P r e p a r e d b y :Montachusett Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) in collaboration with

the Thayer Field Recreation Campus Task Force of LancasterFebruary 2012

for Recreati onT h a y e r F i e l d

LANCASTER, MASSACHUSETTSA snapshot of the Town Center Recreation Campus Master Plan

Thayer Field Recreation Task Force:E l e m e n t s o f t h e F u t u r e C a m p u s

Perimeter Walking Trails

Additional Baseball Fields

Modern playground Dog park Amphitheatre

Lawn Green Game Area

Scout Activity Area Tennis Court Restoration

Ice Skating/ Skate Board Park

Additional Basketball Court

Community Gardens

?Can it be done?

ProposedProject

Land AreaNeeded Ft.

Land AreaNeeded acreage

Playground 60,000 1.37

Amphitheatre 12,500 0.28

1 Little League Field

65,340–87,120

1.5-2

Perimeter Trails N/A based on design N/A based on design

Scouts Activity Area

50 Feet wide/ the lengthof the middle school

50 Feet wide/ the lengthof the middle school

Dog Park 65, 340 1.5

Lawn Games See Table 1-3 See Table 1-3

Basketball Court 2,400 - 3,036 0.05 -0.07

211 additional parking spaces

67,520 1.5

Estimated TOTAL 273,100 –295,516

6.3- 6.8

L a n d a r e a n e e d e d

Total = 6.3- 6.8 acres + & perimeter trails area needed for lawn games

Activity DimensionsBadminton 1,620 sq. ft.Basketball - Youth 2,400 - 3,036 sq. ft.Basketball - High School 5,040 - 7,280 sq. ft.Ice Hockey 22,000 sq. ft.Tennis 7,200 sq. ft. - single courtVolleyball 4,000 sq. ft.Baseball - Little League 1.2 acresField Hockey 1.5 acresFootball 1.5 acresSoccer 1.7 - 2.1 acres1/4 Mile Running Track 4.3 acres Smaller Games Shuffleboard 10' x 52'Horseshoe Court 6' x 46'Bocce Court 10' x 60' to 76'Sand Volleyball 79' x '50Croquet 94' x 115'Lawn Bowling 120' x 120'

The whole “Town Center” area of Lancaster should have 525 parking spaces as a maximum.

With the new recreation campus, 353 parking spaces in the Town Center will be needed at various times for the activities on Thayer Field (see table 8). Given that the new campus will be located in the Town Center, there will be a definite overlap in residents using the parking for access to the Town Center, along with access to the new campus.

P a r k i n g n e e d e d

Proposed Project Recommended Parking Spaces

Playground 18 spaces

Amphitheatre 150 spaces – possibly on evenings and weekends

3 Little League Fields 60 spaces

Perimeter Trails N/A - Minimal

Scouts Activity Area 33 spaces – during school year. Wed. nights (6 to 10PM)

Dog Park 40 parking spaces

Lawn Games 22 spaces

2 Basketball Courts 20 spaces

2-3 Tennis Courts 7 or 10 spaces – peak usually 3 to 4 PM

Total 353

Recommendations

A D A R e q u i r e m e n t s

1.) Perimeter Walking TrailsADA requirements relating to perimeter walking trails: The proposed trail must have a clear tread width of least 36 inches wide with an entrance no greater than ½ inch in width off the ground. Depending on the slope of the trail, all obstacles can be no greater than 2 inches high. Exceptions are described below, along with a graph of requirements relating to this proposed trail system.

2.) AmphitheatreADA Requirements “T2*13.2.2 Outdoor Seating” Where multiple fixed benches are placed in an area, at least 50 percent must be accessible. This assures the visitor that there will be at least one bench available which is accessible. Further, of the benches that are required to be accessible, 50 percent must provide an armrest. ADA feels that visitors should be provided with a choice of bench configurations that will accommodate different needs. An armrest provides support when occupying the bench and assists in transfer to or from the bench.

3.) Scout Activity Area ADA Requirements: “T204 Outdoor Recreation Access Route”Outdoor recreation access routes are required to connect elements required to be accessible. For example, where a cooking grill and a picnic table are provided in an accessible camp site, the outdoor recreation access route is required to connect these elements. Elements such as benches or picnic tables located along a trail, however, are not required to be connected by an outdoor recreation access route.

4.) Court SportsADA Requirements for Court Sports: Where courts are provided, an accessible route must connect each court. Accessible routes must comply with all ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) requirements, such as width and changes in level or surface, and must directly connect both sides of the court. Players must not be required to traverse through another court to get to the other side of their court. This is especially critical in sports like tennis; in which changing sides of the court is part of the game. No additional accessibility guidelines apply once on the court

Related ADA Requirements: Outlined under “New Construction for Play Areas;” there are numerous regulations that this proposed playground should have to be accessible. A summary of these regulations are listed below:

Ground Level play components: At least one of each type of ground level play component must be accessible activities including, but not limited to rocking, spinning, swinging, sliding or climbing. Accessibility for ground level components include an accessible route to the structure, clear ground space between the route and component 30” by 40”, maneuvering space with a 60” diameter, proper seat placement on components and proper reach ranges based on age.

Proper Reach Ranges (ground level play)

5.) Playgrounds

Elevated Play Component: Play components that are attached to a composite play structure and that can be approached from a platform or deck area are considered elevated play components. On a large playground, with 20 or more elevated play components, at least 25% of the components must be accessible by a ramp and at least another 25% must be accessible by a transfer point. A play component connected to a deck on a composite structure that can also be approached and used and exited from the ground is counted as an elevated play component.

RECCOMENDATIONS AND MOVING FORWARD

Technical Assistance for this plan provided by:

District Local Technical Assistance Program (DLTA) funded through the Commonwealth of Massachusett s