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5 <br />meetings have been held and guiding principles were developed. He said that Rieley and <br />Associates are consultants for the project. <br /> <br /> Mr. Will Rieley of Rieley and Associates presented a power point presentation of <br />the preliminary plan for McIntire Park. He said the community has been concerned that <br />the Park is cut off physically and programmatically. He said the plan is a w ork in <br />progress. Mr. Rieley listed the key elements of the plan as follows: work to change the <br />character of Melbourne Road with parking interspersed with trees; construct a pond on <br />the Melbourne side and relocate the wading pool and playground to that si de; explore the <br />idea of a public/private pavilion with the possibility of a restaurant; add paths to the <br />natural scene; provide opportunities for art; construct a conservatory with access across <br />the railroad tracks; and relocate the Vietnam Memorial. Mr. Rieley said it is a large and <br />expensive vision, but some pieces could begin immediately, including development along <br />Melbourne Road, keep golf in place for the first phase, walking trails, woodland pond, <br />and clean up of Schenck's Branch. He said that the Meadowcreek Parkway is designed as <br />a two lane road, and he hopes the intersection can be done at the same time. He said a <br />pedestrian bridge is proposed for access at the intersection. He said there is a <br />commitment on the part of VDOT and Albemarle County to add park land. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox asked Councilors how they would like the Committee and the consultant <br />to proceed. <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards said the Committee has done a wonderful job and she likes a lot of <br />what she sees, but said she has not had time to study the issue . He said she looks forward <br />to a complete plan. <br /> <br /> Mr. Rieley said he will develop a full master plan, but would like Councilors' <br />general impressions of the preliminary plan and assurances that we are headed in the right <br />direction. <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards said clea ning up Schenck's Branch is laudable and needs to be done. <br />She said she looks forward to being able to use the park. She said she likes the <br />recreational pond concept which is part of the Meadowcreek Parkway design and will <br />presumably be paid for as part of that project. She said perhaps that can be speeded up. <br />She said she looks forward to seeing more detail. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox asked Mr. Rieley to clarify what is included in the different phases. <br /> <br /> Mr. Rieley said the Committee has not really structured the phas es yet, but his <br />suggestion would be as follows: Phase I - along Melbourne Road, get the wading pool <br />and play area moved; move ahead with the pond, then the plaza and some of the trails; <br />Phase II - focus on the area north of the picnic shelters and the ped estrian bridge across <br />the tracks; and Phase III - after the Meadowcreek Parkway is built, develop the hilltop <br />area with the conservatory. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox said there is currently $981,698 available to begin the work. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said he thinks it is a great body of work and he would like to hear what <br />the public has to say about it. He said he favors releasing funds to take these designs to <br />the next level and get public input and cost estimates. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Ms. Richards, Mr. Rieley said the Com mittee will <br />refine the plans and get the design solidified. <br /> <br /> Mr. Schilling thanked Mr. Rieley, the Committee and staff and said there are <br />many exciting ideas. He said he has some practical concerns and found the process <br />troubling. He said there is a con stituency here without a voice, referring to the golfers <br />who use McIntire Park. He said he suggested adding a golfing member to the <br />Committee, but this was denied by the Committee. He said he cannot think of a <br />precedent for that. He said he thinks they have a legitimate concern and deserve to be <br />heard. Secondarily, he said the YMCA wanted to use part of the park in partnership with <br />the City for a community center and he thinks they deserved more a hearing than they got <br />