A New Plan Proposed for Mid County Park

Thursday, January 27, 2011

A new plan is in the works for James City County’s Mid County Park, well known for its Kidsburg playground, which could include removing the baseball fields and creating a new playground.

Ellis pointed out that Mid County Park is the second most visited park in the county with about 300,000 visitors a year. It was created in 1985, with Kidsburg coming along in the early 1990s. Aside from the large playground there are currently two baseball fields, tennis courts, basketball courts, picnic shelters, restrooms and a volleyball court.

The playground equipment, which is about 19 years old, is in need of replacement. Since 2001, the county has spent about $160,000 to repair the playground, most of which has been spent in the last five years. Also, the proximity of the playground to the basketball courts used by older kids and adults means occasionally kids overhear inappropriate language.

Parking is an issue, too, with too few spaces for all the amenities offered, and the current building that houses the bathrooms and an office area is aging and needs repair or replacement.

Also, after several instances of baseballs hitting cars on Monticello Avenue, the baseball fields were limited to players under high school and college age, so they’re seeing less use.

The new master plan would remove the baseball fields, with the promise to light the fields at Warhill and Jamestown so they can be better utilized, and the volleyball courts would likely move more towards the center of the park.

A new playground would be built further towards the center of the park, possibly with a splash-pad component in one area (which is designed for safe water play that wouldn’t require a life guard).

More shelter facilities would be built, as would a new building to replace the current one. The new building would offer a small public meeting room, bathrooms, office and storage space and vending machines.

The parking lot would also be redesigned, and a crosswalk might be included across Longhill Road.

Supervisors seemed supportive of the idea, but some were concerned about the upcoming cost for Freedom Park, which will use up most of the remaining 2005 referendum money set aside for various recreation projects.

Parks and Recreation Director John Carnifax said he estimates the county will have around $1 million left over after Freedom Park’s newest addition is complete, should supervisors choose to use that money for Mid County Park.

Staff will host a few public meetings over the next few months to share the plans with the public and get citizen input.