Yelm Highway Community Park Phase 1 design addresses accessibility, environmental sustainability

On Tuesday, the Olympia City Council approved the retention of Berger Partnership as the city's consultant to complete the Yelm Highway Community Park Phase 1 design.

According to Paul Simmons, Olympia's Parks, Arts, and Recreation director, the project was an attempt to meet a long-standing need identified in the city's park plans since 2002.

Simmons explained that the new park aims to address a need for additional rectangular sports fields in the city. Olympia needs a dedicated soccer field in its entire park system, leading to the overuse and poor condition of the limited fields available through the school district, especially during the wet spring and fall seasons.

According to the agreement between the city and Berger Partnership, the scope of the Yelm Highway Community Park Phase 1 consists of:

• Maintenance facility and supporting elements such as parking, fencing, materials storage, and covered storage.
• One full-size lighted synthetic turf field with all necessary items such as netting and goals.
• Twelve pickleball courts and associated items such as seating, other site furnishings, fencing, and gates.
• Two basketball courts.
• One mini-pitch soccer field (Rave Foundation) and associated Yalp play equipment.
• One custom restroom building that also accommodates storage, food truck support, and space for the sprayground mechanical and plumbing equipment. Assume 4-5 stalls, non-gendered, family style, and accessible. This building will be in a central plaza area that will accommodate seating, covered bike parking, trash, etc.
• One custom picnic shelter.
• One approximately 7,500 SF play area.
• One sprayground: this will be designed and bid as an additive alternate.
• Multiple paved loop trails.
• Four vendor-provided picnic shelters: this will be designed and bid as an additive
• Coordinate with fabricator on design and details to align with design objectives.
• All associated furnishings (bike racks, seating, picnic tables).
• One dog park with fencing, gates, and other required amenities.
• One asphalt paved parking lot and one gravel parking lot to support activities at the north end of the park as well as the dog park.
• Art incorporated into the landscape (1% for the Arts Program).

The Parks director provided information about the synthetic turf field in the Phase 1 design. Simmons explained that the current technology for artificial turf fields typically lasts 10 to 15 years, depending on the maintenance and level of use.

Simmons stated that the city plans to build the replacement costs into its capital management asset program to address the need to replace the turf in the future. This will ensure that funds are set aside for future turf replacement as part of the park's long-term maintenance and operations.

Regarding environmental considerations, Simmons explained that studies show significant reductions in carbon emissions by not needing to use gas-powered mowers multiple times a week, as is required for natural grass fields.

The city can avoid using fertilizers and pesticides with synthetic turf, as the parks are pesticide-free. Simmons noted that while some maintenance is still required for the synthetic turf, it is significantly less than what is needed for natural grass.

Simmons also highlighted the ability to extend the playing season. He said natural grass fields would become unplayable due to weather conditions, but with the synthetic turf, the field can be used into December and even January, effectively doubling the capacity and usage of the facility.

Simmons acknowledged that he needed specific data on hand, but emphasized that a growing body of research demonstrates synthetic turf's environmental and operational benefits compared to traditional natural grass fields.

Accessibility

Councilmember Robert Vanderpool inquired about the parking strategy. He wanted to know how community members could access the park.

Simmons said part of the Phase 1 focus is the improved access points for the surrounding neighborhoods. He stated that there will be bike and pedestrian access points connecting the park to the Hamptons neighborhood and the Chestnut Village and James Place neighborhoods.

The Parks director also noted that Thurston County had recently improved the sidewalk infrastructure along Yelm Highway, including adding a new crosswalk with a center island. He said this will make it easier and safer for people to cross the street and access the park.

Simmons highlighted that several new multifamily housing units and apartment complexes in the immediate area will have direct access to the park. He also mentioned that the park is less than a mile from the Chehalis Western Trail network, a 42-mile trail system throughout Thurston County, with bike lanes and sidewalks along Yelm Highway connecting to the trailhead.