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B. Kenwood - Oakdale Team Final ReportT C ABLE OF ONTENTS Preface 2 Park Enhancements 4 Swim Facility Recreational Trail The Smoky Hill River Land Ownership, Park Operation & Facilities 13 Ag Hall & the 4-H Building Bicentennial Center Expo Center 18 Salina Family Stadium & Recreation Center 26 Increasing the Size of Kenwood Park 28 Implementing the Vision 29 Financing 31 A Final Word 32 Addendum 33 K-O P R ENWOOD AKDALE ARK EPORT P REFACE The mission of the Kenwood-Oakdale Team is to “focus on creating the ideal land use plan, management of the park area, detailing capital improvements that are needed in the park area.” In addition the team’s charge is to “review options to finance those improvements. The five plans previously presented to the public received high quality and well thought out responses. However, the feedback did not point to an overwhelming consensus about one plan in particular, even though some of the plans had more support than others. After discussion and review of the feedback, the team used the community input and then went “back to the basics with a purpose to be bold and visionary” by thinking about the future of Kenwood and Oakdale Parks – in terms of now and the long-term future. The team broadened its vision to think “out of the box” of the specific park territory. The team used the proposals that had the most public support as the starting template for a community vision. This document is intended to be a vision statement for the future of Kenwood and Oakdale Parks. While this document does not provide all of the details needed by community leaders and others to implement the vision, it attempts to provide some specifics. The guiding criteria for our recommendations are: We need quality of life improvements that will enhance the ability of the Salina area to attract and retain families. Families are the basis of the quality of life enjoyed by those who live and work in Salina. The employment, shopping, education, cultural and health care sectors of our economy are grounded in having solid families in Saline County. Salina needs to prepare for future generations of employees – and understand that the next generation has an approach about job location decisions that is very different from any previous generation. Employers need a workforce of sufficient quantity and quality so they can continue to add jobs and make capital investments in Salina. Nearly every employer in Kansas f aces this challenge. We must create an environment in Salina that will appeal to the workforce of the next several decades. Accomplishing this objective will separate Salin a from other cities in Kansas that are currently developing plans to attract the same workers. The next generation workforce will locate to the economy that meets their definition of quality of life then find suitable employ ment. This is the opposite approach of previous generations. Salina must make the quality of life improvements that will appeal to the next generation. Many of the concepts in this report have cross generation appeal that is needed for today’s residents and for future residents. 2 K-O P R ENWOOD AKDALE ARK EPORT We must make enhancements that will bring new dollars into the economy and retain dollars that are currently leaving the Salina economy. Various activities occur in the two parks that attract visitors to the city and bring commerce to Salina. For example, the Smoky Hill River Festival brings people and business activity to Salina. Many of the ag-based events at the Expo Center bring trade and commerce to Salina from across the region. The Bicentennial Center is a year round destination for events that attract trade and business activity. The Expo Center also hosts many events that have a mostly local draw. These events keep trade and commerce in Salina and add to the quality of life enjoyed by residents. Futu re enhancements should be approved with the intent that they will stimulate economic activity. Proposed enhancements need a positive short and long-term impact. The park plan must be right for 2008 and for 2058. Thanks to the extraordinary vision of previous generations, Kenwood and Oakdale Parks exist in the city and have added to the quality of life in Salina for decades. Shor t-term vision and logic must be balanced with an understanding that the park use in 2058 is important for the long-term vitality of Salina. 3 K-O P R ENWOOD AKDALE ARK EPORT P E ARK NHANCEMENTS Swim Facility Salina can have an outstanding swim facility that will attract users and be the envy of other cities without constructing the full-scale water park to the full extent as was previously considered by the community several years ago. Rather than re-furbish a facility that was built in 1956, (the first year Elvis had a hit record) we support construction of a new first class facility that will attract young families and children and add to the quality of life in the Salina area. Time is of the essence to move ahead with development plans because of the situation at the current City of Salina swimming pool. Engineering and design should occur at the soonest point possible. The facility should include the same set of features found at the Salina Country Club pool on the appropriate scale. There should be a large zero-entry pool for toddlers, preschoolers and parents with interactive water features such as spray pads, small slides, and water toys appropriate for young children. The facility should have dedicated lanes for lap swimming. A separate diving well area and water slides are excellent components of a first class swimming facility. A Sa lina-specific theme should be developed. The team does not believe that the “lazy river” concept previously presented to the community needs to be part of the swim facility. However, if a grass-roots effort of the community supports the lazy river concept, then it could be included in the final plan and should be left to the voters for their support. We believe the best location for a swim facility is to the east of the current youth football field. This keeps the swimming activity close to the YMCA facility and near other activities in the parks. A youth football field should remain in Kenwood Park to enhance current park activities and to leverage other park facilities. Moving the football field from its current location creates room for the swim facility and allows for additional parking south of the Bicentennial Center. Arena football teams have previously shown an interest in playing in Salina but have voiced concerns about the location of a practice field. This issue has been one of multiple barriers that limits a team coming to Salina. The exact site of the youth football field should be chosen with the idea that it will also address this need. 4 K-O P R ENWOOD AKDALE ARK EPORT Ultimately, no swim facility should be constructed without a sufficient priority given to budgeting for maintenance and continual improvement. The current pool has not had the maintenance and capital improvement program to would keep the facility top notch for years – and this must be avoided going forward. Proper maintenance of the swim facility can keep Salina’s facility in excellent condi tion for generations. Features within the swim facility will become dated and need re placement with new equipment. New ideas will emerge in swim facility design that will appeal to the target audience. The locker room facilities must be kept in excellent condition. Recreational Trail We applaud the City of Salina commitment to design work for a multi-use recreational trail to follow the 6.72-mile path of the Smoky Hill River from Bill Burke Park to Lakewood Park. The City must move beyond the planning and design stage to prioritize construction of this multi-use recreational trail. We know there are locations along the river that are in private ownership and we believe those issues can be addressed so the trail can have maximum value. It was clear in evaluating the community response to the five initial park concepts, that strong community support exists for development of a “Kenwood and Oakdale Park trail loop” that is approximately two miles long around the perimeter of Kenwood & Oakdale Parks. The “rubberized asphalt trail” concept received positive public feedback. This trail loop will be very popular because of its central location and the flat terrain. There should be easy access to downtown Salina from the trail at Ash St., Iron Avenue, South St. and Walnut St. Given financial constraints, the trail might need to be done in phases. Exhibit A - Map of 6.73-mile Smoky Hill River Trail through Salina 5 K-O P R ENWOOD AKDALE ARK EPORT The trail will be a perfect activity for parents with strollers and walking groups. The team has not addressed bicycles, skateboard or pet use of the trail. The team expects these diverse Smoky Hill River Trail users as it moves forward in it’s planning. The Smoky Hill River The team believes the portion of the Smoky Hill River located in the Kenwood-Oakdale Park merits additional focus beyond the recreational trail previously described. This unique asset of the community needs further enhancement to be a destination point in Salina. The portion of the Smoky Hill River that goes through the community should be “a river that moves” with clearer water, better views of the river and more opportunities for people to interact with this natural asset. The team believes there is significant potential to create a signature feature for Salina. Beyond a simple trail, the team envisions all-weather tables, benches, lighting (see samples below), viewing vistas and improved access to the river via strategically located accessible piers for people who wish to canoe, paddle boat and interact with the water. The popularity of the existing gazebo in Oakdale Park merits consideration of constructing another. Interpretative materials that review the history of the river’s use in Salina, information about wildlife alo ng the river, etc. is appropriate. The river needs continual maintenance to improve water flow so that it draws people to the park. There are engineering issues to improving the vitality of the Smoky Hill River as it flows through Salina. However, the uniqueness and potential of a strong river merits priority and focused effort. On a regular basis of every 15 to 20 years (unless a major event accelerates the need for maintenance) the flow of the Smoky Hill River channel through Kenwood and Oakdale Parks should be shut to perform regular cleaning. The floodgates at Bill Burke and at Lakewood Park can be regulated for work to occur. The ideal time of the year is during winter when water flows are reduced. Specialized equipment can access the channel easier during winter months when the ground is hard. The channel that flows through Kenwood and Oakdale Parks is more accurately described as a storm water drainage channel that performs a valuable flood control function. While a full flow of the river through the channel is not possible, a flow that allows recreational use of the river is possible. Exhibit B Sample of Lighting and Trail by a River 6 K-O P R ENWOOD AKDALE ARK EPORT We believe the section of the channel be tween Kenwood and Oakdale Parks should be a priority for regular comprehensive cleaning because of the high visibility and high use potential of this portion of the river channel validate the value of a tree and debris management plan. Bank erosion control, reducing and removing foliage and trees, and overall maintenance of the river can occur in order to improve the clarity of the water and the speed of the current, thus creating a riverfront that will draw families and activity to the park area. We believe there are many highly motivated resi dents in the Salina that are willing to be trained as river volunteers. These people will support such work on the river so that regular work on the river channel need not become a budgetary challenge. Exhibit C - Example of Gathering Points, Walkway and Lighting Near A River 7 K-O P R ENWOODAKDALEARK EPORT Exhibit D - Example of Walkway Down to a River Exhibit E – Current View of Smoky Hill River 8 K-O P R ENWOOD AKDALEARK EPORT Exhibit F - Sample View of Trail next to Smoky Hill River Exhibit G - Current View of Oakdale Park to Iron Street Images on this page provided by Jones Gilliam 9 K-O P R ENWOOD AKDALEARK EPORT Exhibit H - Detail of Smoky Hill River Greenway Concept Images on this page provided by Jones Gilliam Exhibit I - Smoky Hill River Greenway Detail of Building with River View 10 K-O P R ENWOOD AKDALE ARK EPORT Beyond the portion of the Smoky Hill River that flows through the parks, we believe the entire portion of the river that is adjacent to downtown Salina merits enhancement beyond the trail project that is currently being envisione d by the City of Salina. There needs to be an environment that encourages private sector investment and development along Fifth Street in downtown Salina. This can be accomplished by creating a “greenway” (see Exhibit H above) along both sides of the river from the edge of Oakdale Park to the bridge at Iron Street. Wayfinding signs should enhance and reaffirm the connection between downtown Salina and the Smoky Hill River. The purpose of the greenway is to build a stronger connection between Oakdale Park, the Smoky Hill River and downtown Salina. The greenway will be known for its picnic tables, gathering places for small concerts and improved sight lines along the river. A task force of Salina Downtown Inc. should be empowered to convene a broad-based community group to develop greenway details and to identify resources to pay for the improvements. An important outcome of the greenway is to encourage private sector capital investment. If the right environment is created, the private sector will invest private dollars in the greenway – exhibit I shows the site plan of a greenway and detail of a potential restaurant with a river view. There are several cities that have increased the viability of their downtown by creating a stronger connection with a river. Pueblo Colorado, Oklahoma City, San Antonio Texas and Naperville Illinois have experienced stronger downtown business development are creating a stronger link between their commercial district and a river. Salina downtown has the same potential if the link with the river can be improved. Each of these cities and many others has experienced more customer traffic (and the resulting increase in retail sales) to benefit merchants that are located in the shopping district near the river. There is every reason to expect that Salina downtown retailers can experience the same increase in activity if a stronger link to Kenwood-Oakdale Park is established via the Smoky Hill River channel. Improvements to the Smoky Hill River channel provide the opportunity to create a vibrant synergy with other developments. The planned expansion of the Salina Community Theater (see exhibits J and K) is located at the north end of the channel as shown in Exhibits H and I on page 10.This positive project, combined with improvements to the river channel can dramatically invigorate downtown Salina and build a strong connection between the parks and downtown Salina – a connection that will increase traffic and commerce into downtown Salina. 11 K-O P R ENWOOD AKDALEARK EPORT Exhibit J – Building Expansion Plan Images provided by Salina Community Theater Exhibit K – Exterior View of Salina Community Theater 12 K-O P R ENWOOD AKDALE ARK EPORT L O, P O& F AND WNERSHIP ARK PERATION ACILITIES We believe that the best short-term approach with regard to land ownership is to continue ownership of Kenwood Park by the City of Salina and Oakdale Park by the Saline County. Rather than the selling and purchasing of land or creating a separate park authority to own and operate the parks, we believe it is a good long-term idea to create a cooperative interlocal agreement for the City of Salina to operate both parks, and the buildings in both parks, via a maintenance agreement. This is the most logical approach. It is our observation that Oakdale Park currently looks and operates like a “park”. However, Kenwood Park does not. We believe it should be a long-term goal to convert Kenwood from its current collection of buildings to a setting that looks and “feels” like a park with interior recreational trails and landscaping with green space. We envision two parks with trails and other amenities, people enjoying each other and the outdoors. For example, a nice summer day should find people in both parks, enjoying multiple activities in both parks and purchasing food from vendors over the noon hour. The foot traffic between the two parks should flow back and forth. Ag Hall & the 4-H Building There are annual events that are too large for the Bicentennial Center in its current size and configuration. Specifically, the United Methodist Church’s annual conference and the annual No-Till Conference currently are at capacity the Bicentennial Center’s size and configuration. Other buildings in Kenwood Park are used for those events. The ability to continue attracting convention visitors (and their impact on the Salina economy) depends on the right facilities. There is a need for meeting space in Kenwood Park in addition to the Bicentennial Center. There is strong public sentiment for retaining and upgrading Ag Hall and the 4-H building, however, the financial feasibility to meet tomorrow’s standards for meeting space may be financial prohibitive for Ag Hall. We believe they any retained and future buildings should be incorporated into a “Bicentennial Center complex” that includes common management. 13 K-O P R ENWOOD AKDALEARK EPORT Below are photos that show similar buildings in Topeka that have been remodeled to create increased use. Exhibits L & M - Interior Views of Buildings Similar to 4-H and Ag-Hall After Remodeling 14 K-O P R ENWOOD AKDALE ARK EPORT Bicentennial Center We encourage increased monetary support for enhancements to the Bicentennial Center. The facility was outstanding when its doors opened in 1979 and it is a very good facility for the needs of Salina in 2008. However, it falls short when one considers the future. With vision set to 2028 or 2058, continual improvements must be planned and made or the building will fall behind. The approach of focusing only on today and leave the future to the future is not the right approach and is not the logic of progress. Without important updates, the facility will become “dated” compared to newer venues that compete against Salina for major events and their resulting economic activity. Without upgrades, the facility will fall behind and the price to “catch up” will become very large. In 2006, the Bicentennial Center hosted a total of 432 events, with a total building attendance of 227,895 people. Without upgrades, revenue shortfalls are more likely, requiring continued and increased subsidies fr om the City of Salina general fund. The key to reduced future general fund subsidies is to increase Bicentennial Ce nter traffic. The key to increasing facility use is to make upgrades that have been delayed. However, “just getting even” should not be the acceptable standard for Salina. The facility must be top notch, like it was opening day. An incremental approach to upgrades is the logical strategy and improvements can be staged rather than one major (and extremely expensive) upgrade becomes critical. The saying “you are either moving forward or you are moving backwards, but there is no standing still.” applies to the Bicentennial Center. At a minimum, the facility needs an interior and exterior facelift along with other enhancements. Some changes are operational and are easy to address. For example, a specific short-term enhancement that will help to provide convention attendees free or low cost wireless Internet service. Budgetary support must exist so that wireless Internet service is available in the building for little or no cost. The facilities that compete against Salina for conventions provide that service – and create increased attendee satisfaction. However, many things are not as easy to address and are not operational. The configuration of Heritage Hall, when it is divided into four separate rooms, presents challenges. When the room dividers are in place, access to the east quadrants of Heritage Hall is limited to outside access only or through the west quadrants. This is not acceptable in the competitive marketplace that Salina exists in for convention business. The ability to create “breakout” rooms for sessions is limited for groups in excess of 600 people. Removable carpet should be purchased for Heritage Hall. This will greatly improve the visual impact of the room on users, it will improve sound quality in the room and it projects more of a “first class” image to convention planners and attendees. Carpet that can be removed should be used to provide maximum flexibility in room use. 15 K-O P R ENWOOD AKDALE ARK EPORT Additional information monitors should be placed around the facility, including above the concession areas with programming such as a looped Salina promotional video, notices of upcoming events and weather reports. The two images below are from a building with a similar function as Heritage Hall. The photos show a room before and after renovation. The top image is similar to how Heritage Hall looks today with original flooring and ceili ng. The resulting improvement will improve the ability of the Bicentennial Ce nter to increase people attending events in Salina. Consider the appeal of these two rooms to a conference planning committee: Exhibit N - Room Similar to Heritage Hall Before Renovation 16 K-O P R ENWOOD AKDALE ARK EPORT Exhibit O - Same Room After Renovation Other improvements that will generate additional building use, and the resulting increase in people sleeping in Salina lodging faci lities, are needed. A menu of long-term enhancements should be developed with input from Bicentennial Center staff, Visit Salina staff and convention planners that currently use the building, along with those that do not use the facility. An important and deciding criteria should be the ability of proposed enhancements to result in more overnight stays at Salina lodging facilities. Events that have left the Bicentennial Center, or are in danger of leaving due to outgrowing the facility, or physical needs not being met (break out meeting rooms, space for meals, etc.) annually represent 8,400 attendees and combined estimated direct economic impact in excess of $1.2 million. One annual convention with 700 attendees evaluated their experience in Salina “…the staff was wonderful. Just add more space and we will be back.” Until then, this major convention is held elsewhere. There are other annual conventions that are at risk of leaving Salina. One event has over 1,600 attendees and experiences real challenges with the lim ited space available for their event in Salina. Another convention with 600 people relocated to another community (thinking the other community would not have the space and design challenges of the Bicentennial Center). The convention returned to Salina due to the superior customer service of Bicentennial Center staff. However, the size and configuration challenges that led them to leave Salina in the first place still remain. There are several interesting long-term ideas about potential ways to enhance traffic at the Bicentennial Center. For example, additional multi-use room is needed. Increased exhibition and meeting rooms can help attract new convention events. 17 K-O P R ENWOOD AKDALE ARK EPORT E C XPO ENTER We believe, with very strong conviction, to attract trade and commerce into Salina, we need outdoor facilities that are “first class” and usable on a year round basis. The Saline County Expo Center, in its current condition, no longer meets the definition of a “first class venue”. Most buildings are not usable in the winter because toilets and plumbing are not winter proof and must be drained during the winter months. Animal wash areas are substandard and many other safety improvements are needed. Beyond the buildings, the part of Kenwood Park where the Expo Center sits has significant drainage issues. As with the Bicentennial Center, decisions about the Expo center need to have a dual vision – toward 2028 and for decades into the future. The facility has not had the incremental enhancements over time that would have kept it as an excellent facility. In light of today, upgrades are expensive. However, the team believes that any Expo center enhancements must be viewed in light of several generations and the next fifty years rather than only in light of today. There have been no major improvements or expansion to the Saline County Expo Center in over 35 years. Other communities in Kansas that compete against Salina for events that attract visitors (and their money) have and are upgrading their facilities. Some of these markets are significantly smaller than Salin a and now events are leaving the Salina economy for those communities with newer, larger, and more modern venues. The significance of agriculture related events at the Expo Center on the Saline County economy appears to be underappreciated. The estimated direct annual economic impact of agriculture related events at the Expo Center in 2001-2002 exceeded $ 3,000,000. Ag related events are the “bread and butter” of Expo Center events that bring out of county visitors to the Salina economy. It was estimated that 46 percent of Expo Center users are overnight visitors and nearly 54 percent of users were not spending the night in a hotel. The facility is also the location for many community events, auctions, estate sales, wedding receptions, 4-H events, banquets, meetings, and numerous trade show events throughout the year. These events add to the quality of life that will enhance the continued ability of Saline County to attract families and the workforce of tomorrow. 18 K-O P R ENWOOD AKDALE ARK EPORT In 2006, there were 242 different events at the Expo Center, with a combined total of 447 “event days” of activity. Expo Center records indicate that during a recent year, approximately 180 events were unable to be booked at the center, primarily because the facility was already booked or the facility was too small. A larger facility has significant growth possibilities for the Salina economy. Other events have substantially outgrown the existing facilities and have le ft the local economy. The September Quarter Horse Current event recently left Salina, taking 500 horses and attendees (and their financial impact on the Salina economy) over a 5-day show to Emporia. Visit Salina estimates that if the event were to return to Salina, the direct financial impact to the Salina economy would be at least $36,000. The multiplied impact of this event on the Salina economy is a minimum of more than $50,000. To keep current activities and to attract new and larger events that bring trade and commerce to the Salina economy, the Expo Center merits attention. One of several specific examples is recreational vehicle park ing. The current location and configuration of the Expo Center limits upgrades and expansion of the RV parking. Demand exists for a larger facility but it is not possible in th e present location. There was not overwhelming public support to increasing RV activity in Kenwood Park in any of the original five plans the team presented. Our vision of the Saline County Expo Center is to have a facility that meets community and regional needs for at least the next three generations. The current facility has served Salina well. However, one key building opened its doors when Calvin Coolidge was President. We believe the right approach is to begin with components of the 2006 proposal for Expo Center relocation. Reducing and simplifying the st ructures from that plan is appropriate. Eliminating some of the expensive “bells a nd whistles” associated with that plan will save money. Building a more practical faci lity with adequate planning for future expansion as needed is critical. As the team reviewed public input, it was observed: “If a person wanted to build a new house today in Salina, they would not be allowed to keep six horses in a residential and commercial district. That would not be acceptable to existing residents in the neighborhood near Kenwood and Oakdale Parks. Certainly, keeping 600 horses or cows would not be acceptable today in a residential and commercial district.” Given long-term growth patterns and the expectation of future development, the team believes that Salina should pursue a different location for housing livestock instead of in a district that will be even more residential and commercial in 2058 than today. 19 K-O P R ENWOOD AKDALE ARK EPORT We believe the Expo Center needs to strategically locate to a long-term site that is more appropriate for livestock and the ag-based functions held at the Expo Center. This is not just a decision about 2008; the selected site must make sense in three and four generations. It is a challenge to know today what will be the best site in 50 years. However, the Saline County comprehensive plan and the City of Salina comprehensive plan should both designate a preferred location for the Expo Center. This will help create critical “organizational buy in” from both entities in regard to this mutually beneficial facility. Salina is blessed to have vi sionary leaders nearly seventy years ago that created the current Expo Center. The team does not believe that the location chosen for Ag Hall in 1924 (the year Woodrow Wilson and Vladimir Lenin both died) will make sense for the Expo Center in 2058. Development patterns and traffic routes change over a 134-year period and that must be recognized – and planned for. A phased development of a new Expo Center over a period of years has several advantages. The initial cost of construction will be lower with an incremental approach. The market will drive expansion of the facility. A demand driven approach is more reliable and accurate than consultant projections. A new Expo Center will benefit multiple generations and phased development will better allow total costs to be shared by the generations that will benefit from the facility. At a minimum, a new Expo Center needs the same capabilities of the current usage of the facility. It needs a high visibility location a nd easy access for large vehicles and trailers. The Expo Center should be built with expandable facilities in a lo cation with sufficient acreage that provides the possibility for future expansion – to be determined and funded by future leaders as needs arise due to market demand. A base level of required facilities needs to be constructed. The buildings should be of material and design that can easily and cost-effectively be expanded when suffici ent demand exists. This will provide the most flexibility for functional use of the Expo Center over the next several decades. We recommend the first phase of the Expo Center include the following: 12,000 square feet of administrative and Extension Service offices, including the weed control office plus 21,000 feet of storage and a maintenance/chemical/hay sales/service shop. These functions should be incorporated into a single building to lower per square foot construction costs. In the 2006 plan, the offices were in a different building than the s hop and the storage facilities. 20 K-O P R ENWOOD AKDALE ARK EPORT A single multi-purpose arena building. This facility, between 130,000 and 175,000 sq. feet, will contain multi-purpose facilities that can house cattle and horses with a large arena plus a warm-up arena. Currently, these functions occur in a three different facilities that have a combin ed total of 114,100 sq. feet. A larger, single building will meet needs for generations to come, function better, have a lower cost of operation than multiple buildings and it will have a lower cost of construction. The plan rejected in 2006 envisioned these functions occurring in a combined 180,600 sq. foot of space. We believe the seating in the arena should be either collapsible or moveable so that space can be fully utilized. In the future, when demand justifies the expense of another performance arena, the cost of seating will not be a redundant or wasted expense. Three Buildings for Swine, Sheep and Poultry. Each of these buildings will include a small show arena. These buildings ar e 12,800 sq. feet, 9,600 sq. feet and 8,000 sq. feet respectively. In the previous Expo Center plan, the buildings were a total of 38,400 sq. feet. We believe that a reduction in the combined size of the buildings is appropriate. If it is appropriate, then a single building to house all three animal groups will be a more cost-effective approach. Construction of a larger facility for exhibits, banquets and other events. The previous Expo Center plan recommended two separate 10,000 sq. foot buildings. The team recommends one 40,000 sq. foot building with the capacity for multiple events. There are many advantages to this approach. In addition to a lower per square foot cost of construction, one building will involve less continued maintenance than two. A central kitchen can serve multiple m eals and avoid unnecessary duplication of equipment. The team suggests the County reduce its construction expense by considering only a partial build out of the kitchen facilities. A request for proposals (RFP) can be developed to attract a private sector firm that is willing to operate the kitchen facilities. If so, the cost of the final kitchen improvements can be paid by the lease improvements made to the building – a nd paid by the tenant renting the kitchen. These improvements described above will address the items prioritized in a survey of the general public users of the Expo Center and of Livestock and Equine users of the Expo Center. The survey was conducted to gather input prior to the previous proposal. Public/General Users Livestock/Equine Users 1. General Parking 1. Warm-Up & Staging Areas 2. Electric Outlets 2. Livestock Barns & Stalls 3. Restrooms 3. Trailer Parking 4. Loading/Unloading Areas 4. Show Ring Access 5. Vendor/Exhibit Space 5. Restrooms/Showers 6. Concessions 6. General Parking 7. RV Parking 7. Show Arena Below are sample photos of buildings envisi oned by the Kenwood-Oakdale Park team for the Expo Center. 21 K-O P R ENWOOD AKDALEARK EPORT Exhibit P - Pictures of Sample Expo Center Buildings Exhibit Q - Examples of Expo Center Buildings 22 K-O P R ENWOOD AKDALE ARK EPORT Exhibit R - Examples of Expo Center Buildings The 2006 Expo Center plans envisioned buildings with a similar use with a per square foot construction cost ranging from $60.59 to $92.59. We believe that a more reasonable and practical approach is appropriate. Construction costs to accomplish this will be between 15 and 16 million dollars initially, whic h is more than 20 percent less than the $20,942,076 concept rejected in 2006. We believe that a lower per square foot cost of construction than was previously proposed is appropriate. Based on contractor input, we believe there is likelihood that quality and appropriate buildings can be constructed for approximately $56 per square foot. The Expo Center, including all parking, is currently between 25 and 32 acres of Kenwood Park. The center consists of ten buildings with a combin ed total of 122,985 square feet plus the outdoor arena for a total 391,145 sq. feet. The configuration of buildings is not ideal, however and valuable space is wasted. For example, the outdoor arena is not located near the other buildings. If one were designing the Expo Center today for the first time, the current building layout and configuration would not be used. We believe that with good land use planning, a facility can be designed and constructed on property from 60 to 100 acres. This will allow space for future expansion when the market dictates that growth and it will provide sufficient parking. 80 acres more than doubles the space for the Expo Center but is appropriate for Salina compared to the 240-acre (160 acres for the Expo Center and 80 acres for expansion and future use) proposal that was rejected in 2006. The 2006 plan included 42 acres reserved for “green space”. 23 K-O P R ENWOOD AKDALE ARK EPORT However, it is a more effective use of space and land than the current location. The drawing below (see exhibit S) shows a more logical and practical approach to land use and building location. The buildings and the site plan should assume buildings that can be expanded as future demand merit. For example, if a building needs to be expanded in 2028, then the regular Saline County budget process should provide the resources for that expansion. We believe Saline County should continue to be the operator of the Expo Center at its new location. 24 K-O P R ENWOODAKDALEARK EPORT Exhibit S – Potential Site Plan for Expo Center 25 K-O P R ENWOOD AKDALE ARK EPORT Concerns about the loss of vehicle traffic from major Expo Center events can be minimized via well-publicized and scheduled transportation from a new Expo Center site to downtown Salina and other shopping districts. An “Expo Center/Downtown Shuttle” should be used when major events are scheduled at the Expo Center. This will help maintain trade and commerce occurring in downtown Salina. The enhancements to the park detailed elsewhere in this statement (see “Smoky Hill River” and “Salina Family Stadium”) will also offset loss of traffic to downtown merchants and will likely lead to the long-term gain of traffic to downtown merchants. We believe the enhancements will change the nature of those visiting downtown merchants. S F S& R C ALINA AMILY TADIUM ECREATION ENTER We believe that an appropriate long-term land use for Kenwood and Oakdale Parks includes more family-focused activities. This will complement the residential neighborhood that is adjacent to the park and help accomplish the overall community development objective stated in the preface of this report. As previously mentioned, Kenwood Park must look and function like a park. Therefore, there must be trail development, landscaping and park benches to divide the acres and acres of asphalt that now define much of Kenwood Park. We have a positive and proactive expectation for Salina’s future. We believe long term development and population growth will continue to put pressure on the education infrastructure of USD 305 and the other educational institutions in Salina. We believe that a second community stadium, with top-notch venues for football, soccer and track & field, is a worthy long-term vision for Kenwood Park in the area to the north of the Bicentennial Center. The facility will be us ed in the spring, summer and fall. We believe the future children of Salina should not play in second-class facilities, compared to other cities in Kansas. It may be another generation before this issue needs to be addressed. Capacity and infrastructure issues exist at Salina Stadium now and if two more decades of community development and growth has created the need for an additional public high school, then there will be additional challenges with the existing Salina stadium. In another generation, the recently completed enhancements to the turf at Salina Stadium will be beyond its useful life and it will be ready for replacement. In another generation, a second stadium may be a very logical path forward in light of obvious scheduling conflicts that will occur with only one stadium. The Kenwood-Oakdale Park Team has a vision for two decades from now. We see the value of a joint facility with potential for use by each USD 305 high school, Sacred Heart Senior High School, St. John’s Military School and by Kansas Wesleyan University. A facility used by each school will reinforce the land use objectives of Kenwood Park by creating a major venue that attracts and supports families that Salina needs to grow. 26 K-O P R ENWOOD AKDALE ARK EPORT However, we strongly believe that this new facility should not be pursued until there truly is sufficient demand at the appropriate point in the future. We encourage USD 305 and the other educational institutions to dialogue how a family stadium can best meet their collective needs. We encourage each of the educational institutions in Salina to consider our vision statement as a measure of public support for the institutions to engage in long- term facility development planning in regards to a Salina Family Stadium. There will be complicated scheduling issues and financing such a facility will require work, but the vision of a Salina Family Stadium is a worthy goal. We are not suggesting that USD 305 or any other potential users of such a facility commit financial resources at this time nor are we suggesting that any entity provide leadership to this concept at this time. When the community senses the time to be right, we encourage the relevant parties to begin discussion of this vision. The team notes that Salina Family Stadium offers significant potential to increase traffic and customer count in downtown Salina. This increased traffic would reduce the impact of a new Expo Center location on downtown. The nature and character of park customers will change, with increased demand for eating and drinking establishments. This facility provides a venue to attract statewide track meets and events that bring hundreds of individuals to Salina, typical ly on an overnight basis. The area around the Salina Family Stadium should be designated and development a Family Recreation Center. This area can include horseshoe pits, outdoor basketball courts, outdoor volleyball courts and a disc golf course. As noted earlier in this report, there is a need for expansion of the Bicentennial Center. An expanded center will provide needed additional meeting and exhibition space. With proper planning, cooperation and design, this expansion could reinforce the family centered focus on the parks by including additional indoor recreational space for the community. If merited in the future, the feasibility of an indoor pool should be studied. Such a facility will truly co mplete a vision of Kenwood-Oakdale Park as a high value part of what makes Salina a great place to live and work. 27 K-O P R ENWOOD AKDALE ARK EPORT I S K P NCREASING THE IZE OF ENWOOD ARK We believe it is in the long-term best interest of Kenwood-Oakdale Park to expand the size of the parks. Expanding the footprint of the parks provides the opportunity for additional parking, additional facilities that will provide programming for Saline County residents and improving access to the parks. In 2008, such expansion of the park footprint is not merited, but it might be in future decades. We believe the current Kansas Gas Service – Westar Energy property offers a logical long-term opportunity to create an additional gateway into Kenwood and Oakdale parks. Public ownership of the property and partial or total removal of the buildings at the site can improve visibility to the parks and it will also provide a logical redevelopment opportunity for businesses that will serve visitors to the parks. We believe the City comprehensive plan should target the site as long-term property acquisition objective. 28 K-O P R ENWOOD AKDALE ARK EPORT I V MPLEMENTING THE ISION We recognize that interdependence of the City of Salina and Salin e County are vital to the healthy economic development of the city, county and region. Reasonable incremental growth of both the county and city are interdependent. Recognizing that interdependence means compromise, collaboration that will promote the most efficient use of tax dollars to sustain and grow our community. The adoption of this proposal clearly sends a message that the community recognizes that both government bodies are willing to work together to maximize our finite tax resources. It will be critical, from a funding and a logistics point of view, to carefully phase the vision for Kenwood and Oakdale Park. The team realizes that this future vision cannot occur overnight. Since this vision will set the course of the Kenwood and Oakdale Parks and their facilities for decades, we realize that it will take years to implement the plan. A detailed transition plan must be developed and implemented. The major considerations of a transition plan are below: 1. The City of Salina should proceed right away to finalize project details and pursue funding for the swim facility and bice ntennial center improvements. 2. A new Kenwood Park lease should be negot iated between the City of Salina and Saline County. This lease is necessary so short-term safety and efficiency upgrades to the Expo Center can quickly be implemented. This will also allow the Tri-River Fair to operate until a new Expo Center location is established. 3. We believe a separate and more detailed inter-local government agreement should be approved between the City and County. The agreement could detail multiple considerations. For example, the inter-local agreement could stipulate that upon the opening of new Expo Center at a new location, clear title of Oakdale Park will be transferred to City of Salina. We believe it is important that the City of Salina see itself as invested in the success of the Expo Center. 4. We believe that, at a point in the future, a combined ballot issue should be brought to the voters on a countywide ballot. The ballot issue will seek funding for improvements to the original Smoky Hill River channel that flows along downtown Salina and for the Expo Center project. Both the Expo Center project and the Smoky Hill River channel project need approval and comments from citizens. The scope of both projects and the price of both projects need to be defined. The City and County are currently updating their comprehensive plans. Both plans should designate a mutually agreeable location for the Expo Center. This will allow planning by both bodies to occur in regards to infrastructure development, etc. The ballot issue will be brought to voters when details have been established for the river project and the Expo Center. 29 K-O P R ENWOOD AKDALE ARK EPORT This approach allows the City to proceed with approval for priority projects and provides time for details to be established for the Smoky Hill River channel project and provides time for Expo Center detail to be completed. This also allows Saline County to proceed with other immediate projects such as the roads and bridges in the county. We believe that Visit Salina should be empowered to organize forums to detail and prioritize Bicentennial Center enhancements that will result in more overnight lodgings and more facility activity. When the youth football field is moved to its permanent location, work to recruit an Arena football team should begin. 30 K-O P R ENWOOD AKDALE ARK EPORT F INANCING It will take a variety of approaches to make this vision become reality. Fundamentally, it must be realized that it is impossible to make the community improvements that will help Salina grow for the next several decades without spending money. There are a number of financing options available. 1.We support a one and a half percent increase in the transient guest tax paid by visitors to Salina. This will be the first in crease in the transient guest tax rate since 1991. The support is contingent on the increased proceeds being used only for targeted capital improvements at the Bicentennial Center. The list of targeted improvements should be developed with input from Visit Salina, lodging facilities, tourism destinations and Bicentennial Center leadership. We support targeting 1 ¼ percent of the transient guest tax increase for specific capital enhancements that will lead to an increase in overnight stays at lodging facilities in Salina. This will annually create approximately an additional $239,000 after the Kansas Department of Revenue subtracts its administrative fee. We support targeting ¼ percent of the increase for Visit Salina to use with the restriction that the funds (an estimated $43,000 annually) be used primarily to market the Bicentennial Center and the Expo Center as destinations for meetings, sporting events and other activities that will bring visitors to Salina’s economy – and into our lodging facilities. 2. We believe the private sector and the comm unity-at-large can be a valuable partner in creating progress. The swim facility, as described on page 4 of this report, can expand with grass roots financial support. In the same manner the greater community recently responded to the desire for enhanced youth soccer facilities, the vision of the swim facility can expand if commun ity financial support exists. Perhaps a “good, better, best” option can be created. The broader community can make the difference between “better” and “best”. 3. Many communities have secured additiona l financial support for facilities by providing firms the opportunity to secure “naming rights”. Elsewhere in the nation, firms with employees in the Salina mark et (Philips, Alltel) have entered into agreements with other communities. We believe the opportunity exists in Salina to provide significant marketing exposure to the private sector in exchange for their financial support. We believe both a new Expo Center and the Bicentennial Center are exceptional opportunities for firms to support Salina via naming rights. We would not forecast the projected “naming rights” arrangement that can be negotiated. We think the appropriate use of the proceeds is to designate the funding toward on-going maintenance and improvement of the respective facility. Components of an overall facility are also available for naming rights. For example, the main livestock show arena at the Expo Center is a logical marketing opportunity for a business that targets livestock producers. 31 K-O P R ENWOOD AKDALE ARK EPORT 4. Continuing the local option sales tax when it expires in 2010 is a logical approach. We support two ¼ penny increases in the tax. This increase will yield between $4,000,000 and $5,000,000 annually. We believe that splitting the increase between the City and the County provides a sufficient non-property tax revenue source. A ten- year sunset will supply sufficient revenue to meet the needs for the swim facility and a new Expo Center. A F W INAL ORD Thank you to the City of Salina, Saline County and the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce for this opportunity to understand the issues facing Kenwood and Oakdale Parks. Our progress depends on continued cooperation between the city and county governments. In order for Salina and Saline County to compete with other communities in the Kansas area to attract new businesses and new employees, a comprehensive plan that spans across the City and County areas of responsibilities has to be agreed upon. In order for this to happen it is crucial that the City and County leaders work together to execute this plan, which will give us the competitive advantage that we desperately need in this community. 32 K-O P R ENWOOD AKDALE ARK EPORT A DDENDUM 1. We thank the City of Salina for addr essing the wireless Internet access at the Bicentennial Center that is described in the fifth paragraph on page 15. We believe this is an operational decision that will increase attendee satisfaction with events at the Bicentennial Center. 2. The wording found on page 32 in bullet point #4 is the way the report read when it was presented to the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors. There was discussion by board members about what kind of tax increases might occur. The consensus of the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce board was that as it can not determine what level of tax increase might be acceptable or whether there might be some private sector funding to help address estimated costs, it was not appropriate at this time for the Chamber Board to spend time discussing any specific tax rate. However, the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce board is clearly on record as supporting a swim facility sales tax and the board of directors is also on record for a joint river channel/expo center tax at such time when that might come before voters. 33