PARK PROJECTS

Crozet Park Capital Improvements

As a community-owned and operated park, decisions about capital improvements are driven almost exclusively by community input either through representation on the Park’s board of directors or, using data gathered from community-wide surveys. Since 2014, three surveys have been conducted across current aquatic/fitness members and the community at large. Survey data supports development of a multi-year capital investment plan or “road map.” Additionally, because Crozet Park is included in Albemarle County Parks and Recreation’s (ACPR) field maintenance budget, we work closely with ACPR colleagues to identify additional priorities to be considered for Capital Improvement Program (CIP) funding through the County. ACPR has conducted two needs assessments surveys (2004 and 2019) from which information has been used to create the Park’s capital investment plan.

Park projects are funded either privately, publicly or both. In general, private funding includes gifts and grants. Public funding comes from federal, state or another publicly (tax-payer) funded agency. Public funding can also include grants awarded by specific agencies.

The following is not an exhaustive list of all capital improvements at Crozet Park.

Proposed and Planned Projects

2021 - 2022

Shed Replacement

Cost: TBD; publicly funded with CIP along with private funding — PERMANENTLY ON HOLD
With the recent renovation of the Park’s radio building, previously used for storage, along with the growth of the Peachtree Baseball and Softball league, the Park will replace the current shed sitting near the upper baseball field. The new shed will have six individual bays with roll-up doors to serve multiple Park stakeholder groups.

Adding court-side benches

Cost: $3,500; privately funded with Park savings — COMPLETED

Given the significant increase in the use of the Park’s Quickstart tennis and pickleball courts, three new benches were added for those waiting for a court or relaxing between games.

Pond Study/Restoration

Cost: TBD; funded with CIP — CURRENTLY ON HOLD
The Park’s 1-acre pond located in the southwest corner of the Park was installed in 1958. The pond study will assess overall aquatic health to include the pond’s above and below ground piping and the integrity of the dam. From the study, a report will be generated to recommend potential repairs and activities to support higher quality pond health.

Completed Projects

2020

Lower Playground Replacement

Cost: $180,000; publicly funded with CIP

Completed: July 2020 | The lower playground, previously only suitable for ages 2-5, was expanded with new fencing, rubber surfacing (not wood chips), and playground equipment suitable for ages 2-12. The upper playground (for children ages 5-12) will stay as is until it’s removed to make way for the newly expanded Crozet Park Aquatic and Fitness Center (CPAFC). We expect to break ground for the new CPAFC in 2022/23.

renovation of Current Crozet park aquatics & fitness center

Cost: $10,000; privately funded with Park savings

Completed: April 2020 l The current small block building serving as the Park’s fitness facility was in dire need up upgrades. Specifically, all of the flooring in the foyer, hallway, and locker rooms needed replacement after years of water seeping under the floor’s rubber membrane. This was especially problematic in the locker rooms where floor drains were set too high to allow water to easily flow into them. All flooring was removed, the concrete surface was acid-washed, and floors were replaced with simply epoxy paint which is easier to clean and repair. The drains were ground down to sit below the level of the new floor. The facility interior space and exterior siding were all re-painted.

RE-plaster baby pool

Cost: $8,000; privately funded with Park savings

Completed: April 2020 l The Park’s baby pool was in rough shape after nearly 25-years of use. The entire baby pool surface was removed and replaced.

2019

Radio Building Renovation

Cost: $125,000; privately funded with Park savings and in-kind donations of materials and labor

Completed: December 2019 | Deeded to Crozet Park in 2006, the radio building was actually a radio station in the 70’s with station call letters: WPED. However, by 1980 WPED changed hands and the building sat unused for many years. In 2006, the radio building plus the almost half-acre lot was deeded to Crozet Park by the developer of Parkside Village. However, at the time of the gift, the Park Board did to have the necessary funding to renovate the space and it was used for storage up until summer 2019 by the Park and associated stakeholder groups. In the fall of 2019, the Park Board renovated the space to support local community use and Park-related programming. The space is now referred to as the Community Room.

Upgrades to Outdoor Basketball and Hard Courts

Cost: $25,000; privately funded for pickleball lines; public funding via CIP

Completed: March/April 2019 | The Park’s outdoor basketball backboards, rims and nets were all replaced with new hardware and four sets of 42’ x 50’ half-court lines were professionally added. Additional lines were added to accommodate various forms of the “Around the World” shooting drill. Additionally, the Park’s existing three hard courts were cleaned, resurfaced and relined to include both QuickStart tennis and pickleball lines.

ThorGuardian Lightening Protection System

Cost: $10,000; privately funded by Peachtree Baseball/Softball League and Crozet Park

Completed: February 2019 | This new lightening protection system alleviates the challenge lifeguards, coaches, umpires and parents face of whether to clear the pool or the athletic fields when skies start to darken. Making decisions about lightening risk is especially difficult without a view hazardous weather conditions coming from over the mountains. This advanced warning system is capable of monitoring the atmosphere’s electrostatic energy as far away as 15 miles to evaluate the potential for lightening within a 2-mile radius of the Park. From 8AM to 9PM, when hazardous conditions are present, the system alerts with a single 15 second air horn blast along with a flashing strobe light.  The air horns trigger again with three 5 second blasts when the hazard clears. The strobe light remains flashing the entire time hazardous conditions are detected.

Lower Ballfield Lights

Cost: $140,000; privately funded with community donations

Completed: February 2019 | A lighting system was added to the lower field to extend playtime during October, February and March when it gets dark relatively early. Coaches are 100% volunteer, and because most are working parents, practices don’t often start until 5:30PM making it very difficult to get an hour of play time during the fall and winter months. The lights allow additional scheduling so that all Peachtree teams can play at least 10-12 games per season.

2018

Pool and Dog Park Pavilions

Cost: $40,800; privately funded with an anonymous gift and in-kind donations of materials and labor

Completed: May 2018 | Because of a generous anonymous gift, the Park Board was able to replace a very old pavilion located on the west end of the pool. This beautiful new covered pavilion, bench seating, embedded ceiling lights and multiple fans, provides a central gathering space for the Gator swim team and for all other pool users. Additionally, a smaller covered pavilion with bench seating was added to the very popular Crozet Dog Park. 

Pond-side Amphitheater

Cost: TBD — CURRENTLY ON HOLD

In the years from 2014 – 2018, the Park Board considered adding a pond-side amphitheater. After some initial design and study, the Park Board determined that locating this structure near or on the pond’s edge was too costly and disruptive. The alternative option of building something on the Festival Grounds is being considered as part of the planning for a new aquatic fitness facility.

2017

SK8Crozet Perimeter Trail

Cost: $215,000; privately funded with a gift from a local family and a grant from the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Completed: May 2017 | As part of the Park’s capital “road map,” a multi-purpose perimeter trail was one of the most popular projects as determined by community-wide survey in 2014. The .85-mile SK8Crozet perimeter trail supports a variety of recreational activities and enhances the walkability of the entire Crozet area. Claudius Crozet Park (CCP) is a key trailhead for the Greenway Trail System, which is delineated in the Crozet Community Master Plan and the Albemarle County Comprehensive Plan. The Greenway Trail System represents a significant network of trails currently being implemented. The SK8Crozet perimeter trail links together separate parts of this extensive trail system connecting local neighborhoods and downtown Crozet with CCP.

Par Course Equipment

Cost: $27,000; publicly funded with CIP

Completed: November 2017 | In response to community input asking for additional amenities along the SK8Crozet perimeter trail, two separate multipurpose outdoor exercise stations were installed on the northwest and northeast corners of the Park’s property. Each exercise station supports between 4-5 different exercises.  Fitness stations are weather proof, stationary and are permanently mounted with concrete pads.

Aquatic and Fitness Facility Upgrades

Cost: $34,000; privately funded with Park savings

Completed: Throughout 2017 | A variety of aquatic and fitness center upgrades were made including replacement of pool pump motors, a new state-of-the-art pool heater, a new dome motor, and significant upgrades made to the conduit and electrical lines coming into the pump room.

Park Security System

Cost: $12,500; privately funded with Park savings

Completed: November 2017 | A series of cameras and intrusion detection hardware were added throughout the Park to lower the risk of vandalism occurring when the Park is closed.

2016

Parking Lot Expansion

Cost: $367,000; publicly funded with CIP

Completed: Fall 2016 | The parking lot expansion project was undertaken to increase parking spaces with most of the new spaces to be located in front of the fitness facility, re-pave and line existing parking spaces, improve lighting and directional signage, increase pedestrian safety, and upgrade storm water run-off capabilities. The parking lot project included significant work by volunteers to plant trees and wildflowers in all the parking islands and large bio-filter used to collect run-off.

Upper Ballfield Bleachers

Cost: $8,000; privately funded with community donations

Completed: June 2016 | A set of metal bleachers with canopy were added to the upper ball field to enhance seating options.

2015

Crozet Dog Park

Cost: $43,000; privately funded with community donations and a matching grant from the Starr Hill Red Light Fund of the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation (CACF). Publicly funded with CIP.

Completed: December 2015 | The 1.5-acre dog park is located just south of the lower baseball field at Claudius Crozet Park.  Many of the hardwoods along the perimeter of the dog park and within the fenced-in areas are left intact to provide shade for dogs and their owners. The site has been divided into two areas: one for big dogs and one for little dogs. Both areas are fully fenced with double-gated entries, bag dispensers, and water spigots. Periodically, volunteers spread pine bark chips that the Park purchases locally to prevent erosion and keep the play areas mostly mud-free.

Aquatic Facility Upgrades

Cost: $11,600; privately funded with Park savings.

Completed: September and November 2015 | A variety of aquatic center upgrades were made including replacement of the chlorination system and replacement of pool filters.

2014

Dauset Pavilion

Cost: $45,000; privately funded with an anonymous gift

Completed: October 2014 | The Dauset Pavilion replaced a much older pavilion blown down during the derecho winds in June of 2012. The new 44’ x 60’ covered pavilion provides a hub for community activities and additional space for a variety of events including the twice-yearly Crozet Arts and Crafts Festival.

Holzwarth Baseball Field Upgrades

Cost: $40,000; privately funded with community donations

Completed: March 2015 | A variety of upgrades were made to the lower ball field including: a new press box, dug-outs, bleachers, and a beautiful two-bay batting cage.

2013

Shed to Stow Dome

Cost: $18,500; privately funded with Park savings

Completed: June 2013 | To extend the life of the pool’s new dome by keeping it stored indoors, a pre-built shed was purchased to stow the very large dome covers along with associated hardware.

2012

QuickStart Tennis Courts

Cost: $56,600; privately funded by QuickStart Tennis of Central Virginia, community donations, and a USTA grant.  

Completed: Fall 2012 | The Park installed three 36-foot long Quickstart tennis courts designed to introduce youngsters to the sport of tennis by providing smaller rackets, bigger foam balls and a lower net. Quickstart clinics are offered each spring and fall.

Pool Dome and Fitness Facility Renovations

Cost: $672,000; privately funded with Park savings, community donations and a Perry Foundation grant; publicly funded by the County in the form of a $200,000 promissory note requiring the Park to make capital investments of equal value over a seven year period. Terms of the note were met in May 2017 with the completion of the SK8Crozet Perimeter Trail.

Completed: October 2012 | After many years of fundraising, a large dome was purchased to cover the 8-lane, 25-meter pool during colder months. The dome goes up in late fall and comes down in early spring. The addition of the dome allows for all-season pool use. With the dome up, the pool water hovers around 81 degrees with air around 85. The project also included renovations to the community building to include a covered walkway from the building to the pool. The community building was renovated to extend the Park’s fitness programming to include a group exercise room, locker rooms and fitness equipment.

2011

Pool Re-tiling

Cost: $50,000; privately funded with Park savings and community donations

Completed: May 2011 | To ready for installation of the dome in 2012, the pool interior was retiled and replastered.