RecreationAssociation (NPRA and this is knownas the Core System Standard and it isbased on population. The NRPA standardsrecommend that public park andrecreation areas be provided at a ratioof 8.375 acres per 1,000 people. Usingthe population estimate in the Demographicsection of this Master Plan of28,000 people, the recommended publicpark and recreation area in Englewoodshould be approximately 234 acres.2009 Master Plan page VII - 3

RECREATION AND ENGLEWOOD OPEN SPACEDescriptionEnglewood’s 214 acres is close to this figurebut somewhat deficient. Englewoodhas done an excellent job of preservingadditional space along the railroad rightof-waynorth of Demarest Avenue andthrough zoning, tree preservation ordinanceand steep slope ordinance thatresult in open space buffers throughoutthe residential zoning districts.Given the built-up nature of Englewood,there remain few opportunities to increasethe supply of open space andrecreation acreage. Nevertheless, it ispossible to take fuller advantage of theAcresTotal City Area 3168Less undeveloped wetlands & floodplains 12Less State & County Parklands 0Total 31563% of Total 94.68Figure VII - 4: Balanced Use Tabulationparks and other spaces in Englewood.The parks should function together as alinked system. This means that greaterthought should be given to the characterof each park so that it is tailored toserve the neighborhood where it is locatedand becomes a focus of dailycommunity life. To achieve this goal, theMaster Plan makes three recommendations.Increase UtilizationMany parks and open spaces in Englewoodare underutilized. Often vacant,they do not function as a neighborhoodhub nor do they reinforce a sense of community.Through intelligent design and aneffort to satisfy the specific needs of residentsin the immediate vicinity, pocketparks can begin to function as centers ofneighborhood life. In order to achieve thisgoal, it is necessary to think of the parks inrelation to the immediate area they serve,determine what improvements and plantingsresidents favor, allow the parks totake on a distinct identity, highlight theirpresence in the community, and attractrecreational activities.In many communities, residents are invitedto plant and maintain gardens inneighborhood parks. The active participationof residents becomes an importantfactor in maintaining the park and its furnishings,creating a safe and protectedenvironment, and encouraging use. Thereis no reason to insist on uniformity of designamong the city’s pocket parks. To theFigure VII - 5: West Palisade Island gateway fromthe West.2009 Master Plan page VII - 4

RECREATION AND OPEN SPACEcontrary, allowing each park to assumea distinctive identity, with different kindsof landscape effects, will build local attachmentsto the park. Parks can alsobe used as laboratories for environmentaleducation, whether in structuredgroups or in the free play of young childrenexploring nature.Figure VII - 6: Mackay Park, reconstructed in 1995is the City’s most heavily utilized park.Figure VII - 7: Mackay Park, on a typical weekendIn addition to involving neighborhoodassociations, the city should reach out toother community groups, including theGarden Club, youth groups, and natureorganizations, to participate in a programof park-based activities.Connect Open SpacesThe impact of Englewood’s impressiveinventory of open space would be magnifiedif landscaped paths physicallyconnected our parks. A network of landscapedpaths would provide several importantbenefits.First, it would enhance the town’s recreationalresources by providing a long, varied,and scenic path that could be used2009 Master Plan page VII- 5

RECREATION AND OPEN SPACEFigure VII - 8: Allison Park—Managed by the Flat Rock BrookNature Associationfor walking, jogging,skating, and biking.Second, the pathswould highlight the locationof the city’s parks.For example, the additionof planting stripsalong the streets leadingfrom West Palisade Avenueto MacKay Parkwould heighten awarenessof the park as agreat civic resource andcenter of communal lifein Englewood. MackayPark has been redesignedand upgraded toa first class recreationarea. Facilities includeplaying fields, generousopen lawns, a runningtrack, toilet facilities,swimming pool, and araised lanai, whichserves as a platform formusical performances.The quality of the facilitiesand the open spaceconservation are modelsof urban parkland design.Mackay Park is connectedto the downtownpedestrian traffic,so that an interminglingEnglewood CityRight of Way LinesZone-osFigure VII - 9: Open Space Zonesof shopping and recreational functionsencourages people to walk from one tothe other, and thus reinforce both areasin the public’s awareness. Programmingevents in Mackay Park would serve toincrease the utilization of the Park as wellas bring Englewood residents together.The Wayfinding System, currently beingdesigned, can provide the visual connectionsthat would lead a pedestrian inthat direction. Use of trees and lightingalong the walkways would also achievethese goals.N2009 Master Plan page VII- 6

RECREATION AND OPEN SPACEFigure VII - 10: Dwight Morrow High School and Janis Dismis Middle School Complex including the openspace and recreational areas2009 Master Plan page VII- 7

RECREATION AND OPEN SPACEThird, a network of landscaped pathswould make Englewood a more pedestrian-friendlycity and encourage peopleof all generations to walk, rollerblade, orride bicycles from their homes to downtown,to the public library, to school or toa neighborhood park. Moreover, makingthe city amenable to pedestrians wouldreinforce other objectives of the MasterPlan: the trolley shuttle system should beexpanded and the City should continueto foster residential living in the CentralBusiness District.Fourth, a system of pathways would establishvaluable connections betweenresidential districts and the commercialcenter. Although the downtown is a regionaldestination, it is first and foremostthe heart of our city, and as such, itshould be easily accessible to all the residentialareas.Englewood has a great advantage overtypical auto-dependent suburbs becausewe have a town center with a varietyof uses. But our residential neighborhoodsare not connected to the downtownby pedestrian paths; for the mostpart, it is necessary to drive downtown. Achain of paths can knit our neighborhoodsand commercial center together,alleviate the reliance on the automobile,and even foster a sense of unity betweendifferent parts of town.Our streets need not function only astraffic conveyors; they have the potentialto serve as social connectors bringingpeople together. To fulfill that potentialand enable people to circulate on footat least as easily as in cars, there is aneed for sidewalks and landscapedpaths so that residents can use thestreets in safety.The gateways to the City have beengreatly enhanced over the past tenyears. The addition of the WayfindingSystem to the gateways will improve visualidentification and encourage accessto the downtown.Bicycle Storage AreasThe creation of bicycle storage areas instrategic locations throughout the downtownand in recreation areas should beimplemented. These storage areas willencourage the use of alternative transportationand provide the opportunityfor residents to bike into the downtownand increase access to the recreationareas. Site plan review should includean examination of bike racks for majordevelopments involving residential property.The Park at Depot SquareThe intersection of Demarest and NorthDean Streets is a major point of entry tothe Central Business District. Three of thefour corners were occupied by gas stationsand there has been a transformationof the area in the past several years.There is a new bus stop at the southwestcorner however, beyond the bus stopextends a spartan zone of grass. Thisopen space lies at the edge of downtown,near a large concentration ofpeople and beside a parking lot. It has afew benches and some handsome trees,but despite these locational and otherassets, the space is rarely used. Severalfactors explain its underutilization, includingpoor landscape design, the layout ofthe parking lot, and the spur of ParkPlace which divides the park in half. Thisspace now attracts no activity; it is vacant,unappealing, and sterile, but thepotential is enormous to make a wonderfulpublic space and gateway to Englewood.In 2003, the Master Plan offered a newvision of this area with a design for apark, a range of new amenities, improvedcirculation and parking facilities.Although this scheme proved too ambitiousfor the City Council, a more modesteffort should be made. This effort shouldinclude event programming as well asphysical improvements. The physical improvementsshould include landscapingas well as the construction of a small amphitheaterthat will encourage the park’sutilization for concerts. The improved settingmay invite other uses, such as craft2009 Master Plan page VII- 8

RECREATION AND OPEN SPACEtheater will thus form part of a culturalaxis including the BergenPac Theaterand Bennett Studios.The section of the park west of the railroadtracks is scheduled for improvementsincluding the creation of an openchannel where a subsurface culvert exists.The channel will have natural embankments,fully landscaped, with abridge crossing to access West Street. Apreliminary rendering is shown on thenext page but this rendering is being revisedto maintain the North Van BruntStreet connection to Demarest Avenue.Recreation ProgramsThe Englewood Recreation Departmenthas developed goals and objectives toFigure VII - 11: Conceptual plan for Depot Parkfairs, Garden Club sales, and schoolrelatedprograms.The amphitheater might also provide avenue for outdoor movies and otherpublic entertainments and programs. Asummer film festival, jazz concerts offeredby performers associated with thenearby recording studio, Memorial Dayhonors—these are the type of activitiesthat the theater at Depot Square Park isdesigned to accommodate. The amphi-Figure VII - 12: Amphitheatre with removablemovie screen.2009 Master Plan page VII- 9

RECREATION AND OPEN SPACEFigure VII - 13: Conceptual plan for Depot Park West2009 Master Plan page VII- 10

RECREATION AND OPEN SPACEprovide an operational structure for futuredecisions related to provision ofparks and recreation for the EnglewoodCommunity. These goals and objectivesare reviewed annually and modified asnecessary.Goal #1: Create a sense of communityand belongingObjectives: Offer programming targeted to familiesand residents without support services. Support and encourage new developmentsto include areas for activeand passive recreation Increase programs and services to theaging population Increase programs and services to theteen populationGoal #2: Assure parks and recreationfacilities are well maintained and accessibleto all residents of the community.Residents of Englewood take good careof their private homes and grounds asevidenced by the abundance of landscapingcontractors. Quality is importantto residents and it is expected that communityassets are protected and valuedas well.Objectives: Analyze and improve universal accessibility Update and maintain park equipmentand facilities as needed, includingplayground equipment, hard pavementsurfaces, and landscaping. Implement standardized park signage,and review and provide lighting,benches, and waste receptacleswhere appropriate.Goal #3: To create a community ofhealthy residents by providing opportunitiesthat promote and encourage activelifestyles.Englewood wants to encourage and developan active resident base that includesrunners, walkers, cyclists, andteam athletes.Objectives: Increase non-motorized transportationconnections between parks, historicalsites, community facilities and shoppingdistricts that allow residents to cycle,walk, and run. Develop and promote programmingthat promotes active lifestyles for allagesGoal #4: Provide recreation programmingand facility opportunities that meetthe needs and interests of the entirecommunity.Objectives: Study the need for a multi-use outdoorcommunity gathering area that servesas a venue for concerts, art and othercultural programming. Several areasare currently available and should beconsidered. Increased programmingis critical to bringing the communitytogether. Create recreation opportunities beyondtraditional team sports (i.e. educationalcomponents, individual sportingpursuits, training/self improvementcourses, etc.) Provide additional environmentalorientedprograms and use parks asoutdoor classrooms Expand cultural programs and events(i.e. music, art) Increase programs offered for senioradults and teenagersGoal #5: To use existing community resourcesefficiently to demonstrate fiscalresponsibility.Objectives: Explore opportunities with BergenCounty to minimize duplication andcompetition between agencies. Maintain open dialogue with adjacentcommunities regarding opportunity toimprove and expand the quality of2009 Master Plan page VII- 11

RECREATION AND OPEN SPACEpublic recreation facilities, includinginvestigation of feasibility of developmenton a larger scale recreation facilities(i.e. ice arena, aquatic or communitycenter). Develop partnerships and monitor potentialgrant opportunities with NJRPA Continue to share facilities with theEnglewood Public Schools at schoolproperties Recruit civic and business organizationsfor assistance with park improvementprojects.Goal #6: Provide efficient administrationof the parks and recreation department.Customer service is a necessity and anexpectation in order to remain competitivein providing leisure services.Objectives: Maintain upgraded computer hardwarealong with registration and facilityreservation software Expand web-based marketing effortsto inform residents of programs andevents Monitor the need for additional supportstaff Review parks and recreation masterplan annually to establish priorities andresponsibilities.System Wide RecommendationsIn addition to capital investments intothe parks and recreation system, theParks and Recreation Department mustalso provide effort to maintain the highquality of the system. The following itemsdescribe system wide suggestions thatshould be coordinated each year.Barrier Free AccessibilityAs parks and facilities are improved ordeveloped, a high priority must beplaced on upgrades that improve barrierfree accessibility with improvements toproper surfaces for wheelchairs, accessiblepicnic tables, and play equipmentthat provides universal access.Recreation ProgrammingPartner with state and county programs,private businesses, and other groups,leagues, services, and programs.StaffingAnnually monitor staffing levels and officefacility needs for efficient administra-tion, operation, programming and maintenanceof the parks and recreation.Park PromotionUse creative promotional approaches toincrease awareness. Promotional ideascould include: park maps and parkevents. Increased awareness will increaseappreciation and support as wellas a spirit of volunteerism with maintenanceand development projects.Fund RaisingDevelop new and creative ways to raisefunds for park improvements.Public InvolvementSolicit residents’ suggestions on planning,use, and improvement of parks and programming.This can be accomplishedwith focus groups, public meetings, surveys,or through resident feedback solicitedat parks and recreation events.2009 Master Plan page VII- 12