West Side of McIntire Park Master Plan Update Announced

Public Invited to Unique Opportunity Launching Process

INTRODUCTION: The City of Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Department is conducting a comprehensive, community-driven process that will update the park master plan for the portion of McIntire Park west of the Norfolk Southern Railway.

BACKGROUND: The City of Charlottesville has entered into a Land Lease (December, 2007) with the Piedmont Family YMCA that provides for the construction of a community recreation center within a predefined area on the west side of McIntire Park. A provision of this land lease requires the City to conduct a master plan process to determine the exact location of the YMCA community recreation center on the west side of McIntire Park. This process will produce a conceptual master plan that will:

1. Locate the YMCA facility within a pre-defined area on the west side of McIntire Park

2. Identify other potential recreational improvements on the west side of McIntire Park reflecting the needs and values of the community while preserving and protecting natural resources and a portion of the existing recreational amenities.

Aerial Photo of Western portion of McIntire Park

(YMCA will be located on 3-5 acres within Pre-Defined Area identified below)

Overall acreage of the pre-defined area is approximately 18.6 acres

Zoom in on study site for Park Master Plan update and YMCA pre-defined area

The firm of Rhodeside & Harwell was selected via a bid process to assist the City in developing options for locating the YMCA building, and larger plans for the western side of McIntire Park.   The firm has made many visits to the Park, and with the assistance of digital data layers, analyzed the opportunities and constraints of 8 different locations within the study area that may be suitable for construction of the YMCA.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETING SCHEDULE:

Stakeholder Meeting  # 1- Tonsler Park 3:00pm - Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Introduced project team and consultants to each other and project process/timeline

Discussed the pros and cons of the 8 possible locations for the YMCA building

Stakeholder Meeting #1  - AGENDA

Stakeholder Meeting #1 - Presentation

General Public Meeting #1 – City Council Chambers 6:30pm - Tuesday, March 4th

Discussed the pros and cons of the 8 possible locations for the YMCA building

Gathered input on other recreational/athletic amenities desired in Western McIntire Park

Public Meeting #1 - AGENDA 

Public Meeting #1 - Presentation

At this point, the 8 possible locations are reduced to 4 options to be refined and carried forward

Stakeholder Meeting #2 - Tonlser Park 3:00pm - Wednesday, March 19

Discussed pros and cons of remaining 4 YMCA location options

Stakeholder Meeting #2  AGENDA

Stakeholder Meeting #2 Materials

West Option - Image 

Central Option  - Image

East Option - Image

South Option - Image

Late March – Early April: Youth and teen focus groups held in partnership with Schools, Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, Public Housing Sites, and Recreation Center participants

April 12, 2008: Design Charette – 9am – 12noon; Open to the Public - City Space

Candidate Site A - Click Here

Candidate Site B - Click Here

May 6, 2008: OPEN HOUSE – 3:30-7:30pm;  - General Public meeting to review Draft Master Plan - CitySpace downtown

Final Recommended Site Plan - large scale (17MB file)

Final Recommended Site Plan - small scale (5 MB file)

May 2011 Amended final plan with softball fields retained