Title
Receive Status Update and Provide Direction on the Chochenyo Park Play Area.
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Recreation and Park Commission
From: Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Re: Receive Status Update and Provide Direction on the Chochenyo Park Play Area.
BACKGROUND
During the City’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2019/21 Budget process, a group of Jackson Park neighbors spoke at the Recreation and Parks Commission (Commission) meeting to advocate for a small play area to be installed at Jackson Park. After hearing the comments, the Commission included project in its recommendation to City Council for the FY 2019/21 budget. The City Council allocated $75,000 toward a play area at Jackson Park during its FY 2019/21 budget discussions and approval.
On July 23, 2019, staff held a neighborhood meeting and approximately 75 people attended. Overall, the comments were equally for and against a play area at the park with some people expressing interest but with reservations. Residents also expressed concerns that there is deferred maintenance at the park that should be addressed.
In December 2019, the Commission approved a tree and asphalt replacement plan. Phase 1 of the asphalt pathway replacement was completed in June 2020. Throughout 2020, a larger silver linden tree and magnolia tree were planted in addition to a volunteer tree planting event in November 2020 in which twenty trees of several varieties were planted throughout the park.
In September 2019, the Commission provided direction for a landscape play area design and in June 2020, the Commission provided direction to focus on the design created by Tyler Velten with a train log focus. Tyler Velten has provided his services at no cost.
DISCUSSION
The location of the landscape play area is proposed to be closer to the center of the north end of the park for safety reasons to avoid the higher traffic Encinal Avenue (Exhibit 1). Based on input from the Commission, the design natural based, within an approximately 50 foot diameter circle, and designed in a circular layout to create a community gathering space. This play area is designed to be a calm space and attract children and families from the local neighborhood who will bike or walk to the park.
The design by Tyler Velten (Exhibit 1) includes logs and stumps from trees that lived in Alameda parks, including the magnolia at Longfellow Park. The placement and design of the logs invokes a train track moving in a spiral. The most recent design is primarily level with three mounds that are approximately 2-3 feet high. The design also includes carved wooden animals. The artist for these carved animals has not yet been identified.
The challenges and delay on this project stem from the direction and structure of this play area. It’s immensely appreciated that Mr. Velten provided his services at no cost, however it can take longer to prioritize a project. This created a nearly one year delay on the design. In addition, staff have met with a contractor onsite to review the design and it is a challenge to make the design fit within the $75,000 budget and also ensure it meets all ADA and safety requirements.
There are several options to make this project feasible. These include:
• Continue to reduce the scope of the play area design. The design can be focused more on a circular seating area with some rocks and climbing logs placed within the circle. The more customized components are, the higher the cost. For example, requiring a contractor to turn the logs into train sections and hire an artist to carve wooden animals greatly increases costs rather than using pre-fabricated components from a playground company.
• Increase the budget, hire an architect to review the design for construction feasibility, ADA and safety review. It will be a challenge to increase this budget given the many other community facility requests for funding such as for more pickleball courts, improving tennis courts, adding dog parks on the East End and Bay Farm, adding a roller skating area and BMX park.
Another option for this space was recently brought forward by local artist, Ryan LaRonde. He is creating the educational signage for Chochenyo Park at no cost and developed a concept for a “landing area” for this signage (Exhibit 2). This concept is based on a medicine wheel and is also circular with corresponding directions and colors and seating around the edge of the circle. The colors could be infused by the landscape plantings, colored concrete or metal. This design also draws upon the original landscape play area concept to create a circular area with seating as a community meeting area and focal point. This concept is preliminary pending feedback from representatives from the Confederated Villages of Lisjan on the design concept and details.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This project is funded in the amount of $75,000.
RECOMMENDATION
Receive a status update and provide direction on the Chochenyo Park Play Area.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Exhibits:
1. Chochenyo Park Play Area Design
2. Chochenyo Park Draft Interpretive Signage Landing Area