Parks commissioners endorse fence for Lincoln Crossing school project

Fencing was the key issue Tuesday night, as the Lincoln Parks and Recreation Commission reviewed the conceptual design for the proposed park area adjacent to future Lincoln Crossing Elementary School. The elementary school is set to open in August 2007.The park, which fronts Ferrari Ranch Road between Danbury and the North Ingram Slough, has two baseball fields, a soccer field and a playground area.Several ideas for fencing along Ferrari Ranch Road were discussed, as commissioners were concerned about the safety of the children.Mike Leighton, studio director for NTD Stichler, the architect for the project, said his firm has recommended installing a fence near the corner where Ferrari Ranch Road runs past the slough. That corner is right near south end of the soccer field, and the fence will help prevent soccer balls from bouncing onto the road.On each side of the soccer field are the two baseball fields. One of the fields is situated so that the third-base line runs almost parallel to Ferrari Ranch Road.Commissioners were concerned that youngsters playing ball there might run out into the street, if something was not stopping them.A 3-foot-tall fence right behind the bleachers might help, commission Chairman Tom LaGabed said."It would people from running after foul balls right into the street," he said.In addition to that short fence, commissioners endorsed the idea of installing another fence down the left field line, again somewhat parallel to Ferrari Ranch Road.That fence would be set farther into the park property than the fence sheltering the soccer field.One commissioner asked about access to the fields off Ferrari Ranch Road, and Leighton pointed out where the two fences overlap slightly, a gate could be installed to allow public access."There will still be free access to the park," LaGabed said.It was pointed out students at Lincoln Crossing Elementary School will use the soccer and baseball fields during the day, and the fence might also help to keep the children from leaving the campus. The commissioners also voiced the opinion they did not want the fence to continue all the way down Ferrari Ranch Road to Danbury, past the playground area. They felt it was not needed because a berm already is planned to run the entire length of the park property along Ferrari Ranch Road.Other park features the commissioners discussed included that the two ball diamonds are designed to accommodate major and minor Little League teams, said Mandy Walker, parks and recreation director.Commissioners were concerned about an excessive number of foul balls from one of the fields landing in the street. Commissioners agreed a tall backstop, with a 45-degree overhang at the top, might help prevent that.They did not settle on what type of material the angled top might be made of, with netting or fencing being the two choices."It's all a matter of money," Leighton told the commission.Commissioners also spoke briefly about the playground area. They did not get into specifics about the types of playground equipment that might be appropriate. Leighton said he could come back before the commission at a later date with catalogs describing all the different types of equipment.Still, Walker said she preferred at least one specific type of equipment."Swings are the most popular thing that parents and kids both like," she said. "But, they also take up a lot of space."Trees are planned to be located along the berm that fronts Ferrari Ranch Road, but some commissioners were concerned there is not a lot of shade planned near the playground area.Commissioner Sherry Thixton noted the children's play equipment can get quite hot when exposed to heat, and she suggested a canopy could be used to cover the play area.Tanja Pollie agreed, saying parents won't want to sit idly by under shade trees while their children go down a slide that has been heated to 140 degrees by the sun.It was noted the play area is quite large, and it would be quite expensive to provide a canopy over the entire area.The commission didn't take any action on the play area or any shade for it, only forwarding a recommendation to the Lincoln City Council endorsing the conceptual design plans for the park, with their suggestions regarding the fencing and the backstops. Richard Myers can be reached at richardm@goldcountrymedia.com.