English Ridge Park Update

Thank you for participating in the English Ridge Park planning process! 

During the first phase of community engagement for English Ridge Park, 22 residents participated in an in-person event on Nov. 11, 2023, and 40 households representing 95 residents (based on self-reported household size) participated in the online survey. The overarching themes were a desire for a safe space to meet neighbors, access to walking paths, activities for all ages and abilities, and play equipment. 

Equipment
The top three types of activities and equipment the neighborhood requested during this frist phase of engagement were:

1. walking paths,
2. climbing structures, and
3. a shade structure.

Style
A natural play equipment style was selected by most residents with bright and traditional as the second most popular style.

Using this first phase of engagement and taking into consideration the topography and existing tree-filled landscape, the conceptual park plan presented for English Ridge Park was a unique natural playscape. This option presented log climbing structures, sand play stations, and a shade structure accessed from an ADA-compliant paved path. Due to the limited size of the developable space on the site, walking paths could not be provided. However, the design team and City staff discussed the possibility of a mowed path around the perimeter of the large detention basin. However, this path would not meet ADA requirements.

The second phase of engagement was an online survey published on Jan. 25, 2024. We received 105 survey responses with the majority of the feedback expressing strong opposition to the free-play nature area and sand surface. A poured-in-place surface with more structured activity options would be preferred. To merge both the first and second phases of public input while managing the park budget, the design team is making adjustments to the park conceptual plan to include:

1. a description of access to the detention basin perimeter for a walking path
2. poured-in-place surfacing, not sand
3. natural-style play equipment with more defined activity components (climbing, etc.),
4. reducing the size of the shade structure  

These changes respond to the feedback of the second phase of input without minimizing the results from the first phase. 

Due to the time needed to develop the second park concept, park construction could potentially be delayed until 2025. Be assured we are committed to constructing this park and we are working as quickly as possible in hopes that it will not be delayed; however, we want to be transparent that it could be a possibility. We also felt it was important to be transparent about the input the City received during the second phase of enagement and provide informtaion about our next steps.

Thank you again for participating in the park planning process. We will share the new concept for English Ridge as soon as it is available!

For questions or more information about the planning and development of English Ridge Park, please contact the Leisure Services Parks Division at 563-589-4263.