Title
Owl's Creek Park Master Plan Revision to Incorporate Six Additional Parcels and Rename the Park as Owl Creek Park
Body
Owl's Creek Park (located at 23 Horned Owl Drive) was expanded in December 2014 by the acquisition of six parcels (at approximately 1.12 acres total) located to the south and east of the original park property (which totaled 2.8 acres prior to the addition) (Legislative File 36731). City of Madison Parks staff worked with the neighborhood and alder through a robust public meeting process to choose additional park amenities of interest to neighboring residents that would be located in the newly acquired area.
Parks staff worked with the alder and representatives from the Owl Creek NRT to bring a participatory budget decision-making process to the meetings for review and discussion by residents. Using site plan boards showing the expansion area of the park property on an aerial photograph and including movable option pieces for amenities which could be chosen by attendees for inclusion in the new park design, staff also presented site limitations and constraints and budget limitations which would aid meeting attendees in selecting options for the design. Public meetings were held with the neighborhood on February 12, 2015 to present the project and begin the planning process; at a co-meeting with the City of Madison Fire Department to further discuss the project and introduce it to additional residents at the Fire Station #14 planning meeting on February 20, 2015; and at LaFollette High School and Sennett Middle School on March 6, 2015 and March 17, 2015, respectively, to bring the project planning and participatory budgeting decision-making process to resident youth. A final meeting to present the two master plan concepts developed as a result of feedback received at the meetings was held at the park on April 15, 2015. As part of this process, the neighborhood requested that the name of the park be simplified to Owl Creek Park.
The project to expand Owl Creek Park will provide an accessible pathway connecting public sidewalks and new park amenities including an expanded playground, open-sided shelter, basketball court, benches and a drinking fountain.