vision for the future community engagement - barrie parker centre... · community engagement •...
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Dorian Parker Centre:Vision for the Future
Community Engagement
Prepared for: Prepared by:
December 2015
DPC Project Background
Dorian Parker Centre:A Vision for the Future
• Purpose: Develop community engagement for upgrading and expanding of the Dorian Parker Centre
• Objectives:o Explore future uses for an upgraded or expanded Dorian Parker Centreo Identify important interior and exterior elements o Understand the relationships of the Dorian Parker Centre within Sunnidale
Park
• Methodology:o Community Open House on November 18, 2015 6:30-8:30 pm o Online survey available for 3 weeks through a link from the City of Barrie
home page. • Announced in newspapers and,• Emails to community interest groups
Community Engagement• Online Survey
o Designed by RMCG Inc.o Deployed by City of Barrie
• Newspaper article• City of Barrie website
o 157 respondents participated in the online survey
Topics coveredo Past use of DPCo Rating of existing facilities &
serviceso Future facility and service needs
for DPCo Gaps in current city-wide facilitieso DPC relationship within Sunnidale
Park
• Community Open Houseo ~100 attended evening sessionAgendao Remarks by Mayor Jeff
Lehman & Councilor Barry Ward
o Background presentation by Director of Culture, QuammieWilliams
o Facilitated workshop by Robert Wong, Principal of RMCG Inc.
o City staff from Culture, Parks & Recreation & Facilities participated in the workshop
Workshop Exercise:Image DPC in 5 Years in the
Future…Summary
Imagine DPC in 5 years...
• Environmental Learning Projectso Nature focused classroom for
learning o Enviro-science field study
activitieso Botanical gardeno Community gardeno Fruit share programo Learning classes for seniors to
pass on skills to youth e.g. canning, cooking, gardening
• Heritage Centreo Nine Mile Portage museum/hall
• Destination for Cultureo A wonderful & peaceful place
to enjoy music – performance & rehearsal space
o Artisan resource network with studios – public art installations
o Outdoor amphitheatre for small concerts, theatre, possibly regularly e.g. Sunday evening
Activity: It is busy, lots of people use it and all Barrie residents know about it. Share three uses that make DPC a success.
Imagine DPC in 5 years...
• Cool down/ Warm Up Centreo Supporting current park
activities o Temporary structures in winter
& summer that could be put away after the end of season • Yurts – tent like structures• Outdoor heaters by skating
area• Water features in summer• Gardens that could be
settings for small cultural performances
o Skate & cross-country ski change area
• Community Centreo Lower priced family/group
functionso Flexible spaces for multiple useso Community meeting spaces
e.g. bridge & euchre gathering place, weekly scheduled, community events e.g. yoga, tai chi, meditation, day camps, scouts, rehabilitation groups
o Farmers’ Marketo Retractable canopy that can
expand space to outdoorso Picnic tables & public BBQ
area
Activity: It is busy, lots of people use it and all Barrie residents know about it. Share three uses that make DPC a success.
Imagine DPC in 5 years...
• Community Facilityo Public washrooms accessible
from outside and inside o Upgraded heating & air
conditioningo Better acoustics o Free parkingo Paved, expanded parking loto Driveway entrance lightingo Affordable room rental rates
• Preserve as iso “Save it, treasure it, enjoy it!”o Work with existing building and
celebrate the architectural heritage
o Maintain the scale of building and keep within context of a passive park
o No more new buildings like pump station
• Only one person indicated the desire for a totally new building
Activity: It is busy, lots of people use it and all Barrie residents know about it. Share three uses that make DPC a success.
Imagine DPC in 5 years...
• Administrationo Sponsorship project with
community group like Rotary Clubs of Barrie
o Charity groups could assist with Operation
o Make opening and closing easy for rental/user groups
o Advertise & promote the DPC
• Café/Concessiono No chain restaurant o Local business or charity that
helps communityo To complement Sunnidale Park
activities o Affordable priceso Catering capabilities for
functions at Centre
Activity: It is busy, lots of people use it and all Barrie residents know about it. Share three uses that make DPC a success.
Scenario Discussions
Scenario Discussion Building• Organized workshop participants to discuss 3 hypothetical
future scenarios for DPCo 1. A multi-purpose community hubo 2. Community facility that includes both public and private useso 3. Barrie’s special place for weddings and celebrations
• Participants were asked to discuss:o Potential DPC Userso Most important elements of the interior and exterior of DPCo Uniqueness of the Centre for this useo How use fits or doesn’t fit within setting of Sunnidale Park
• Summary of workshop ideas organized by:o Interior Elements Must Have and Nice to Have o Exterior Elements Must Have and Nice to Haveo Design Considerationso Operational/Organizational Suggestionso Suggested DPC Users
DPC Interior Suggestions• Nice to Have
o Fireplace/feature wallo Commercial kitchen – use as a
coffee house/bistro o WiFi accesso Break out roomso Risers for stageo Coat check areao Meets liquor license standardso Artwork
• Must Haveo Maintain one level buildingo Welcoming entrance o Upgraded AODA compliant washroomso Air conditioning & upgraded heatingo Expanded open space area o Upgraded & expanded interior – flexible
use space – removal of bar counter for more functional space
o Sound system and designed for good quality acoustics
o Maintain natural light from windows but allow for sliding doors to patio/garden area to increase capacity & functionality
o Improved lighting for multiple space use, AV projection system
o Upgraded kitchen, serving & clean up surfaces & appliances
o Storage area but not in prime function area
o Interior furniture upgrade
DPC Exterior Suggestions• Nice to Have
o Retraceable canopy(s) over patio/garden areas
o Feature fire pit/ bbq areao Temporary structures in winter
& summer to support park uses• Outdoor water features in
summer• Heated change or warm
up hutso Performance outdoor
space/amphitheatreo Public arto SMART security system &
emergency police pole
• Must Haveo Street lighting at driveway
entranceso Parking lot lighting for safetyo Free expanded paved parking
lot but in keeping with passive park design (i.e. no curbs)
o Welcoming entrance from outside with easy accessible security system for unlocking & locking
o Garden/patio space designed for access from interior & function as small performance space, photo backdrop
o Outdoor drinking water fountain
DPC Design Considerations• Nice to Have
o Ecological/energy efficient building systems (solar/grey water)
o Celebrates the original architectural style/era (interior wood beams, hardwood floors, abundant windows with views) but modernized for greater functionality
• Must Haveo In keeping with a passive park
• Not too commercialized• Small intimate uses &
events• Footprint in keeping with
park (possibly twice the size but not overwhelming)
o Maximize the views of the parko Fits the natural setting of the
park o Community use minded –
access by walking paths and bicycles in addition to vehicles
o Maximizes the east sunrise and west sunsets for views & outdoor spaces
Philip Johnson’s Glass House late 1940’s
DPC Operational/Administrative
Suggestions • Collaborative use by
school boards for nature/eco-based functions in park
• Set up a Non-for-Profit Management Board for Dorian Parker Centre to:o Coordinate long term scheduling
of NFP groupso Create fundraising events for
DPCo Marketing of DPC
• Must have affordable rental fees for community groups
• Work with community groups/businesses for sponsorshipo Seasonal décoro Garden / patio spaces & furniture
• Coffee/Tea Houseo Work with Not-for-Profit groups to
rotate use & operation by week/month/season
ORo Concession out with percentage of
revenue for building improvements. But several participants were against any commercial use of building
Suggested DPC Users• Commercial Users
o Although many felt a coffee/tea café/concession would be nice, many felt the Centre should be community oriented• Definitely no chains (e.g.
Tim Horton’s)• Possibly have community
groups operate cafe as fundraiser
• Possibly used as an incubation entrepreneurial test café for culinary groups
• Community Groups that reflect and promote the communityo Scouts Canadao Seniors groupso Skating groupso Spinning & weaving groupso Field study groupso Field naturist groupso Garden clubo High school groupso Elementary class groups
Community Engagement Survey
Respondents• 157 people responded to the online survey from November 18
to December 11.o Sampling was a non-probability sampling and sample size is moderate.o Results show range of responses and should be considered suitable to
represent users of the DPC and Sunnidale Park.
• 86% were representing themselves as citizens and 12% not-for-profit organizations (i.e. arts, culture, wellness, & historical) and 3 respondents were small business owners
• 45 people volunteered their contact information for further input to the future of the DPC.
Current Space Use
19
• 18 respondents who organized events had used a variety of spaces from City of Barrie rental and community free meeting spaces to commercial spaces.
• Some groups used sponsored spaces and a home studio/office.
• Needs not meet by current facilities included:• Venue with professional
appearance• Flexible space for multiple uses• Outdoor music space• Intimate performance space or
space for workshops• Storage space• Consistency and long term stability
venue
What types of spaces does your group currently use? (all that apply)
Types of Spaces #
CityofBarrierentalspace 4
Otherfreemeetingspace 2
Commercialrentalspace 3
CityofBarriefreemeetingspace 2
Otherspace 3
Past Use of DPC
20
10%
5%
15%
17%
19%
25%
Other
Corporate meeting
Recreation program
Voting
Private event/wedding
NFP Meeting/event
Past Use of DPC (N=93)• 2/3 of respondents had been
involved with or attended an event or activity held in DPC in the past 10 years.
• 93% attended as a participant and about ¼ were part of organizing group
• A full range of activities included activities hosted by not-for-profit organizations, private functions like weddings, voting or participated in a City of Barrie recreation program
Please describe the nature of your past experience(s) at the Dorian Parker Centre.
Rating of Amenities of DPC
21
• Respondents rated highly (4+) items such as:o View of the parko Natural lighting within the DPC
• In terms of good to very good (3-4) were:o Facility bookingo Room temperatureo Covered patio & o Tables and chairs
• Items rated poor (<2.5) were: o Washroomso The entrywayo Parking lot 2.33
2.29
2.30
2.36
2.79
2.78
2.97
3.01
3.15
3.13
3.25
3.67
4.01
4.29
Washrooms
Welcoming entry
Parking lot
Outdoor night lighting
Kitchen facility
Overall look & feel
Bar area
Overall inside layout
Tables & chairs
Covered patio area
Room temperature
Facility booking
Natural lighting
View of park
Rating of DPC (N=84-92)
Thinking about your past experiences with the Dorian Parker Centre, please rate each item using a scale from 1 (poor) to 5 (Excellent) or Not Applicable.
Like about DPC Building
22
12%
30%
55%
85%
Other
Current size
Covered patio
Overall look (location in park, low profile &
windows)
Like about DPC (N=118)
Thinking about how the Dorian Parker Centre currently fits within Sunnidale Park, tell us what you like about the building (all that apply)
-The Modern style, beautiful setting and location in the city are most important.-A period piece which would have considerable appeal if properly refreshed.
-Community feel, not a warehouse feel-Prefer a bigger size of the building-I like how it's not a massive building in amongst the trees and natural look of the park-Could be slightly larger but I don't want any building to overwhelm the natural state of the park
The building looks dated, and the covered patios
are not really large enough to be functional
in rainy weather. Entry is not pleasing to the eye. The service doors are more prevalent than the entry which is to the side and set back.
Importance of DPC Amenities
23
• Respondents considered washrooms outside accessible, drinking water fountain, paved parking lot and gardens to be very important amenities
• A café or food concession was the least important among the amenities
20
26
33
33
42
46
50
58
Café/concession
Sunnidale Park information
Outside night lighting
Parking lot size
Gardens
Parking lot surface
Water fountain
Washrooms accessble from outside
Amenities Considered “Very Important” (N=124)
Please rate the importance of other amenities that could possibly be associated with the Dorian Parker Centre and would improve your Sunnidale Park experience.
Additional Thoughts• Might be worth examining best
practice case studies of community-oriented centres in other cities for design and operation ideas (see next slide for an example of a community centre in Berlin, Germany)
• Might be worth formalizing an Interdepartmental committee to ensure the Centre fits the Sunnidale Park Master Plan vision and all potential future uses
Berlin Community/Park Centre
Wall used as seating, multiple walls open as doors
to outside Right hand interior room is
children sandbox
Berlin Community/Park Centre
Central area of building has small café
