MECKLENBURG COUNTY
Southwest Community Park
Public Workshop
MINUTES
August 4, 2014
6:00 pm
Southview Recreation Center
ATTENDEES:
STAFF MEMBERS
Jim Garges, MCPR Director
Lee Jones, Capital Planning Division Director
Kevin Brickman, Planner
Michael Campbell, Central Division Park Manager
Joey Grahl, Park Manager
Tim Turton, Horticulture Team Leader
Jeff Robinson, Operation and Maintenance Director
Alicia Rocco, BSSA-AFM Project Manager
CONSULTANT
Scott Mingonet, Kimley-Horn
Hollie Colony, Kimley-Horn
PUBLIC
See sign in sheets.
PUBLIC SESSION MEETING MINUTES:
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Lee Jones opened the meeting by welcoming the public, introduced MCPR staff, and gave an
overview of project history.
Lee Jones explained that the Southwest Community Park is part of the 2008 MCPR master
plan and is funded by the 2008 Bond Referendum- Mecklenburg County Capital Improvement
Project.
At one time CMS (Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools) also was planning for sports fields on the
Southwest property but that is no longer a planned project within CMS.
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The program is to include two championship baseball fields, restroom facility, outdoor play
area, pedestrian connection, and parking.
Lee Jones introduced the consultant hired for the project, Kimley-Horn’s Scott Mingonet and
Hollie Colony.
Scott Mingonet started the presentation to explain the schematic site plan and program
Scott Mingonet briefly explained the constraints of the physical site and the requirements that
would need to be for local land development requirements. Such as, storm water
requirements, CDOT connectivity, parking, tree save, landscape requirements, and landscape
buffers. (See PowerPoint
This determines our developable acreage of the site and where the fields would be located.
Schematic Site Plan (see PowerPoint)- includes two full size championship baseball fields (330’
baseline and 400’+ center field line), Dugouts, informal concession space, outdoor seating,
outdoor play area, warm-up area, restroom facility, parking, and other infrastructure
requirements.
Tentative schedule of construction to start would be Spring 2015 and fields would open Late
2016.
Project Manager, Alicia Rocco, explained that newly planted grass on the fields would need a
full growing season from the time that construction ends for fields to open.
Scott Mingonet then opened it up to the public audience for discussion and questions.
QUESTIONS
• What happened to the proposed field in the old master plan?
o The proposed field closer to Billy Graham Pkwy was part of the older site plan and the
previously planned program of CMS. CMS no longer is planning on building any fields
on this property.
• Are there trails?
o There are existing mountain biking trails on the portion of the site that are maintained
by the Tarheel Trailblazers. There are no additional trails planned in the phase of work,
but there may be future trail connections at a later date.
• Will there be a greenway connection?
o There will not be a greenway connection apart of this project, but Taggart Creek
Greenway is part of the Mecklenburg County Greenway Master Plan, but currently is
an unfunded project.
• When does construction start?
o Tentative construction start date is Spring 2015, but this is based on permitting and bid
timing.
• When will the project be completed?
o Close out of the project should occur in early 2016, but official play cannot start on the
fields until grass has a full growing season. Leagues should hopefully be able to start
playing in late 2016.
• Will there be lighting and irrigation?
o Yes there will be irrigation. Lighting will be planned for in the construction documents
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and owner provided. Time of install of the lights will be based upon final bid amounts
and current funding.
Will the pond be a rain garden?
o The proposed detention pond will not be a rain garden but will be a dry pond only
used to meet the needs of storm water detention requirements.
Will chemicals be used for the storm water treatment?
o No chemicals will be used for storm water treatment.
Is there a need for 2 roads to the park?
o Currently MCPR and the consultant are negotiating with CDOT about the need for two
entrances into this phase of the park.
Can there be a second parking lot drive?
o Currently the plan shows a second drive off of Holabird Ln. to the proposed parking lot.
This entrance will remain gated unless a large event is taking place and the extra need
for a secondary ingress/egress should arise.
Discussion on what storm water detention/treatment means
o Treatment of storm water within this park will meet PCCO and City Engineering
requirements, chemicals will never be used in the treatment of storm water runoff.
Discussion of potential pedestrian connections
o Future pedestrian connections to neighborhoods on the other side of Taggart Creek
Tributary may occur. Currently the plan is to provide sidewalk connection to Holabird
Ln. right-of-way and Vilma Ln right-of-way.
Discussion of lighting and the system used.
o MCPR use sports lighting that will have zero light pollution located at the property line.
This is a requirement per City Planning and it will be met with any future sports lighting
at this park.
Meeting was adjourned by Lee Jones and he thanked everyone for the participation and
coming out. He left the following contact information for future questions or comments:
Lee Jones, AIA
Division Director of Capital Planning
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation
5841 Brookshire Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28216
980-314-1017
Lee.Jones@mecklenburgcountyng.gov
Alicia Rocco, RLA
Project Manager
Mecklenburg County Asset and Facility Management
3205 Freedom Dr. Suite 101
Charlotte, NC 28208
Alicia.Rocco@mecklenburgcountync.gov