Title
Update Report on Jean Sweeney Open Space Park (15 minutes)
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Recreation and Park Commission
From: Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Re: Update Report on Jean Sweeney Open Space Park.
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 of Alameda at its original purchase price due the advocacy efforts of long-time resident Jean Sweeney.
On July 5, 2016, the City Council approved the design development of Sweeney Park, which included detailed design, strategies and prominent features.
DISCUSSION
Sweeney Park was designed to be constructed in four phases due to funding. The first phase of construction was the Cross Alameda Trail, an off-street bicycle and pedestrian trail that meanders through the park from east to west. This construction was completed and the City Council accepted the work on March 19, 2018.
The second phase of construction is the eastern 8-acres near Sherman Street, which includes a natural playground, parking lot, restroom, open lawn, large picnic pavilion and smaller picnic areas throughout. This construction is planned for completion in October 2018. Sweeney Park is now at an exciting phase of construction. All of the grading and below ground utility work is completed and construction is now moving above ground. The restroom building is in place, concrete is being poured and the parking lot is being compacted. Soon we will see construction of the plaza, playground components, boulder and log placement, the picnic pavilion, landscaping and more. It’s often difficult for residents to see the construction occurring due to the large berm between the park entry at Sherman Street and the playground area, which was an intentional part of the design to create a sense of place from within the park. But the city and the construction crew are very busy building Sweeney Park. Exhibit 1 includes construction photos.
Staff will be scheduling facilitated walks through the park this summer so the public can see the progress and learn about the park. Bike Walk Alameda requested and Council directed that staff determine if it is feasible for the Cross Alameda Trail to be open before the construction is complete. It was determined to be infeasible due to issues with the existing construction site, a significant amount of funding required to erect fences and other safety precautions around the existing construction plus safety concerns with bicyclists and pedestrians entering and exiting on the Sherman Street side before all improvements are complete. Funding has been requested for the Fiscal Year 2018-19 budget, in the amount of $110,000, to implement interim bicycle/pedestrian safety improvements at Sherman Street. Once the Del Monte housing project is completed, it will include significant changes to the intersection of Clement and Sherman Streets with a controlled four-way light intersection. These interim safety improvements are intended to keep residents safe until the new intersection is built.
When construction is complete, the entire park will open including the Cross Alameda Trail, developed eastern section and the undeveloped open space areas. Some of these undeveloped areas will be fenced off for safety reasons, such as remaining rail ties and debris as well as the old maintenance pits. The park will be accessible from Sherman Street and the corner of Constitution and Atlantic Avenues. There are remaining parcels owned by Union Pacific along most of the southern portion of the park including at the end of each of the residential streets. Until a purchase is negotiated and completed, those streets will not be open directly into the park.
There are two remaining phases to fund and construct. These are the western section, which includes the community garden, demonstration gardens, parking lot, restroom, outdoor classroom and a playground; and the central section which is the natural open space area with dirt walking trails, a bike skills loop and a full walking/bicycle loop around the perimeter of the park. Approximately $10 million is required to complete the park. Staff will apply for grant funding using money such as development impact fees as matching funds. These fees are generated from each housing unit that is built in Alameda and paid by the developers.
RECOMMENDATION
Receive report on Jean Sweeney Open Space Park.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Exhibits:
1. Construction Photos