Summary of SWM/Park Meeting:
July 13, 2006
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College Gardens Park and Storm Water Management Task Force,
July Meeting
The 6th meeting of the College Gardens Park and Storm Water Management Task
Force was held the evening of Thursday July 13. Mark Pierzchala and Mike Phillips
represented the CGCA. Other College Gardens residents attending were Jerry
Leighton (from the City's Environment Commission), Paul O'Brien (CGCA's SWM
liaison with the City), and Carol Hall (Garden Club). A new member of the
Task Force is Kate Savage, commissioner of the Recreation and Parks Board.
Several staff members represented the City of Rockville. Tim Schueler of Charles
P. Johnson and Associates (SWM pond designer and consultant) was also present.
John Slater, a newly hired park design consultant, gave three Power Point
presentations. The first showed photos of the current College Gardens Park
and an analysis of how it could be improved. The second presentation showed
different kinds of park amenities such as bridges, gazebos, play equipment,
and fountains. The third showed examples of pond and park configurations.
Some of these latter examples, from Columbia, Maryland, were similar in scale
to the College Gardens Park and pond. Mr. Slater then presented two sketches
of how a renovated College Gardens Park might look and elicited comments from
the group.
Mr. Slater's presentations and sketches were impressive. His firm took into
account the concerns of the College Gardens community. His sketches showed
a commitment to keeping as many of the park's trees as possible, and how space
could be better used. The lower part of the park could be extended into the
area of the current ball field (which is moving closer to the new school).
The City of Rockville will hold a public meeting the evening of September
21 in the Carnation Room of the Senior Center. Mr. Slater will present revised
sketches and elicit feedback from attendees. This date avoids scheduled school
activities such as back-to-school nights and PTA events. All should plan to
attend. The results of the recent CGCA survey questions on the park (5 pages
of commentary) were handed personally to Mr. Slater at the end of the meeting.