Public Workshops for Design of Helen McCall Park

[Jdarg]

Here is the public's chance to have input in the Helen McCall plan!


Monday, January 28, 2008
6:00 PM Workshop on Helen McCall Park
South Walton Courthouse Annex, 31 Coastal Centre Blvd, Santa Rosa Beach
Dede Hinote, Executive Assistant, 892-8155
This is the first of 3 workshops. Glatting Jackson, the county consultant and county staff will
hold the workshops to gather input from the public regarding the development of a master plan
for the 30 acre Helen McCall Park. The sole purpose of this meeting is to allow public
participation in the planning process for the Helen McCall Park located on Moll Drive in Santa
Rosa Beach. The other two workshops follow on Wednesday, January 30 at 6:00 p.m. and
Friday, February 1 at 4:00 p.m. at the South Walton Courthouse Annex.



Thanks to Cindy Meadows!

[Jdarg]

Of course I will be there. Should I bring a cooler?

No cooler, just your ideas for a great park.

[Sea Sothebys]

I admit that I am shooting from the hip and not even taking one minute to consider researching myself, but can someone tell me the acreage of Helen McCall, a budget and what sports are currently played there, and how wide-spread are its users...?

[jodiFL]

I admit that I am shooting from the hip and not even taking one minute to consider researching myself, but can someone tell me the acreage of Helen McCall, a budget and what sports are currently played there, and how wide-spread are its users...?

from the Walton Sun.......

The park is currently comprised of 30 acres that consist of baseball, soccer and football fields. The county purchased an additional 10-acres last year to the west to expand the use of its recreational facilities and improve space issues such as parking. The park is located just west of County Road 393 on Moll Drive.

“Last year the park had more than 350 children play either little league baseball or girls softball,”

[Sea Sothebys]

See, I feel a little degraded somehow, but, on the bright side - while you answered me, I was able to be more efficient at work, which is really what I am suppose to be doing. Praise the compulsion to find an answer when a question is asked.

[Sea Sothebys]

What is the story behind Helen McCall. Okay, now I am just being
gluttonous.

I mean who is she?

[Jdarg]

Hey Jodi- can you post the whole link from the Sun please- I have to head out---thanks

[jodiFL]

http://story.waltonsun.com/article.d....db.php?a=2374
She was a business woman in the area who passed away some time ago.

[Sea Sothebys]

Wouldn't it be great to see our schools do a project (perhaps by classroom), where the children design a model of what the ideal park would entail? Maybe that is too advanced for some grades, but it seems like a good project. I might get my lil one involved. I sent an email out to friends about the meetings. Thanks for the post. I will read the Sun article. How I missed that, I do not know. I always browse the Sun.

[Jdarg]

Wouldn't it be great to see our schools do a project (perhaps by classroom), where the children design a model of what the ideal park would entail? Maybe that is too advanced for some grades, but it seems like a good project. I might get my lil one involved. I sent an email out to friends about the meetings. Thanks for the post. I will read the Sun article. How I missed that, I do not know. I always browse the Sun.

Just to catch you up, here are the related SoWal threads. Mission Playpark was "birthed" on this message board.


http://www.sowal.com/bb/showthread.p...ssion+playpark
http://www.sowal.com/bb/showthread.p...ssion+playpark
http://www.sowal.com/bb/showthread.p...ssion+playpark
http://www.sowal.com/bb/showthread.p...ssion+playpark

[Sea Sothebys]

Thank you so much!

[Jdarg]

Bump- workshops are this week, first one tonight at 6 PM. If you have ideas and/or want to be involved in the process, here is your chance!

Hopefully, this Helen McCall expansion will be just the beginning for ongoing development of more and more park land and public areas in South Walton. Get involved now and for future projects!

[supermom262]

see you there!

[Jdarg]

see you there!

Are you going to run to the annex, or drive?

[bluemtnrunner]

Great, I got sick today. Someone please post a rundown of tonight's meeting.

[Jdarg]

Quick update- my eyeballs are tired.

Met with the great people from Glatting Jackson Kercher Anglin, the community planning and design group that will be developing the master plan for future development at Helen McCall. They put on a great presentation to start, with a clear description of the property, the uses, the site restrictions, then we started discussing what we wanted to see at the park.

We touched on many details that will be discussed more later, like xeriscape, dark night lighting, and such. The basic thrust of this meeting was to get some concrete want and needs on the table.

We started all this knowing that this area needed a playground, and we are getting the playground. Also, the playing fields need expansion, ADA compliance needs to be addressed (there is currently zero compliance), pavilions and gathering spaces are needed, and walking/fitness trails.

Then the list went on to include a multi-purpose building for indoor recreation options and indoor hoops, an outdoor basketball area, swimming pool, tennis courts, and a skate park.

Glatting Jackson hits the drawing boards all day tomorrow. Johnny Earles is graciously letting them use his conference room at his office in Gulf Place (thanks!) The next meeting is Wednesday night, 6 pm at the Annex. If you want to have input, either show up at the meeting, or you are welcome to stop by Mr. Earles office tomorrow and the Glatting Jackson crew would be happy to hear your suggestions or answer your questions.

We recognize that not everything we want will fit on the 6 usable acres at Helen McCall, and that money is a big consideration. However, we want to keep the swimming pool as the next option for County recreation expansion since a community pool is a vital asset to the entire community- used by people of all ages, the schools for teams, and for water safety course and such. We must keep looking ahead!

Thanks again to Cindy meadows for her support!

[John R]

Thanks for the report.

[Teresa]

Quick
Glatting Jackson hits the drawing boards all day tomorrow. Johnny Earles is graciously letting them use his conference room at his office in Gulf Place (thanks!) The next meeting is Wednesday night, 6 pm at the Annex. If you want to have input, either show up at the meeting, or you are welcome to stop by Mr. Earles office tomorrow and the Glatting Jackson crew would be happy to hear your suggestions or answer your questions.

We recognize that not everything we want will fit on the 6 usable acres at Helen McCall, and that money is a big consideration. However, we want to keep the swimming pool as the next option for County recreation expansion since a community pool is a vital asset to the entire community- used by people of all ages, the schools for teams, and for water safety course and such. We must keep looking ahead!

Thanks again to Cindy meadows for her support!

thanks for keeping us posted.

sounds like anyone can attend the meeting and participate in the planning details.

Love the swimming pool expansion and hope it will be included fairly soon - our kids could use some swim teams! school swim teams would be fantastic too. really surprising we don't have them yet.

[Jdarg]

thanks for keeping us posted.

sounds like anyone can attend the meeting and participate in the planning details.

Love the swimming pool expansion and hope it will be included fairly soon - our kids could use some swim teams! school swim teams would be fantastic too. really surprising we don't have them yet.

Yes, everyone can participate! C'mon c'mon! We will be looking at prelim plans tonight---

[Jdarg]

The second meeting was held last night. Glatting Jackson worked off a list of needs and wants that we had developed on Monday night, and presented 3 options.

Before ANYTHING else, parking and storm water issues have to be addressed. We looked at the different parking configurations and storm water ideas, then using those as the "skeleton", built the other options in to the plan. I didn't love any one plan, bu t I liked parts of each, so my final recommendation was based on a mix of the three.

Most felt it important to keep the "destination playground" area close and within view of Moll Dr. as opposed to placing it in the more isolated back of the property, and making room for 2 full size playing fields that could be lined for several different sports. There are plans for a basketball court, a multi-purpose building, like a field house, an indoor gym, pavilions with bathrooms, and walking trails. Down the road, there are options for a pool and skate park.

Keep in mind that this park will be constructed in phases as money becomes available, but starting with the "bones' like parking and storm water, then the playground and fields.

I do think that people interested in the pool need to start talking, as this is a long term, buy necessary, expense. The county owns 7 acres near the Annex that we discussed using for the pool and tennis facilities, and I am looking forward to researching that a bit more. We need the pool for school competition teams and public use for recreation, and swimming and water safety courses.

The final draft will be presented on Friday at 4 pm.

[bluemtnrunner]

My son (13) has this suggestion for the park committee. To save money and help keep our community beautiful he would like to take down the blue signs and use them to build the skatepark. They would make excellent ramps!

I'M SO PROUD