Memorial Park Entries

Tybee park master plan released

March 18, 2008

When a proposed master plan for Tybee Island's Memorial Park was released last week the City Council was reluctant to release it.

When Councilman Paul Wolff suggested the report and drawing be posted on the city's Web site, Councilwoman Wanda Doyle balked. She said she wanted to read it first before

it was posted.

The Savannah Morning News obtained the report and drawing through a verbal Georgia Open Records Act request. They are posted here:

Click here for a the Memorial Park redesign drawing

Click here to read the final report of the Memorial Park ad hoc committee

The ad hoc committee formed to study the park called it the island’s centerpiece, but found that it’s disjointed and doesn’t function very well.

A design for the park that features a big open space, new landscaping, the potential for a new police station, a veterans memorial and a defined sidewalk all the way around. And it includes some politically divisive elements.

“We have the opportunity to make this park the true heart of Tybee Island, to make this park the true shining star,” said Janice Bentley, chairperson of the Memorial Park Comprehensive Planning Ad Hoc Committee told the council last week.

The committee’s plan includes a 4,000-foot skate park and the dog park, both controversial. Three weeks ago the Tybee Island City Council cut $60,000 from the budget for a skate park and rescinded previous approvals to put one on city property.

It was the vote to put the skate park in Memorial Park that lead to the ad hoc committee being created last year. The 10 volunteer committee members spent more than 250 hours researching and planning and architect Gary Sanders spend another 50 volunteer hours drawing up the ideas.

Here are some of the recommendations:

- Improve the poor drainage in the park by using natural elements and pervious materials but not buried pipes and man-made facilities.

- Follow Americans with Disabilities Act Guidelines

- Reorganize parking spots on the perimeter and remove the concrete parking area along Jones Street and replace with pervious material.

- Place the veterans’ memorial along the quieter Jones Street.

- The park should be lighted in a way that doesn’t create a glare for adjacent homes.

- The pavilions built in the 1930’s should be renovated

The committee did not recommend building a swimming pool.

It opposed a police station and jail being built in the park because it would increase traffic and might cause a safety issue with the jail.

There is no approved location for a new police station and public safety building, said City Manager Diane Schleicher. Although, it is an option.

A committee is currently looking at that spot and an area next to the police station’s current location on the north end of the island.

More than a few residents don’t like the dog park, which was recently built in front of the gymnasium building facing Butler Avenue.

3/24/08 9:04 AM

Savannah's Daily News Site | Memorial Park Takes Center Stage at Tybee Council

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http://savdailynews.com/print.asp?ArticleID=14577&SectionID=14&SubSectionID=242

Monday, March 24, 2008

Memorial Park Takes Center Stage at Tybee Council

By Cynthia Kinkel

For the Business Report

Monday, March 24, 2008

"This is just a summary of the work that's been done. The actual report is lengthy and will be delivered in the morning," said Janice Bentley, as she

addressed Tybee's City Council on March 13 while unveiling Tybee's new Memorial Park Master Plan. "What we've attempted to do is incorporate all

of elements we were given into a unique green space for Tybee's citizens and visitors of all ages. This area is very important to Tybee's future, and

we have the opportunity to make it a bright, shining point for this community."

Commissioned in September of last year by the previous City Council, Bentley has been part of the effort to rethink and redesign Memorial Park, the

centrally located public park located near City Hall. The ad hoc committee of citizen volunteers put an estimated 250 hours into meeting the previous

council's resolution. The order was to provide a plan to place a number of facilities including a public safety building, a skateboard park, bicycle path,

and a possible swimming pool, into the park which already houses a dog park, playground, volleyball and tennis courts as well as community

shelters, a pavilion and a gymnasium.

Members of the Memorial Park Ad Hoc Master Planning Committee included Janice Bentley, chairman. resident at large; Deb Barreiro, Tybee Dog

Park; Jimmy Carter, Veterans Memorial; Alan Jones, Tybee Beautification Association; Tim Malins, resident skateboarder; J. Curtis Hanks, YMCA

Board; Laurie Montgomery, resident at large; Libby Bacon, Planning Commission, non-voting member; Gary Sanders, architect, non-voting member;

Mimi Ferrell, Tybee Garden Club; and Wayne Harper, resident. Bentley said that volunteers had responded to the wishes of residents and property

owners according to the City's 2007 Master Plan Survey.

Architect Gary Sanders of Ciphers Design, who spent more than 50 professional hours on the drawing also addressed the council. "We are all proud

of this plan. Lots of people wanted lots of things. We tried to fit everything in an orderly fashion without taking anything away." Sanders mentioned

that framing of the park, like Forsyth Park in Savannah, should be clearly defined with barrier and buffer landscaping and defined parking.

Besides placement of recreational and community facilities the plan addresses a number functional issues including improved drainage, storm water

management, and preservation of green space. The plan calls for native coastal plantings that will require low water, and low maintenance and

natural borders to delineate the spaces.

Tybee's present Fire Department and Rescue facilities would continue to operate near the corner of Jones and 5th Avenues under this proposal, but

the committee recommended against building a new public safety complex to house the police department, court, jail, and animal control in the area

as these things would lead to increased traffic, disruption of recreation activities, parking congestion, and concerns about the safely of small children

nearby at the YMCA and playgrounds. A mobile helicopter pad will be placed closer to the YMCA and Fire Dept. No permanent pad will be erected

so that standing water may be removed and to accommodate emergency vehicle access.

By consensus of the park committee as well as Tybee's local veterans, the new Veteran's Monument's proposed location is on the Jones Avenue side

of the park, very close to the cemetery, but with an unobstructed view from Butler as well. The plan also calls for a pedestrian bike trail wide enough

for a two-way bike path, pedestrians and wheelchairs.

Both the dog park and skate park were included in Sander's scale drawing. Located on the Butler Avenue side of Memorial Park in front of the gym,

the 4000 square foot concrete bowl and skatepark layout is actually buffered by the gym, with vegetative screening and security fencing, while the

dog park is closer to Butler Avenue with an entrance into the gym parking lot.

Memorial Park's original pavilions are also scheduled to be restored with direction from historian, Cullen Chambers and new signage and lighting will

also be employed.

The committee also recommended a time line for implementation in phases over a three-year period. Both Bentley and Sanders stated that grant

3/24/08 9:04 AM

Savannah's Daily News Site | Memorial Park Takes Center Stage at Tybee Council

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money may be available for much of the work and pointed out that a civil engineer should be employed to break down the costs and direct the

phases. They also specifically requested the council's feedback within 30 days, and called for a 60 day public comment period.

After the presentation, Mayor Jason Buelterman commended the commission and suggested that the plan be displayed on the City's website so that

the public might view it, but Councilwoman Wanda Doyle stated that she wanted to look at it before submitting it to the web site, and Councilman

Dick Smith agreed. "The public is not meant to see it on the website until the plan is approved," Smith said.

Councilman Paul Wolff disagreed, "We need to ask people what they think before we finalize this. This is the public's park. We need to give everyone

on the island the right to see it." At that point, Doyle agreed, as did Councilman Charlie Brewer. Councilman Barry Brown questioned the types of

plants to be used, and the costs of maintenance. Councilman Eddie Crone mentioned the fact that the proposed bike and pedestrian path will be

going in front of the fire station, pointing to Fire Chief Skip Sasser's concerns that doing so would pose a potential safety hazard.

After the meeting, members of the planning committee stated that such traffic already travels past the area, but might be altered with input from

Sasser. Committee member Libby Bacon stated, "Now that the drawing is complete, it's in the public's best interest to understand the plan as it is

being presented so everyone can have input."

Former Councilman, Mallory Pearce rose to state his agreement with the planning committee's recommendations against placing a new public safety

building across from a residential neighborhood. Former Council woman Kathryn Williams pointed out the overall number of volunteer hours, time and

money that's involved in supporting volunteer efforts on the island. Williams asked that the Council consider the planning committee's request for

public input in view of the sheer time that's been invested. "This is the community's space!" Williams stated. "Everyone should be given the

opportunity to voice their opinions."

Resident Elizabeth Hodges read the results of the latest online public survey concerning placement of the skatepark in Memorial Park conducted by

Tybee Neighbors. She described the efforts made to verify the e-mail addresses of the respondents and stated, "A very diverse group of people

responded to this survey. Out of 209 local responses, 72.2 percent favored the idea, and nearly 60 percent not only favored it but stated it should be

placed back in Memorial Park. 56.9 percent also stated that the $60,000 should go back into the budget to pay for its construction." Tybee Neighbors

did the survey after learning that council members had decided to reallocate the funds previously set aside for the facility.

Hodges said that only 27.8% of the residents who responded were against having a skatepark on Tybee Island - figures that contradict claims from

the Tybee Island Residents and Property Owners Association that an overwhelming majority of Tybee's citizens are against placing the skateboard

park anywhere on the island. Comments are available on the website at www.tybeeneighbors.com. Hodges announced that the next survey will focus

on the Memorial Park Master Plan.

Later in the evening, the council resolved to put the Memorial Park Plan on the agenda of the upcoming April workshop, and to allow it to be viewed

on the City's website after a brief review - at least in time to meet the planning committee's request for public review within 60 days of presentation.