Courtesy Vineyard City

Vineyard’s Park Corridor Plan, which stretches for about 90 acres along the central corridor of the city, was reviewed April 5 by Vineyard’s Planning Commission and will be heard by Vineyard’s City Council on April 26 meeting with the hope the council will pass the proposal.

The original plan underwent an extensive community engagement process. Vineyard City Mayor Julie Fullmer and the council held several preliminary town halls in 2021 as part of a listening tour to initiate the planning process, said Vineyard City’s Senior Planner, Briam Amaya Perez.

“Creating a vibrant and accessible park system requires not only a vision but also the participation of the community,” said Cristy Welsh, council member. “The enthusiastic public engagement in the development of our new park plan demonstrates our city’s commitment to providing shared spaces that meet the needs of everyone. Together, we have created a plan for a park system that will bring joy, relaxation, and a sense of community to our entire city.”

Parks and Recreation director Brian Vawdrey noted that, during a visit to a local elementary school, they heard great ideas for the park plan from the kids.

“Although some ideas, like a zoo, weren’t possible, the children’s creativity provided insights into the kind of spaces and experiences that kids are really interested in,” Vawdrey said. “Several of their suggestions contributed to enhancing the park plan, and the city intends to remain committed to bringing in that creativity as we meet the interests of the children within and around the community.”

Courtesy Vineyard City

Following the initial collection of input processed by the designers, a survey ran from September 2022 through November and garnered nearly 600 responses on resident objectives for shaping the plan, according to Perez.

“This survey allowed residents to express their sentiments, preferences and desires regarding the Park Corridor Plan, providing valuable contributions, which had a significant influence and impact on the outcome and success of the plan,” Perez said.

The feedback improved the corridor plan, helped set some larger active mobility goals, enhanced the Youth Council benches project and contributed to shade opportunities in the city, according to spokesperson Kathryn Newman.

Following the survey’s conclusion, the city organized various events and open houses to provide residents with further opportunities to engage and participate in the plan’s design. These included six open houses at different locations throughout the city, an additional open house with the Leisure Villas Retirement Community and a booth at the City’s Boo-a-palooza last October.

“The process was excellent, allowing us to gather numerous voices from the community. The design relied on the values and input of our residents and offers a diverse array of recreation and nature-immersed activities while preserving our essential wetlands,” said Council Member Amber Rasmussen.

Courtesy Vineyard City

That same month, the city conducted a Facebook Live event where residents were presented with early design concepts and enabled to supply feedback, leading to further revisions.

“Overall, we have received very positive feedback on the plan. We have also done our very best to listen to residents’ concerns and make adjustments. The final draft truly reflects the desires of the residents of Vineyard,” said Perez.

After receiving feedback from residents about the design of the parking lot and its proximity to a neighborhood road, the steering committee further adjusted the plan to address the noted concerns.

“Public input is the foundation of successful planning. When we listen to the diverse perspectives of our community, we gain insights that shape our plans for the better, ensuring they are inclusive, impactful, and responsive to the needs of all,” Welsh explained.

The new plan is divided into three sections. The northern portion features highlights such as an expanded parking lot that can accommodate approximately 150 new parking spaces at Vineyard Grove Park. A dog park catering to small and large dogs will also be established, along with twelve new pickleball courts. Shade sails will be erected over the splash pad to enhance visitor comfort.

In the vicinity of Gammon Park, residents can look forward to sought-after amenities such as a heritage-themed community center and garden. A planned all-abilities playground was designed for children and families to enjoy, along with a dirt pump track located just north of the park across Center Street. The area will also be outfitted with additional trails, recreation fields, and tennis courts to enhance the site further.

The third area, known as the Fish Hook, situated east of Vineyard’s City Hall and west of Gammon Park, will preserve open spaces and offer quiet and relaxing places within the community. The area features a planned arboretum and connected walking trails. On the eastern portion, near the current city building, there is a programmed track with a series of banked turns and features designed to be ridden by bikes, skateboarders, in-line skaters, and foot-powered scooters. The surrounding park will have another grouping of four pickleball courts.

Vineyard will break ground this year on it first section but it is anticipated the park will take at about five years to complete.

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