Title
Polk Park Partnership Framework
Action
Action:
Approve the Polk Park Partnership Framework to support a group of civic leaders who will partner with Charlotte Center City Partners to lead the fundraising, design, construction, and renaming of Polk Park, located at the corner of Trade Street and Tryon Street.
Body
Staff Resource(s):
Phil Reiger, General Services
Explanation
§ The city owns the pocket park at the corner of the Trade Street and Tryon Street, Polk Park, and for years has been working on plans to improve the park with hopes of finding a funding partner.
§ The city has received a proposal from a group of civic leaders to privately fund, redesign, renovate, and rename the park.
§ The park’s water feature is inoperable and cost prohibitive to fix, landscaping is overgrown within the space and as a result, lacks adequate lighting.
§ A newly renovated park would be a place of renewed public engagement, consistent with the context of its urban surrounding and complimentary to the properties around it.
§ Significant public engagement is planned to ensure all stakeholders are informed of the city’s intent to redevelop the park. The city and Charlotte Center City Partners will partner in providing special care to the families of those honored at the current park.
§ Charlotte Center City Partners, in support of the civic leaders group, has agreed to facilitate the many parties and processes needed to complete the project.
Proposed Framework
§ The Polk Park Partnership Framework (Framework) has been developed to help define initial steps, roles, and responsibilities.
§ City staff will keep City Council engaged by providing periodic updates through the public engagement and design process.
§ The Framework defines four items: Public Engagement, City’s Contribution, Park Design, and Park Construction.
Engagement:
§ Public Engagement will be led by Charlotte Center City Partners (CCCP). This will include the development of a stakeholder group comprised of community leaders and stakeholders.
City’s Contribution:
§ There is no interest in keeping or repurposing any elements of the current park. Therefore, to address the immediate maintenance and public safety issues the park should be demolished as soon as public engagement is complete.
§ The city’s contribution to the project will be the demolition of the current park at an estimated cost of $350,000.
§ The adjacent property owner has agreed to fund the installation of artificial turf as an interim measure while the new park is being designed. This space can be programmed and continue to be used during the interim period.
Park Design:
§ CCCP will facilitate the private donors, stakeholders, and city staff to collaborate on a new design.
§ The design will take into consideration the cost of long-term maintenance, public safety, and utilize native plant species that are accustomed to living in the southeast.
§ The design will be compatible with the urban environment and should enhance the surrounding development.
§ Because with city will take over maintenance of the park once complete, the city’s General Services Director will serve as a member of the design committee and will ensure the final design is consistent with the city requirements.
Park Construction:
§ The responsible private party shall procure and pay all contractors required to complete the work. A performance bond and all applicable insurance must be required to ensure that all parties are sufficiently assured that the work will be completed, and all liability is accounted for.
§ The city shall be indemnified and listed as an additional insured on the insurance policy.
§ All permitting, construction management, and construction inspection will be the responsibility of the responsible private party.
§ The city retains the right to inspect the site to ensure that the responsible private party is building the park according to the approved plans and the quality of the workmanship meets the city standards to accept for future maintenance.
Fiscal Note
Funding: General Capital Investment Plan