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 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, 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 an opportunity to use topography in the park design with high and low points that not only naturally create drainage and ponding areas but also create recreational opportunities.
The first draft developmental design was 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. The architect then incorporated comments from those meetings and from staff into a second draft that was presented jointly to both committees on May 6, 2016. On May 12, the Recreation and Parks Commission reviewed the park’s second draft design and provided feedback.
The architects then incorporated the additional feedback to further the design and on June 9, 2016, the Recreation and Parks Commission approved the design development plan and recommended it to City Council.
The overall strategy of the Master Plan design was to group the more active uses on the outside edges of the property, and retain the majority of the center as open space and trails. The Cross Alameda Trail, a council-approved pedestrian and bicycle trail running the length of the Island, is located on the northern edge of the property, away from the neighborhoods. There will also be a tree buffer along the southern edge, to act as a natural sound barrier for the residential area. Parking lots, with 120 total spaces, are located on the northern edge of the park near the activity areas in order to provide adequate parking spaces and draw parking away from residential areas.
The rail-banking agreement, through which the land was secured, requires a right of way for future transit. This 30 foot right of way is designated along the northern border between the Cross Alameda Trail and the park boundary.
Predominant features of the park include:
• Active use areas on the east and west sides each with a parking lot, restroom, and natural-based playground;
• Picnic area with a gazebo, open lawn, and picnic pavilion. This provides an area for community rentals; however, no amplified sound will be allowed;
• Outdoor classroom adjacent to the community garden for use by schools and the College of Alameda who are studying the history, botany and environmental aspects of the park;
• Natural open space with pedestrian-only trails through the central portion;
• A bike skills loop with elements and obstacles to provide recreation and improved bike skills;
• Picnic tables, benches, and bicycle racks located throughout the park;
• A one-acre, fenced community garden with plots available to Alameda residents;
• One-acre of demonstration gardens and urban orchard; and
• Educational signage and displays on the railroad history and local biology.
The community garden and demonstration area is a collaborative effort among several local non-profits that are all represented on the Community Garden Steering Committee. These include the Alameda Backyard Growers, Alameda County Master Gardeners, Project Leaf, Alameda Food Bank, and Supervisor Wilma Chan. This committee determined the three primary purposes of the garden to be plots for Alameda residents, information and education, and addressing food insecurity in Alameda by providing Food Bank constituents with plots, gardening skills, and fresh fruit and vegetables. Several of these non-profits are anticipated to assist with various aspects of maintenance of the garden, orchard and demonstration garden.
As Council is aware, the design of the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park has enjoyed the benefits of a truly collaborative process. As a result, the project has developed into what will be a beautiful addition to the City’s already substantial park system. Staff is therefore recommending the Council approve the Sweeney Park Design Development Plan
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The Jean Sweeney Open Space Park design and construction phases are accounted for in projects 91309 and 91614, respectively, in the Capital Improvement Projects Fund. 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, including $280,000 from Measure B and Open Space Funds as the City’s matching funds. 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 from the Tim Lewis Communities Development Agreement. This 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 annually once the park is fully built. No funding source has been identified for this on-going cost.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action has no effect on the Municipal Code.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
On July 15, 2014, the Council adopted a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) that has minimal environmental impacts, and those that were identified are related to the construction period (e.g. dust, construction traffic, etc.) mitigations are recommended to minimize those impacts. The design development plan for Council’s review is consistent with the adopted MND and there will be no new environmental impacts that were not previously evaluated.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation to approve the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park design development plan
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Elena Adair, Finance Director
Exhibit:
1. Detailed Park Design