Boyce Mayview Park: History of the Masterplan
The Township Commissioners charged the Parks and Recreation Board with the task of developing a masterplan for the property.The Parks and Recreation Board in turn formed a Study Group made up of members of the USC Township Community as well as Parks and Recreation Board members to seek input from the community.
In the Fall of 1997, the Parks and Recreation Board sent out a survey to all residents asking for for their thoughts and ideas regarding the master planning for recreation on these parklands. The data from this survey was used to provide the design consultant team with a better understanding of the needs and desires of the community.
In 1998, the Parks and Recreation Board and the citizens' study group began discussing the master planning process and preliminary overall goals and objectives for the Park. Proposals were requested from a wide range of design firms before the citizens' study group and the Parks and Recreation Board ultimately chose to recommend Wallace Roberts & Todd (WRT) to the Board of Commissioners. In December 1998, the Board of Commissioners voted to hire the Philadelphia-based firm.
Wallace Roberts & Todd has national experience in park planning and design and is known for its inclusion of strong public participation. WRT is being assisted by Ecological Restorations, Inc. of Apollo, PA, Economic Research Associates of Washington, DC, and H.F. Lenz Company, an engineering firm from Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
WRT started with an extensive analysis of the community and the Boyce Mayview site. They reviewed stacks of information providers by the Township, and key citizens and groups from the community were interviewed to glean opinions, background, ideas and a feel for the community.
The first in a series of five public meeting to plan the future of Boyce Mayview Park was held on Monday March 8, 1999 in the Holiday Inn Pittsburgh South. More than 200 interested citizens attended. Paul Rookwood, Principal-in-Charge from WRT, and Eric Tambulonis, Project Director, gave a presentation of existing conditions and an analysis of the opportunities and constraints of the park site. Small groups were then organized so that everyone had the opportunity to express their interests, values, and goals for the future of the site.
Over 250 people attended the second public meeting was held on Tuesday, April 13, 1999 in the Fort Couch Middle School. A brief review of the master planning process was followed by a slide presentation focusing on the habitat constraints and recreational opportunities afforded by the park. Results of the community-wide Recreational Preference Survey for the Boyce Mayview Park was reviewed.
A third meeting was held in early Fall 1999 to review the Draft Masterplan with the public. It was generally agreed that the plan adequately accommodated "active" recreational needs as well as more "passive" land conservation and environmental needs.
On December 2, 1999, the Board of Commissioners formally adopted the Boyce Mayview Masterplan as recommended by the USC Parks and Recreation Board. The complete plan is available for review at the reference desk on the adult floor of the library.
The Township will be considering implementation of various components of the Masterplan as funding permits. The Parks and Recreation Board will work actively with staff, WRT and various resource groups within the community to assist with development of this park.
