The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About12.C. Park Monument Signage-Neighborhood Park Design iz.,c, CITY OF SHAKOPEE Memorandum To: Mayor, City Council, City Administrator From: Andrea Weber, Park and Recreation Landscape Design Subject: Park Monument Signage-Neighborhood Park Design Date: May 20, 2008 INTRODUCTION This is an introduction to the schematic design for the neighborhood park monument sign recommended by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (Advisory Board). BACKGROUND Signage is a key identification feature and focal point in a park. Signs contribute to the visual identity of the City and promote pride of place. Signs also fill an important public safety role, by providing landmarks for orientation and by indicating the address of the park to help in emergency situations. Shakopee parks have several sign designs. This reflects an organic development process, where parks and their Signage have been constructed at different times as development occurred. The new signage plan will include standard information, design and materials. The current standard city signage is made of rough sawn cedar with notched 6x6 posts and routered lettering. These signs are well scaled for neighborhood parks and made of quality materials and are low maintenance. However, these signs were constructed about 12 years ago (by Public Works Staff) and are in need of replacement image attached.. Since the city is planning to use signs similar to the Huber Park entry monuments image attached, for new city monument signage, the Advisory Board agreed that the new park monument sign design should use some of the design elements from Huber, but transfer them into more affordable materials for use in neighborhood parks. The community park sign design will begin after the neighborhood park sign is confirmed so that the signs can be designed to have a similar look. Most of these will be installed next year, but the Tahpah Park sign is desired to be completed in early summer of this year, prior to the MN State Amateur Baseball Tournament, if possible. DISCUSSION The sign design process began with a review of general sign materials, including: wood, fiberglass, concrete and metal. The materials which were selected by the Advisory Board were wood (cedar) for the structure of the sign with a fiberglass face and concrete footings. Concrete footings were desired to keep the cedar above the soil to lengthen its lifespan. Sign face options in cedar and in fiberglass were discussed and fiberglass was selected for its color capabilities, vandal resistance and durability. Several designs were presented to the Advisory Board and modifications were made until the final option, 5B was recommended at their May 12 meeting, image attached. L Option 5, alternate B-This sign resembles Huber Park signage with its horizontal banding and flat wood capped top. It has horizontal text and has a vertical form, standing on two raised stained concrete footings. The park name, address and logo would be on fiberglass and the supporting structure would be of cedar. A cedar board below the lower trim would be used to attach a metal adopt a park sign. The overall dimensions of the sign are: 6'9" tall, 3'10" wide with 10 s.f. sign face. Letter height for the park name would be at least three inches tall. The size of the address would be smaller, about 1-1/2 inches. The name letter size would allow the name to be read from about 150' - 225' distance, which is appropriate for a neighborhood setting. The Advisory Board will be setting a date in June for a work session to finalize the graphics of the fiberglass sign face. The rendering attached is not the final sign face coloring or design; rather it is the design of the sign structure that is the recommendation at this time. Staff will bring back information on the recommended graphics of the sign at a later date. Zoning considerations and Sign Permit The neighborhood park monument sign meets all zoning requirements for height and sign face for residential zones (which are the most restrictive of the zones). Some community parks are located in zones other than residential and this will be addressed with the design of the community park sign. Zoning also requires a sign permit. While staff will complete the sign permit requirements with the Planning Department, Council is asked to consider waiving the permit fees for this project. In the past, Council has waived other types of permit fees (building) for city projects. signage Planting Beds A planting bed surrounding a sign adds significantly to the visual impact of the sign. it draws attention to the sign and makes the sign feel anchored and more welcoming. It also shows ownership, and pride of place. Features with these characteristics have been shown to be effective in preventing crime, according to Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (OPTED) research. At this time, some parks have plantings around the signs and some do not. Planting materials add to the four season beauty of the sign, and emphasize it as a focal point. Planting beds also show pride and ownership. A simple menu of low maintenance plants has been prepared and will be finalized with Park Maintenance staff. Edging of planting beds is also important. Recent parks have included poured concrete edging. This detail could be used for the planting beds. It makes the planting beds easier to maintain by eliminating the need to trim around the sign and reduces weeding of grasses that creep into a planting bed. Park Maintenance prefers this type of edging. signage planting beds are also the perfect opportunity to engage the community with the "adopt a park" program. Encouraging volunteers can reduce the demand for park maintenance. CIP Budget and Cost Estimates: The Park Monument Signage project has been on the City CIP Budget for several years, but has been deferred due to staff time constraints. The current CIP has allocated a two year signage project starting this year {$35,000), and completing in 2009 ($30,000). This was designated on a per sign basis of $2,500 for neighborhood signs and $5,000 for community park signs. The budget per sign established in the CIP does not include additional staff design and CA, so $2,400 per sign is the "working budget". The cost of the sign will be the first priority, with planting and edging as budget allows. The sign estimate indicates that the planting costs may not be available for all signs. A couple of things can reduce these costs: 1. Not all signs wiA need new plantings, as some already exist 2. Volunteers or park "adopt" groups can be coordinated to install the plants, purchased wholesale by the city. 3. Alternate edging could be selected which could reduce costs (to be discussed with Park Maintenance). Sign Option 5-B: Budget per sign $2,400.00 • Materials (lumber: 5-2x4x8' cedar, 1-2x6x8, cedar, 1 2x8x8 trim) 140.00 • Fiberglass sign w/shipping (30"x58" price) $300.00 • Hardware and fasteners (4-post holders, 8-carriage bolts, screws, etc $50.00 • Concrete poured, stained ..............................................$80.00 • Labor-footing: 8 hours x $45/hour (f.t. staff) :..................$360.00 • Sign construction and installation: 18 hours at $45/hour 810.00 Total sign cost = .........................................................$1740.00 Available for Planting bed $660.00 • 6 shrubs @ $40 each= $240.00 • 6 perennials @ $20 each $120.00 • Concrete edging: 30 If 8" wide concrete edging @ $15/If=.. 450.00 • Total Plantings estimated $810.00 RELATIONSHIP TO VISION This project appears to support the Shakopee Vision under categories A-Active and healthy community. D-Vibrant, resilient and stable. Alternates 1. Approve the schematic design and authorize the preparation of drawings and specifications 2. Approve the design with specific modifications and authorize the preparation of drawings and specifications 3. Do not approve the design or authorize the preparation of drawings and specifications 4. Table the action and provide staff with further direction. 5. Waive the sign permit fees for all park monument signs. Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and Staff Recommendations The Advisory Board recommends alternative number 1. Staff also recommends number 5. REQUESTED ACTION 1. Approve the schematic design option 5B and authorize the preparation of construction documents and specifications in preparation for bidding. 2. Waive the sign permit fees for the signage project. 1. ~y5 ~ IH~ ~ _~I A ~5 E - k., ~ l I _ ti ~ 1 _ - . ,IbF1N W~_~M~SK{CtIE.N x' ~ ~r 1C d . . _ } , _ r zoos I I Shakopee neighborhood Park-Cedar Signage Huber Park-single pylon sign I I Neighborhood Park-Monument Sign Option 5-B i 3'-10" 2-4"~ ~I a ~ '~Y w> i ~ 3'-11314 i`1~l~'iJJ~f'si~~,1~~! 6'-9" 5'-2y¢" r,,,) 1~ r~ ! l~j.~1_ I . , ;rte! II (ADOPT A SPARK SIGN) I I 1'-6" ~ I I