MEADOWDALE PLAYFIELDS RENOVATION Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Where are the Playfields? The Meadowdale Athletic Complex located in Lynnwood at 16700 66th Avenue West is a 27‐acre athletic facility developed in 1990 containing 2 sand soccer fields, three softball fields, concession building, parking lot, detention pond, playground, and walking paths. The property is owned by Edmonds School District and is dedicated for educational and recreational use. Through an interlocal agreement, the City of Lynnwood operates and maintains the facility, and shares use with District and the City of Edmonds. Collectively the partners provide adult softball, softball tournaments, and organized youth sports practices and games. This facility also serves as an important neighborhood park and open space. Why are the playfields being renovated? This facility is the only multipurpose, community‐use, athletic facility in Lynnwood. The facility is aged and in need of updating. The usefulness of the fields for recreational and competitive play use has declined, become expensive and less efficient to maintain, only offer seasonal use and require on‐going maintenance to ensure a consistent, safe playing surface. In particular, the sand soccer fields are rarely permitted and used for organized activities. Meanwhile, demand for reliable, safe playing surfaces has significantly increased in our area. In anticipation of this needed improvement, the School District included $1 million in the 2014 school bond measure. With the support of a dozen community organizations, Lynnwood applied for and received a state grant to update the soccer fields into year‐round, multipurpose fields. With the softball fields also in need of improvements and in an effort to minimize construction impacts to the complex, the project aims to complete the playfield renovations in a single phase and Lynnwood has sought additional grant funds to support this improvement. Who are the project sponsors and partners? The project sponsors are the three parties that jointly operate the Complex: Edmonds School District, City of Edmonds, and City of Lynnwood. This project is estimated to cost $5,322,400 (+/‐ alternates). Funding for the project will come from a variety of sources including: City of Lynnwood, City of Edmonds, Edmonds School District, Washington State Recreation & Conservation Office, Snohomish County, and Snohomish County Tourism Promotion Area. $2,597,155 City of Lynnwood $1,000,000 2014 ESD Bond $ 750,000 RCO (Local Parks & YAF) $ 500,000 City of Edmonds $ 200,000 Snohomish County $ 100,000 TPA $5,147,155
Updated 2/17/2017
MEADOWDALE PLAYFIELDS RENOVATION What improvements are being planned? The project proposes to: 1. Convert the existing dirt soccer fields into all‐weather multipurpose fields for soccer, lacrosse, and youth baseball and softball. 2. Update the softball complex by install all‐ weather turf on softball infields, increase height of fencing and backstops, and add additional bases and base path distances to accommodate a wider range of baseball, fast pitch and softball activities and age ranges. 3. Make site improvements including additional and relocated ADA parking, ADA spectator seating, expanded safety fencing and netting, rebuilt perimeter pathway (wider and ADA accessible) along the south and east sides of the multipurpose fields. What type of all‐weather infill will be used on the project? The project team has determined to put the project out to bid identifying SBR rubber infill (also known as crumb rubber) as the base bid option with two alternative infill options: coated SBR and organic cork. The project team will review and evaluate overall cost, performance, maintenance and operation costs, and replacement costs of each of the surfacing material option prior to making an infill selection recommendation. The project team will make a recommendation to the Edmonds School District School Board who will make the final decision and authorize the construction phase. How will the community be able to use the renovated fields? The five playfield facilities will be available for organized and scheduled use with a permit secured from the Lynnwood Parks & Recreation Department. Teams and organizations interested in using the fields will be required to secure a permit in advance of their practice, game or tournament. This applies to all fee‐based programming. When the fields are not scheduled for permitted use, non‐organized use will continue to be allowed such as a parent practicing pitching or hitting with a child, or a group of kids playing a pick‐up game of soccer (uncoached/unscheduled). This practice has been in place since Meadowdale Playfields was first opened in 1990. With the addition of the all‐weather surfacing, we anticipate the availability for community access will increase. Current conditions offer limited, seasonal availability and use of the athletic facilities including access to the basketball court, playground and walking loop trail. Once the improvements are completed, the entire complex will be available for year‐round access and use. Fields may be locked after hours or during scheduled maintenance.
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MEADOWDALE PLAYFIELDS RENOVATION What environmental impacts will there be? A State Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) review is underway for this project. A notice of determination of nonsignificance will be issued in mid‐February 2017. There is a two‐week comment period followed by additional comment periods after a final determination is issued in March. How many trees will be removed? Several trees that line the multipurpose fields to the south and east will be removed to accommodate the construction zone or are trees planted near the walking path that have caused root intrusion damage to the asphalt paving. All trees proposed for removal will be replaced with new trees in nearby locations in accordance with the Lynnwood Municipal Code. The plans originally proposed removing 35 trees with 80 replacement trees installed. As a result of input received from the public open house, a total of 7 additional trees shall be retained, and therefore we will not be required to install 12 replacement trees. The revised plan now calls for a total of 28 trees to be removed and replaced with 68 trees. What is the project schedule? The project began the design and engineering phase in June 2016 and offered the first community open house meeting in December 2016 at the 30% design stage. After the open house, staff made several adjustments to the project based on community feedback and value engineering to reduce the overall project costs and improve safety. The project team provided project update to the Lynnwood City Council on January 30, 2017. Anticipated Project Schedule: February SEPA Review March Final Design April Construction Ad May Bid Opening & Notice to Proceed June – November Construction December 31 Construction Complete and Project Closeout
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