Title
Jean Sweeney Open Space Design Review.
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Recreation and Park Commission
From: Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Re: Jean Sweeney Open Space Design Review
BACKGROUND
The Jean Sweeney Open Space Park (Sweeney Park) is a 22-acre park bounded by Constitution Way, Atlantic Avenue, and Sherman Street. The site is the former Alameda Beltline Railroad property that was secured by the City at its original purchase price due the advocacy efforts of long-time resident Jean Sweeney. On July 15, 2015, the City Council approved the Sweeney Park Master Plan, which was designed pro bono by Kristoffer Köster of KKDesign through an extensive public input process.
On March 1, 2016, the City Council approved a contract with Placeworks Landscape Architects to provide design services for Jean Sweeney Open Space Park. Since then, staff has been working with Placeworks to develop the design.
DISCUSSION
This detailed design follows all of the basic parameters of the approved Master Plan. It also integrates the finalized Cross Alameda Trail design. The design has a framework that defines three areas: Urban Agriculture; Nature in the City; and Community Gathering.
The design process began with a detailed existing conditions report and work on stormwater drainage and grading which then informed the draft design. A first draft design was then reviewed by the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park Steering Committee and the Community Garden Steering Committee. Each had robust discussions and provided a significant amount of input. Placeworks then incorporated comments from those meetings and from staff into a second draft that was presented to both committees combined on May 6, 2016.
This second draft is also being presented to the Recreation and Parks Commission for review. Input from the combined steering committee meeting and Commission meeting will then be incorporated into a final draft design that will be brought back to the Commission on June 9, 2016 for final review and recommendation to City Council.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is currently $6.5 million of funding secured for the design and construction on the first two phases of Sweeney Park. Phase 1 is the Cross Alameda Trail, funded by the Active Transportation Program grant in the amount of $2.5 million. The design and construction documents for that phase are complete and construction is anticipated to begin by fall 2016. A $2 million grant was secured from the Land and Water Conservation Fund with a 50% city match, which totals $4 million to design the park and construct Phase 2, which is approximately 1/3 of the eastern side of the park.
Maintenance of Sweeney Park is estimated to cost $250,000 annual after the park is fully built.
RECOMMENDATION
Review and provide input on the Jean Sweeney Open Space design.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director