Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board

Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board Monday, June 8, 2020 5:30 – 7:40 P.M. Clapp Memorial Park The meeting participants assembled by the former Clapp Golf Course club house. Those board members, city staff, consultants present: Jane Brynes, Marcia Schroeder, Sonia Greteman, Phil Meyer, George Theoharis, Russell Fox, Erik Maybee, Tyler Stutzman, Larry Hoetmer, Troy Houtman, Elizabeth Ablah, Jack Brown, Scott Wadle Others present: Kim Neufeld, Alan Kailer, Rick Sroufer, Angie Courtney, Charles Webb, Clayton Pearson, Gary Blanchat, Diana Edminston, Maxine Bostic Item Time Description 1. 5:30 pm Call to Order Jack Brown, Chair 2. 5:31 pm Approve Previous Meeting Notes Jack Brown, Chair Russell made a motion to approve the previous meeting notes. Marcia seconded. 3. 5:45 pm Public Comments Jack Brown, Chair This was an opportunity for members of the public to address the board on bicycle and pedestrian matters in Wichita. Clayton Pearson, 1442 N. Coolidge, discussed a list of small improvements to existing infrastructure. 4. Jack Brown, Chair, sent a description of the GO budget. He wants feedback from the board. 5. 6:00 pm Tour of Clapp Park Site Troy Houtman, Park Department Director and Larry Hoetmer; Design group members, Bill Mayer with Bachman Co and Sonja Greteman with Greteman Group; led the board on a tour of the site. The board was stratified into two groups for the tour. Had multiple stakeholders involved before Clapp Park Golf Course closed. Multiple stakeholders are being engaged now, including the survey through Greteman Group. Results will be posted on a city website. 12 mini-Keeper of the Plains will be developed, one for 12 parks across the city. They will be designed for the local/neighborhood/park. Priority concerns and actions were identified from the board, including the following. The board will vote to prioritize these.  Improve access, including bike/ped access (e.g. Raised Crosswalk between spot near low-income housing). Need to be easy and enjoyable access from all directions, including the school; emphasize connection to the park; Hilltop, senior living, refugee families are neighborhoods surrounding the park, and they need easy access to the park; quality crossings for kids and adults; access points [east, west, north & south] - connect to Mt. Vernon bike lanes on south end of the park  Improve circulation pattern for multi-use paths within the park Notice – City Council Members may attend this meeting.   Keep naturalness of the park; save the trees; Keep the natural feel of the park (paths, trees); Keep tree groves. Keep the feeling that this is a retreat from the rest of the city; Leave adequate green space  Large bronze bust of Troy Houtman in the park; probably not Mr. Clapp 😉  Love the walking paths – friendly for ADA accessible for ages and abilities; The paths now are well constructed; keep them, take care of them  Maintain the popular activity of disk golf  Need the right balance between active and passive  Need to address steep erosion  Need to address trash in creek; look for ways to catch the trash and pollution before it gets into the park; widen creek – bring in cattails and have other; create a system, not just a program; Trash coming from QT sediment basin before get into the park. Filter before get this far. Groups adopt the park. Also, quarterly or monthly clean ups. Work with QT to keep out the trash. Part of stewardship program- sponsor non-profit.  Plant native (drought-resistant) perennial pollinators  Plant trees planting along paths  Possible amenity to add - dog poop bags and trash containers.  Possible amenity to add - a cyclocross course  Possible amenity to add - a gazebo  Possible amenity to add - a pump track course  Possible amenity to add – a single track course  Possible amenity to add - bathrooms  Possible amenity to add - bathrooms  Possible amenity to add - benches, tables, picnic tables  Possible amenity to add- drinking water fountains  Possible amenity to add - fitness areas  Possible amenity to add - improve lighting [but shielded from neighbors - when possible]  Possible amenity to add - include a skate park; need activities on the outskirts; maybe on the corners/edges.  Possible amenity to add - mile markers  Possible amenity to add - offer some active zone within the passive park (e.g. playground); no ball fields  Possible amenity to add - pickle ball courts  Possible amenity to add – playground; maybe a playground specifically for kids with disabilities  Possible amenity to add - quality bicycle parking, using Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals’ approved strategies  Possible amenity to add- a butterfly garden  Possible amenity to add- a second pond  Possible amenity to add- area for paddle boating  Promote activities for multi-generational park users  Retaining as much of the natural creek; “leave the damn creek alone”  Some bridges need to be repaired.  Walking paths are not wide enough for bikes and pedestrians; widen the golf cart paths to 8 or 10 foot wide; maybe put a smaller walking path beside – whatever is the most efficient path for bicyclists and pedestrians 6. 6:45 pm Board discussion of recommendations for Clapp Park Master Plan, Scott Wadle The board re-assembled under a magnificent tree to discuss recommendations for the Clapp Memorial Park Master Plan. 7. 7:40 pm Adjourn Next WBPAB meeting July 13, 2020 Notice – City Council Members may attend this meeting.