Title
Recommendation to Approve the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park Design Development Plan. (Recreation and Parks 310)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jill Keimach, City Manager
Re: Recommendation to Approve the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park Design Development Plan
BACKGROUND
The Jean Sweeney Open Space Park (Sweeney Park) is a 27-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 to the advocacy efforts of long-time resident Jean Sweeney. There are 3.45 acres of remnant parcels on the southern edge that are still owned by Union Pacific Railroad. Staff is actively working with the railroad to negotiate purchase of these parcels.
On July 15, 2015, the City Council approved the Sweeney Park Master Plan, which was designed pro bono by Kristoffer K?ster 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, utilizing the approved Master Plan as the design framework.
There is currently $6.5 million of funding secured for design of the park and construction of the first two phases of Sweeney Park. The total park construction is estimated to be $12 million.
DISCUSSION
The detailed design follows all of the basic parameters of the approved Master Plan. It defines three core areas: Urban Agriculture; Nature in the City; and Community Gathering and integrates the finalized Cross Alameda Trail design.
The process began with a detailed report on existing conditions and design of storm-water drainage and grading. The goal of the storm-water drainage system is to allow all average rain fall to naturally filter onsite. This was viewed as a...
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