Title
Review and Recommend Park and Recreation Facilities Project Priorities.
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Recreation and Park Commission
From: Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Re: Review and Recommend Park and Recreation Facilities Project Priorities
BACKGROUND
On October 15, 2019, City Council heard a referral to “Establish an implementation plan to create a shoreline ecological park on the west side of Seaplane Lagoon at Alameda Point, commonly known as De-Pave Park.” Council provided direction to staff to conduct a process with the Recreation and Parks Commission to make a recommendation to Council on the existing and upcoming park projects and a prioritization of those projects.
DISCUSSION
There are several park and recreation facility projects currently in various stages of development as well as many future park opportunities. Exhibit 1 provides a map that indicates which City park projects are in construction or some stage of design development as well as future parks that have been identified and parks being built by developers that will be the responsibility of ARPD to operate and maintain when open.
Exhibit 2 provides details on all of these projects with the project status, the staff responsible for the project, estimated timelines, funding and any previous direction provided by City Council and/or the Recreation and Parks Commission.
Staffing for park project development and construction includes the Recreation and Parks Director (Director), Parks Manager (Manager) and Public Works Project Manager (PM). The Director is responsible for the overall project management from start to finish including identifying and managing funding sources, master plan process, detailed design and high level construction oversight. The Manager consults on park designs and handles daily field coordination during construction including problem solving with the PM, contractor and architect. The PM coordinates directly with the contractor, inspector and architect during construction and manages all aspects of the construction, including detailed paperwork. On larger projects, the PM is also involved during the detailed design development.
To give a sense of scale and scope for a park projects, this outline provides the “Life of a Park Project” from the very beginning to opening.
1) Identify funding for the three primary phases of a project: Master Plan/Conceptual Design, Detailed Design and Construction. This includes writing and managing grants, identifying available City funds and requesting funds from City Council as needed.
2) Conduct a Request for Proposals process for a Master Plan/Conceptual Design or Feasibility Study.
3) Manage the high level design process with an architect and conduct a public input process to ultimately develop a Master Plan/Conceptual Design.
4) Conduct a Request for Proposals process for Detailed Design and Construction Documents and contract with an Architect.
5) Manage the development of detailed design and construction documents. This step may be coordinated with the PM on larger projects.
6) Identify ongoing funding sources for long-term maintenance of the facility.
7) Secure City, regional, state and federal permits as needed per project.
8) Go out to bid for construction. This is primarily managed by the PM.
9) Build the project which includes problem solving as issues inevitably arise, managing the budget and coordinating with Public Works, architect and contractor.
10) Grand Opening!
Below is a brief description of each project.
Current Park Projects in Progress
• Krusi Park Recreation Center - This is currently under construction and full build out will include furnishing the center. This will be completed in time for summer programs in June 2020.
• City Aquatic Center - This is a conceptual design process for a potential City Aquatic Center. There will be a significant amount of public input in January and February 2020 with the full conceptual design completed by May 2020. Subsequent steps will include identifying funding, which may include private partnerships and/or an infrastructure bond, and if funding is secured then detailed design and construction.
• Jackson Park Play Area - Design concepts are being developed now and after public input and Commission approval, will need detailed design and construction.
• Fernside & Eastshore Pathways - ARPD staff is working with the Attorney’s office to conduct boundary surveys and create new easements. There are short-term safety improvements required and then the next step is an RFP for detailed design and permits.
• Annual Playground Replacement - The Woodstock Park playground is being rebuilt now and will open in January 2020. Designs are being solicited for the Bayport Park playground with public input conducted in early 2020 and then construction.
• Corica Park Parking Lot - This project is to install new utilities, resurface the parking lot, and add ADA and drainage improvements. Utilities will be installed this year by Greenway Golf and the remainder of the project is designed and will go out to bid in early 2020.
• Northwest Territories Regional Shoreline - Staff is finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding with the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD). Once completed, a detailed lease agreement will be developed within one year and then staff will work with EBRPD to conduct a public input process for a conceptual plan that must be completed within two years of signing of the lease agreement.
Pending Park Projects
• Jean Sweeney Open Space Park - The City is in in court proceedings for eminent domain from Union Pacific for the remaining parcels on the southern border of the park with a court date in February 2021. These parcels are crucial for utility connections and until this legal process is complete, the remaining two phases of Sweeney Park cannot be built. Once the City owns those parcels, staff will then seek grant funding to complete the park construction. This process could be at least 3 - 5 years away.
• Estuary Park -Construction of the second phase can begin once funding is secured. The most likely funding source is development impact fees from upcoming housing development. This construction could be within the next 2 - 3 years.
• Towata Park Kayak Launch - This is an unfunded project but there is potential grant funding available from the Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW), which has a grant specifically for design and construction of public non-motorized watercraft launch (kayak, paddleboards, canoes, etc.). According to DBW staff, there are very few agencies that apply to this grant source and the full funding amount is never distributed. DBW staff strongly encouraged the City of Alameda to apply.
• Enterprise Park - This triangular park, between the Encinal Boat Launch and USS Hornet, includes the old Navy campground and recreation center. A UCBerkeley graduate student group recently conducted a high level conceptual survey with the public for this park. There are opportunities for public/private partnership with both the campground and recreation center. There are local business people interested in developing and managing both the campground and recreation center.
• De-Pave Park - This park is detailed in the Alameda Point Town and Waterfront Precise plan with the intention to convert the existing concrete surface to passive parkland and a sustainable ecological area including wetlands. This park would be designed to inundate over time with sea level rise and create a tidal ecology system, which has notable carbon sequestration benefits.
• Alameda Point Regional Sport Complex - This 57-acre park will include amenities and programming for a wide variety of sports. There are possibilities for public/private partnerships for operation and maintenance. The Site A developer, Alameda Point Partners, is required to fund $1,000,000 for the Regional Sports Complex. This funding could be utilized to conduct the master plan process and permitting. The timing for construction of this facility is dependent upon when the Veteran’s Administration installs the main utilities lines along West Redline Road, which could be several years away.
Park Projects Constructed by Developers and Maintained by ARPD
• Alameda Landing Waterfront Park - This is a 4.5-acre park that includes a picnic area, small playground, a water taxi terminal and non-motorized watercraft launch, public art and a large promenade area for bicycles and pedestrians along the pier and connecting to Estuary Park.
• Alameda Point Waterfront Park - This park will include a large picnic area, public art, seating and opportunities along a waterfront promenade and is immediately adjacent to retail shops and cafes.
• Alameda Point Neighborhood Park - This is a small park that is intended for the neighborhood being built as part of Site A. It includes a picnic area, lawn areas, outdoor basketball courts, fitness stations, and playground.
These three parks built by developers are all anticipated to be open to the public by 2022 and are funded by Community Facility Districts that will fund additional maintenance positions and resources.
Staff is requesting that the Commission review all of these park projects and provide a recommendation to City Council on the order of project prioritization. Factors to consider when prioritizing may include:
1) Funding - is the project funded and if not, are there good options for grant funding?
2) Community impact - does this project impact the entire community or a smaller subset/neighborhood?
3) Climate Action & Resilience Plan - does the project have a significant impact on climate action?
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no direct financial impact from this report and recommendation. Any unfunded projects will require identifying and securing funding sources.
RECOMMENDATION
Review and provide a recommendation to City Council on the priorities for Park and Recreation Facilities projects.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Exhibits:
1. Park and Facility Locations
2. Alameda Park and Recreation Facility Projects List