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Review and Comment on the Design for the Alameda Shipways Park (30 minutes)
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To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Recreation and Park Commission
From: Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Re: Review and Comment on the Design for the Alameda Shipways Park.
BACKGROUND
The Cavallari Group, Inc. submitted an application to the City of Alameda for a multifamily residential apartment complex known as “Alameda Shipways” on the former Shipways site, which played a major role in shipbuilding during the Second World War. The site is located within Marina Village, between Marina Gates 10 and 11, along the Alameda/Oakland Estuary. A new public waterfront park of approximately 2.75 acres is included as part of the project. Upon approval of the Alameda Shipways residential complex, the applicant will construct the new park with a public access easement. The park will be maintained by the applicant and available for use by the community at large.
The Shipways site provides expansive views to the north, east and west of the Alameda/Oakland Estuary and related maritime activities, Oakland’s skyline and eastern hills backdrop, Oakland’s Jack London Square, and marinas.
At this time, staff is requesting that the Recreation and Parks Commission review and comment on the proposed design for the park, as illustrated in Exhibit 1.
DISCUSSION
Designed by IMA Design, the proposed design is intended to pay tribute to the history of the site while realizing the City’s programing objectives for the park. Generally, the perimeter of the park follows the shape of the historic shipways and craneways. A large open lawn area in the middle of the park follows the shape of the historic welding platform. Overlook piers of various lengths and a gangway to a kayak launch area and future water shuttle are situated in the location of the historic craneways.
The park design provides a variety of spaces that facilitate passive and active recreation. The large rectangular lawn is the park’s centralizing feature. It is designated for passive recreation and enjoying the views. A well-defined seatwall and guardrail along the water’s edge outline the perimeter of the lawn. Smaller lawn spaces and seating are dispersed throughout the park. Low landscaped areas bordered by low seating walls provide space for plant materials and grass along the residential edge that borders the south side of the park. The park features a children’s play area at the western side of the park which will include custom play structures to reflect the site history. A kayak wash area will be located to the west of the children’s play area, adjacent to the new gangway. It will include outdoor showers and a bike fix-it station. On the east end of the park is a picnic area with picnic tables and barbeque pits. A Bay Trail will extend through the entire length of the park and along both side of the apartment complex.
The Bay Trail will enter the park from Marina Village Parkway where the public will have access to the park through two greenway corridors along either side of the apartment complex. The corridors are approximately 60’ wide with landscape buffering both sides of the Bay Trail. These public access corridors are envisioned to be “view corridors” to take advantage of the direct view between Marina Village Parkway and the Alameda/Oakland estuary. The adjacent buildings are built on a platform approximately 8’ above grade which provides an appropriate residential edge separation from the Bay Trail and public access.
A public/private restroom facility will be provided as part of this project. A women’s and men’s facility will be open to the public. The private component of the restroom will serve the adjacent Marinas. The restrooms will be located on the west side of the project just outside of the children’s play area and kayak kiosk.
RECOMMENDATION
That the Recreation and Park Commission review and comment on the overall park design and proposed programming in the Alameda Shipways Park plan.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Exhibits:
1. Alameda Shipways Park Design