Title
Review and Comment on Project List for Recreation Facility Improvement Funds and Community Survey.
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Recreation and Park Commission
From: Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Re: Review and Comment on Project List for Recreation Facility Improvement Funds and Community Survey.
BACKGROUND
As part of the City of Alameda FY 2021 - 2023 budget, City Council approved $200,000 each year, for a total of $400,000, to install and improve recreation facilities that are in high demand by the public. The City Council tasked the Recreation and Parks Commission (Commission) with determining the projects that are appropriate for these funds.
Separate funding is allocated for playground replacement and building a new dog park on the East End of Alameda and/or Bay Farm Island, therefore these types of projects are not included in the proposed project list. Building projects are the responsibility of Public Works with a separate funding source and therefore are also not included in this project list. Lastly, the projects are focused on active recreational amenities, not maintenance projects such as pathway improvements.
DISCUSSION
Staff reviewed all existing recreation facilities, recent projects and assessed facilities for which we regularly receive complaints and requests for improvement. The project list is described below and outlined in Exhibit 1. The Commission may make adjustments to this list and once it is confirmed, staff will then conduct a community input survey with the goal to establish a priority list of projects. The estimated costs are based on proposals from contractors plus a 25% contingency. However, especially in the Bay Area, construction costs continue to rise, so these costs are estimates and not finalized until a construction agreement is in place. By establishing a priority list with the community, staff will then start working on the top priority projects and will continue to address and complete projects as funding is available from the total $400,000.
Project List (in no particular order)
Washington Park
• Tennis Court Resurfacing - $105,000
• Tennis Court Lighting Conversion to LED - $25,000
This is the most heavily utilized tennis court facility with six full courts and two half courts. It is extensively booked and used for drop in until 10:00pm daily. Converting the lights to LED will provide ongoing electricity cost savings, increase reliability and improve lighting of the courts. The courts are in definite need of resurfacing and were last resurfaced in 2013.
Lincoln Park
• Pickleball Court Resurfacing and Improvements - $30,000
• Bocce Ball Court Improvements - $60,000
The four pickleball courts were initially constructed in 2016 and as the first pickleball courts in the city, it was not known how well these courts would be received. The surfacing was not anticipated to last more than 6 - 7 years and it is currently failing. These pickleball courts are heavily utilized on a daily basis. This project would resurface the courts as well as install safety netting between the courts. There is enough demand to justify a second pickleball facility. Several locations have been researched and determined infeasible for a variety of reasons, including proximity to neighbors and lack of long-term certainty due to location on State Tidelands property. However, a suitable facility site has been identified in Phase 2 of Estuary Park. This area is adjacent to the athletic fields and includes amenities such as a playground, picnic area, basketball court, open lawn and dog park. There is available space to add four pickleball courts. This project is anticipated to start construction within the next 2 - 3 years.
The bocce ball courts are the only courts of their type in the city, other than synthetic courts at Mastick that are minimally used. These courts are in significant need of renovation which will include new infill material, replacing the wood and with the goal to make it fully ADA accessible.
Krusi Park
• Tennis Court Resurfacing - $45,000
• Tennis Court Lighting Conversion to LED and add two new poles - $35,000
These three tennis courts are moderately used, were last resurfaced in 2013 and are in need of resurfacing. Converting to LED lighting will provide ongoing electricity savings, improve reliability and lighting on the courts. This project will include installing two new light poles on either side of the center court so there are a total of six poles. With the current configuration of four poles, there are dark areas in the middle court.
Leydecker Park
• Tennis Court Resurfacing - $56,000
• Tennis Court Lighting Conversion to LED - $30,000
• Basketball Court Lighting Conversion to LED and Improve Timer Reliability - $15,000
These three tennis courts are moderately used, were last resurfaced in 2013 and are in need of resurfacing. The existing surface is on a floating membrane to reduce the amount of cracking from large amounts of soil movement. Some tennis players feel this affects how the ball bounces and staff would work with the tennis community to determine if replacement should include the floating membrane or not. Converting to LED lighting will provide ongoing electricity savings, improve reliability and lighting on the courts. This project also includes replacement of one failed light pole.
This park has the only lighted public outdoor basketball court in the city. The court is heavily utilized by the public until 10:00pm. It was resurfaced by a grant from the Curry Foundation in 2014. Converting the lighting to LED will provide ongoing electricity savings, improve reliability and lighting on the court. The light timer is old and would be replaced to improve its reliability.
Cityview Skate Park at Alameda Point
• Skate Park Improvements to Add a Beginner Area - $100,000
The Cityview Skate Park is a popular recreation facility that’s used by youth and adults alike from serious skaters to toddlers on scooters and balance bikes. This wide variety of skill levels can create conflicting uses and potentially hazardous conditions. There is unused space available within the existing site footprint (fenced area) to add a beginner’s area to create a safer space for less experienced users to skate and roll. This area needs to be designed first and the skaters and families using the facility will be included in the design process. Additional funding is available from the Alameda Sports Complex fund and could be utilized to either further expand the beginner’s area and/or to build an advanced area with a deeper bowl, which has been requested by the skate community. As part of the Developer’s Agreement with Alameda Point Partners who developed Site A, $1 million was deposited for use at the Alameda Point Sports Complex. The majority of these funds will be utilized for master planning and design of the future sports complex. However, funds can also be used to expand and build new facilities at this site. The Sports Complex includes existing facilities such as the multi-purpose field, gym and skate park and then expands west and toward the estuary for a total of 44+ acres.
BMX Bike Park
BMX Bike Park Seed Funding
The BMX Park is being proposed for construction adjacent to and west of the Skate Park. Staff regularly receives requests for dedicated areas for youth and adults to ride bikes, particularly BMX and mountain bikes. This is also a sport that is quickly growing, especially now that it is an Olympic sport. There are many types of designs possible that can include separate areas for different skill levels, pump track, and BMX skills. The liability for a facility such as this is covered under a State of California law for unsupervised skate parks and BMX parks. The $25,000 in seed funding is intended to pay for a study of the existing utilities to determine if this is a feasible location for a BMX park. Funding to design and construct the park will be a combination of significant fundraising with a portion of the Alameda Point Sports Complex funds, if needed. Other popular Bay Area BMX sites have successfully raised funds from donors and grants upwards of $500,000 to build this type of facility.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
A total of $400,000 is available in FY 2021 - 23 to design and construct the proposed projects, allocated into $200,000 each year.
RECOMMENDATION
Provide comments on project list for recreation facility improvement funds and community survey.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Exhibits:
1. Proposed Recreation Facility Projects and Cost Estimate