Title
Report on Jean Sweeney Open Space Park
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Recreation and Park Commission
From: Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Re: Report on Jean Sweeney Open Space Park - Updated 3/8/2021, 1:00 PM
BACKGROUND
Jean Sweeney Open Space Park (Sweeney Park) is a 25-acre community park located in the central west area of the community. The park site is the former Alameda Beltline Railroad property that was secured by the City, with significant advocacy by long-time resident Jean Sweeney.
In December 2018, Sweeney Park opened to the public with the completion of the Cross Alameda Trail section through the park and the eastern phase of the park. Two phases in the center and to the west remain undeveloped until funding is secured.
DISCUSSION
Sweeney Park is a gem of Alameda, located near public transit with a wide variety of existing and planned amenities for our community. There are two more phases still to build and the City is continuing to seek grant funding to do just that. The City is applying for a very competitive grant from the State Parks & Water Bond to fund construction of the most western side of Sweeney Park, referred to as the Urban Agriculture phase. This is a great opportunity to update the design and the City implemented multiple ways for the community to provide input on this design update. Over 1,000 residents completed an online survey, 28 people attended an online Zoom community input meeting on February 25, 2021, a survey was conducted with Alameda Food Bank clients and City staff met with the Sweeney Park Community Garden Steering Committee. All of this information was combined into the Urban Agriculture phase design. The grant application is to update the detailed park design as well as construction of this phase.
Exhibit 1 is a potential draft conceptual layout of the Urban Agriculture phase that was utilized for the community input opportunities and will be updated to incorporat...
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