Winter Island Master Plan - Public Meeting #2 Meeting Summary - April 12, 2011Salem Winter Island Park Master Plan
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The Cecil Group / Susan St. Pierre / Bio Engineering Group / FXM Associates / PAL
Public Meeting Memorandum #2 April 12, 2011
Meeting Date: April 5, 2011 / 6:30pm
The second Public Meeting was held on April 5, 2011 at 6:30pm. The meeting started with an
overview of the master planning process to date. Following the introductions and over view, a
power point presentation highlighted two master plan alternatives Scheme A and Scheme B. In
conclusion to an open discussion, the approximately 60 attendees were again arranged into three
separate discussion groups. The focus for each group was to determine the preferred Scheme or
select specific concepts within each scheme. The major items included:
Alternative A
1. Amphitheatre and stage (for approximately 200 people)
2. Car parking relocated to the top of the hill away from the Hangar area (Just for trailers
and cars along water’s edge
3. New pedestrian plaza at the Hangar
4. Community gardens relocated to the NW open lawn area
5. Tent sites to be concentrated at NE corner at current location (approx. 22 sites)
6. Tot lot relocated to a long beach pedestrian walk
7. Relocated Bathhouse to accommodate the relocated tot lot
8. Parking and walkway improvements at the harbor master’s office
9. Access road at Hangar Garage remains but potentially as a one way
Alternative B
1. Tot lot to remain in its current location
2. Community gardens are located at the potential amphitheatre location, but as a terraced
gardens (or located to the potential RV site‐labeled as open field)
3. Space in front of Hangar is used for park space and/or potentially bio cell area
4. Majority of parking remains the Hangar, but reorganized and landscape strips utilized
for bio cells
5. RV’s are secluded to a smaller well buffered space on the east isde of the entrance
(approximately 12 spaces)
6. Theatrical venue to remain at the current locations of pavilion and sunken fort area
7. Tent sites to be expanded to the NW open lawn area and enhanced with new plants
8. Harbor master parking to remain in its current state
9. Access road at Hangar Garage is removed and used for pedestrian park space
Reoccurring proposed items in both schemes:
1. Restore Fort Pickering
2. Road side parking with reinforced turf
3. Continuous internal walkway
4. Continuous perimeter path system
5. Boat launch parking (approx. 32 spaces)
Salem Winter Island Park Master Plan
2
The Cecil Group / Susan St. Pierre / Bio Engineering Group / FXM Associates / PAL
6. Enhanced gateway entrance
7. Wind turbine located near the harbor master’s office
8. Relocation of camp store into Hangar Garage or other building
9. Restoration of Barracks Building
10. Restoration of Hangar
11. Introduction of sustainable initiatives (Bio cells, porous paving, rainwater harvesting,
etc.)
12. New parking at Hangar Garage
13. Maintain access road at Hangar Garage
14. Shift edge of parking lot back on east side to accommodate more greenspace and wider
pedestrian walkway
15. Vehicle access around Hangar
16. Ramp and dock to remain in its current state
17. Light house to be restored
18. Interpretive program developed for the park
19. Limited access into Fort Pickering with guided tours and formalized interpretive trail
20. Manager/caretaker to manage all uses on the island
21. Pavilion to remain in its current location
Other uses and items to be determined:
1. Dinghy storage
2. Kayak storage and rental
3. Extent of RV’s short and long term
4. Barracks and Hangar uses
Group discussion comments:
1. Some hesitation to remove ‘all’ of the RV’s from the park, but potentially remove all RV’s if
the island can be financially sustainable over time. Some still favor the use
2. Roads should be widened
3. The island should not become a very formal park with formal edges. It should maintain its
rustic and natural character to some degree
4. Preferred parking in Scheme A
5. Like amphitheatre for many reasons, but some concern for amount of traffic it will produce
within the park
6. The pavilion should remain, very popular and a good revenue generator
7. Potential introduction of Cycle Rickshaws to the park
8. Enhanced gateway was preferred with multiple lanes for convenient access for visitors and
member
9. Restoring the moat should be a last priority. Safety was a concern being located near the
beach use with children activity
10. Tot lot relocation near the beach walk and on street parking was preferred
11. Keep parking for Salem residents and for/near water use (viewing)
12. Value to locating parking in one place so visitors are not circling park
Salem Winter Island Park Master Plan
3
The Cecil Group / Susan St. Pierre / Bio Engineering Group / FXM Associates / PAL
13. Open views to water should be maintained and not views under trees
14. Like community gardens and should remain
15. Keep park for Salem
16. Need a back up plan
17. Set goals for building but do not set a deadline
18. Terraces for community gardens not a good idea
19. Rahab Barracks building, but it not, do not use for RV use
20. Like wide spread open feeling
21. Phase out RV’s especially along waterfront
22. Like thought of heavily buffering and secluding RV’s
23. Expand and improve restrooms
24. Petition state to raise boat ramp fees, but keep McCabe Marina?
25. Restore old Coast Guard building in condition they once were
26. Do immediate low cost moth balling of Barracks
27. Widen greenspace along parking lot for pedestrian use (benches, etc.)
28. Make sure there is overflow parking for trailers
29. Make sure park does not compete with The Willows
30. Obtain an agreement with Plummer Home about satellite lot?
31. Doug? Will do labor for renovations if Salem pays for materials
32. Prioritize parking for Salemites and senior citizens
33. Keep boat trailers parking further away from the ramp
34. Turn current trailer parking into new use‐location?
35. Performance center desirable
36. Paths should be gravel or shells
37. Hangar should have more windows if it becomes a used facility/function room
38. Turbines can generate significant $$. No opposition at this time
39. Gardens are more important than RV’s
40. 100 garden spaces are sold out in 1st season
41. Add fire pits on the island
42. Entrance should have turnaround space
43. Amphitheatre should have multi use purpose
44. Restaurant should be considered or ice cream parlor
45. Parking lots are full every summer