TOWN OF BURGAW PARKS AND RECREATION Splash Pad Master Plan
SECTION V: SITE SELECTION AND ANALYSIS Bishop Rayford Hankins Memorial Park was selected as the location of the splash pad project for a number of reasons, from floodplain and parking considerations to proximity of restrooms and utilities. A combination of favorable elements makes Hankins Park the ideal space for this new water recreation facility. Physical Location Hankins Park is situated along the Osgood Canal Greenway and Urban Trail, which connects various neighborhoods, three local schools, and the downtown area. This makes the park and splash pad easily accessible for families who may be walking or biking the trail from different parts of the community. Located across the street diagonally is W. Ross Harrell Memorial Park, featuring tennis courts, a racquetball court, playground, gazebo, and picnic area. The proximity of the two parks means families can easily move between the two for a full play experience. Another contributing factor to the selection of Hankins Park as the splash pad location is the fact that part of the park is in a 500-year floodplain (see Appendix D). Only the southernmost portion of the park, adjacent to the Osgood Canal itself, is impacted by this floodplain hazard. The northern half of the park, where the splash pad will be situated, is free of any flood risk. Other parks in the Town of Burgaw are located directly in a floodplain and would not be acceptable locations for a splash pad. Parking Hankins Park contains a gravel parking lot with 14 spaces available for public use. The parking lot is connected to the park via sidewalk. The proximity of Harrell Park down the street means some families may park at that location for the playground before making their way to the splash pad at Hankins Park. There is room for future expansion of parking at Hankins Park diagonally along Walker Street to the west of the park. Accessible parking can eventually be constructed here, ensuring the splash pad becomes yet easier to reach for all visitors, including those with mobility challenges. Renderings were completed to show future parking possibilities. Nearby Amenities Hankins Park is ideal for a splash pad because additional facilities will not need to be constructed to accompany the splash pad, due to their location on site. Hankins Park already contains a pavilion that includes a picnic shelter and accessible men’s and women’s restrooms with two stalls each. This provides ample space for families to sit down and enjoy lunch at the park and change clothes in the restroom. As previously mentioned, Hankins Park is near Harrell Park, which has its own playground, tennis courts, gazebo, and picnic area, complimenting the splash pad by catering to an overlapping audience.
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