T h e C i t y o f B e l l f l o w e r
Families. Businesses. Futures.
16600 Civic Center Drive, Bellflower, CA 90706
Tel 562.804.1424 Fax 562.925.8660 www.bellflower.org
Next CC Resolution No. 24-60 Next CC Agreement No. 1067 Next Ordinance No. 1437
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (562) 804 -1424, extension 2220 or [email protected]. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting.
Agenda Items are on file in the Office of the City Clerk and are available for public inspection during normal business hours. For your convenience, the Agenda is also posted on the City’s Website at www.bellflower.org with links to each Agenda Item (unless they are too lengthy or unavailable at the time of posting). Any supplemental material distributed to a majority of the members of the City Council/Successor Agency after the posting of this Agenda will be made available for public inspection during normal business hours in the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall, 16600 Civic Center Drive, Bellflower. (Privileged documents and Closed Session documents are exempted.)
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BELLFLOWER CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2024
BELLFLOWER CITY HALL - COUNCIL CHAMBERS
5:30 P.M. CLOSED SESSION / 7:00 P.M. OPEN SESSION
5:30 P.M. – CLOSED SESSION
1 CALL TO ORDER
None
2 ROLL CALL
None
3 RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION
None
4 RECONVENE FOR OPEN SESSION
None
AGENDA
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Bellflower City Council Agenda
November 12, 2024
7:00 P.M. – OPEN SESSION
5 CALL TO ORDER
6 ROLL CALL: Mayor Dan Koops
Mayor Pro Tem Ray Dunton
Council Member Wendi Morse
Council Member Victor A. Sanchez
Council Member Sonny R. Santa Ines
7 INVOCATION: Council Member Sonny R. Santa Ines
8 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Brian McNerney, Interim Director of Public Safety
9 CITY COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS / PRESENTATIONS
A City Council Announcements
B USPS Presentation
10 PUBLIC COMMENTS
This is the time set aside for the public to address the City Council on matters not listed on the Agenda. Anyone wishing to address the City Council should come to the podium, be recognized by the Mayor, and state your name for the record. If you wish to address the City Council on an Agenda Item, you may do so by approaching the podium as we review that particular item. You will be given three (3) minutes to address the City Council.
11 PUBLIC HEARINGS
None
12 ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION
None
13 CONSIDERATION ITEMS
A Consideration and possible action to receive, file, and adopt the City of Bellflower Parks and Recreation Master Plan.__________________________ Recommendation to City Council: 1) Receive, file, and adopt the City of Bellflower Parks and Recreation Plan prepared by KTU&A; or 2) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
Bellflower City Council Agenda
November 12, 2024
13 CONSIDERATION ITEMS – Continued
B Consideration and possible action to approve staff’s Information Technology plan for Internet Infrastructure Upgrades and City Phone System Migration, and approve the necessary budget amendments to implement the plan.____________________________________________________________ Recommendation to City Council: 1) Approve the proposed information technology plan to improve internet service speeds, internet infrastructure redundancy and failover capabilities, and to replace the City phone system and the needed equipment; and 2) Authorize a budget amendment in the amount of $98,500 in various telecommunications, contract services, information technology, and equipment budget accounts, as needed, for Fiscal Year 2024 -25; or 3) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item
C Consideration and possible action to review the Citywide fence installation program utilized for vacant lots and right-of-way areas for community aesthetics, beautification and security purposes.
Recommendation to City Council: 1) Review and discuss the Citywide fence installation program; or 2) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
14 CONSENT CALENDAR
All items under the Consent Calendar are considered by the City Council to be routine and will be enacted by one motion. Specific items may be removed from the Consent Calendar at the request of any member of the City Council for separate consideration.
A Consideration and possible action to receive and file Warrant Register No. 25-051, dated November 12, 2024.
Recommendation to City Council: 1) Receive and file Warrant Register No. 25-051; or 2) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
B Consideration and possible action to receive and file the Treasurer’s Report for the Month of September 2024.
Recommendation to City Council: 1) Receive and file the Treasurer’s Report; or 2) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
C Consideration and possible action to adopt Resolution No. 24-59 – A Resolution updating the City’s Designation of Applicant’s Agent Resolution (Form 130) with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal-OES) for the purposes of obtaining financial assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Authority (FEMA).
CEQA: This Resolution is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code §§ 21000, et seq.; “CEQA”) and CEQA Guidelines (California Code Regulations Title 14, §§ 15000, et seq.) because it does not constitute a "Project" under CEQA § 15378. Projects that may be funded by FEMA and Cal OES financial assistance may require project-specific environmental review.
Recommendation to City Council: 1) Adopt Resolution No. 24-59 and authorize its submittal to Cal-OES; or 2) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
Bellflower City Council Agenda
November 12, 2024
14 CONSENT CALENDAR – Continued
D Consideration and possible action to authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 1 to AFN 966.1 for Specifications No. 21/22-02, in a form approved by the City Attorney, with Elecnor Belco Electric, Inc., for additional work for the Traffic Signal Modification on Bellflower Boulevard at Park Street Project.
Recommendation to City Council: 1) Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute Amendment No. 1 to AFN 966.1 with Elecnor Belco Electric, Inc., for Specifications No. 21/22-02, in a form approved by the City Attorney; or 2) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
E Consideration and possible action to: 1) Authorize the City Manager to execute an Amendment to the Agency Sublease, in a form approved by the City Attorney, with Hollywood Sports Park, LLC (HSP), to extend the lease term with HSP for the first 10-year option, until October 23, 2035, for use of real property at 9030 Somerset Boulevard and 9108 Somerset Boulevard and; 2) Consider written requests from the Managing Partners of HSP to assign their respective beneficial shares in HSP to their designated Trusts.
Recommendation to City Council: 1) Authorize the City Manager to execute an Amendment to the Agency Sublease, in a form approved by the City Attorney, with Hollywood Sports Park, LLC (HSP), to extend the lease term with HSP for the first 10-year option, until October 23, 2035, for use of real property at 9030 Somerset Boulevard and 9108 Somerset Boulevard; and 2) Consider written requests from the Managing Partners of Hollywood Sports Park, LLC to assign their respective beneficial shares in HSP to their designated Trusts; or 3) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
F Consideration and possible action to authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement, in a form approved by the City Attorney, with Roadway Construction Service for street closures and traffic control service for the 605 All Star Band practice parade march event, scheduled for December 1, 2024; and approve the use of Cannabis Education Funding for City costs incurred in support of the 605 All Star Band’s practice parade march.
Recommendation to City Council: 1) Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement, in a form approved by the City Attorney, with Roadway Construction Service for street closures and traffic control service for the 605 All Star Band practice parade march event, scheduled for December 1, 2024; and 2) Approve the use of Cannabis Education Funding for City costs incurred in support of the 605 All Star Band’s practice parade march; or 3) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
Bellflower City Council Agenda
November 12, 2024
14 CONSENT CALENDAR – Continued
G Consideration and possible action to authorize the City Manager to execute Memorandum of Understanding File No. 21.11, in a form approved by the City Attorney, with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) to receive payment of the City’s portion of transit fund allocations for collecting and reporting data for the National Transit Database for Report Year 2022. ________________________________ Recommendation to City Council: 1) Authorize the City Manager to execute Memorandum of Understanding File No. 21.11, in a form approved by the City Attorney; or 2) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
15 COUNCIL REPORTS
16 ADJOURNMENT
Adjourn to the next Regular Meeting of the Bellflower City Council at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, November 25, 2024.
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council ATTENTION: Ryan Smoot, City Manager
FROM: P.J. Mellana, Director of Parks and Recreation SUBJECT:Consideration and possible action to receive, file, and adopt the City of Bellflower Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
DATE:November 12, 2024
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Over the past year, staff has collaborated closely with KTU&A throughout the master planning process, resulting in the comprehensive City of Bellflower Parks and Recreation Master Plan (Plan). This Plan is designed to support City staff, elected officials, and stakeholders in making informed decisions to enhance and maintain parks, facilities, programs, and special events over the next decade. The Plan serves as a guiding tool, offering direction and insight for planning and funding without committing the City to specific projects or programs. Instead, it provides a shared framework to align goals and funding opportunities.
RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL
1) Receive, file, and adopt the City of Bellflower Parks and Recreation Plan prepared by KTU&A; or
2) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
FISCAL IMPACT
Plan adoption has no immediate fiscal impact; however, future projects and initiatives based on the Plan may require separate policy and fiscal evaluations.
DISCUSSION
The City of Bellflower’s parks and recreation resources play a vital role in fostering healthy communities by promoting physical well-being and creating opportunities for residents to build positive memories, experiences, and relationships. Recognizing these benefits, the City prioritized the development of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. 13-A
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Staff Report – City of Bellflower Parks and Recreation Master Plan November 12, 2024
DISCUSSION – Continued
This Plan represents the culmination of a year-long planning process that included park site visits, data analysis, community workshops, neighborhood and stakeholder meetings, and a review of current industry trends and best practices. Through a comprehensive analysis of Bellflower’s parks and recreation system, KTU&A and City staff identified opportunities for improvement, expansion, and new development. Input was gathered from a wide range of community members and stakeholders, ensuring that the recommendations reflect local needs and priorities.
The insights from this community feedback, combined with the findings from the existing conditions analysis, guided the development of recommendations tailored to enhance Bellflower’s parks, facilities, programs, and events. This Plan will serve as a strategic framework, assisting City staff and elected officials in making informed decisions about the development, funding, and management of the City’s parks and recreation resources over the next decade.
ATTACHMENT
City of Bellflower Parks and Recreation Plan .................................................................. 3 2 November 12, 20243
CITY OF BELLFLOWER
PARKS AND RECREATION
MASTER PLAN
CITY OF
PARKS AND RECREATION
MASTER PLAN
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN 2
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
CITY COUNCIL
Dan Koops, Mayor
Ray Dunton, Mayor Pro Tem
Wendi Morse, Council Member
Victor A. Sanchez, Council Member
Sonny R. Santa Ines, Council Member
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
Gerrit J. Byma, Chairperson
Mitch Haack, Vice-Chairperson
Brian Ahumada, Commissioner
Margaret “Peggy” Romero, Commissioner
Michele Worley, Commissioner
PARKS AND RECREATION STAFF
P.J. Mellana, Director of Parks and Recreation
Kristen Smith, Recreation Manager
Mike Machado, Recreation and Marketing Supervisor
KTUA
Joe Punsalan, Principal
Jacob Leon, Senior Associate
Nicole Rogge, Senior Planner
Isabel Perez, Planner and Designer
MATRIX CONSULTING GROUP
Alan Pennington, Principal Analyst
Chas Jordan, Senior Analyst
Khushboo Ingle, Vice President
RRC ASSOCIATES
Kailyn Haskovec, Associate
Ethan Adams, Associate
A special thank you to all of the amazing Bellflower staff, stakeholders, and especially the Bellflower community for attending many events, workshops, and meetings throughout this planning process. 4 oTion
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3 TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ...............................................7
1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................8
1.2 What is a Parks Master Plan?.............................................................................8
1.3 Relevant Plans and Policies .............................................................................11
1.4 Bellflower at a Glance .....................................................................................15 ANALYSIS .....................................................17
2.1 Park classifications ..........................................................................................18
2.2 A Quick Look at Bellflower’s Parks ..................................................................21
2.3 Park Profiles ......................................................................................................24
2.4 Community Facilities ........................................................................................54
2.5 Nearby Parks and Natural Resources ..............................................................55
2.6 Trails .................................................................................................................56
2.7 Level of Service (LOS) Analysis ........................................................................57
2.8 Park Equity ........................................................................................................67
2.9 Future Population .............................................................................................70
2.10 Recreation Programs .....................................................................................73 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ...........................89
3.1 Community Engagement Overview .................................................................90
3.2 Project Publicity ...............................................................................................92
3.3 Community Engagement Public Events ...........................................................93
3.4 Stakeholder Focus Groups .............................................................................100
3.5 Community Survey .........................................................................................104 RECOMMENDATIONS .....................................111
4.1 Plan Initiatives ...............................................................................................114
4.2 Enhancing Bellflower Parks ...........................................................................124
4.3 Future Park Opportunities .............................................................................144
4.4 Creative Solutions .........................................................................................156 IMPLEMENTATION ........................................161
5.1 Future Level of Service ...................................................................................162
5.2 Project Implementation .................................................................................164
5.3 Potential Funding Sources .............................................................................165
5.4 Funding Tools for Local Governments ............................................................171 1 2
3 4
5 5
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN 4
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1-1: Bellflower Population Growth ..............................................................................15 Figure 2-1: Existing Bellflower Parks .......................................................................................20 Figure 2-2: Bellflower Parks Site Visits ....................................................................................24 Figure 2-3: Walkable Area to Parks ........................................................................................61 Figure 2-4: Walkable Area to Indoor Recreation Facilities ....................................................63 Figure 2-5: Walkable Area to Playgrounds ............................................................................64 Figure 2-6: Walkable Area to Sport Courts ............................................................................65 Figure 2-7: Walkable Area to Sport Fields ..............................................................................66 Figure 2-8: CalEnviroScreen ...................................................................................................68 Figure 2-9: Healthy Places Index ...........................................................................................69 Figure 2-10: Park Pressure ......................................................................................................71 Figure 2-11: Park Priority Areas ..............................................................................................72 Figure 2-12: Staffing Comparison to NRPA Data....................................................................83 Figure 2-13: Maintenance Staffing Comparison to NRPA Data .............................................85 Figure 2-14: Topline Participation .........................................................................................86 Figure 3-1: Response Distribution ........................................................................................105 Figure 3-2: Transportation ....................................................................................................105 Figure 3-3: Frequency ...........................................................................................................106 Figure 3-4: Time of Transportation ........................................................................................106 Figure 3-5: Level of Satisfaction ...........................................................................................107 Figure 3-6: Needs .................................................................................................................107 Figure 3-7: Importance.........................................................................................................108 Figure 3-8: Facilities .............................................................................................................108 Figure 4-1: Sports Field Complex Concept ..........................................................................146 Figure 4-2: Sports Field Complex Concept Rendering ........................................................147 Figure 4-3: Aquatics Center Concept ..................................................................................148 Figure 4-4: Aquatics Center Concept Rendering ................................................................149 Figure 4-5: Pocket Park Concept .........................................................................................150 Figure 4-6: Pocket Park Concept Rendering .......................................................................150 Figure 4-7: Mini Park Concept Rendering ............................................................................151 Figure 4-8: Mini Park Concept .............................................................................................151 Figure 4-9: Court Sports Complex Park Concept ................................................................152 Figure 4-10: Court Sports Complex Park Concept Rendering ............................................152 Figure 4-11: Night view of Court Sports Complex Park Concept ........................................153 Figure 4-12: Linear Park Concept ........................................................................................154 Figure 4-13: Linear Park Concept Rendering ......................................................................154 6 5
LIST OF TABLES
Table 2-1: Park Acreage by Type ..........................................................................................19 Table 2-2: Amenity Condition Assessment ...........................................................................22 Table 2-3: Population LOS .....................................................................................................57 Table 2-4: Population LOS of Nearby Cities ..........................................................................57 Table 2-5: Amenity Level of Service .....................................................................................59 Table 2-6: Programs offered for the 2022-2023 Program Year ..............................................74 Table 2-7: 2022-2023 Top 15 Programs .................................................................................76 Table 2-8: Programming Comparison to Peer Agencies ......................................................80 Table 2-9: Comparative Programming to Nearby Cities ......................................................82 Table 4-1: Zinn Park Opportunity Areas ..............................................................................129 Table 4-2: Thompson Park Opportunity Area Analysis .......................................................131 Table 4-3: Chevron Park Opportunity Area Analysis ..........................................................133 Table 4-4: Riverview Park Opportunity Area Analysis ........................................................135 Table 4-5: Palm Park Opportunity Area Analysis ................................................................137 Table 4-6: Simms Park Opportunity Area Analysis .............................................................139 Table 4-7: Caruthers Park Opportunity Area Analysis ........................................................141 Table 5-1: 2035 Level of Service with Existing Park Acres ..................................................162 Table 5-2: Future Level of Service with Existing Park and Planned Park Amenities ..........163 Table 5-3: Potential Funding Sources ..................................................................................165 7 8
INTRODUCTION
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10 U“
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INTRODUCTION 9
1 2
3 4
5 6
7 INVENTORY OF CITY-OWNED PARKS:
A thorough physical assessment of the
quantity and condition of park facilities
and amenities.
PARK “LEVEL OF SERVICE” ANALYSIS:
An analysis of geographic and de-
mographic data to better understand
gaps and underserved populations
throughout the city.
ASSESSMENT OF RECREATION
PROGRAMMING AND STAFF
RESOURCES:
A review of recreation and staffing
data from the last five years to assess
future opportunities.
COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER
ENGAGEMENT:
A comprehensive community and
stakeholder outreach program com-
prised of meetings, workshops, surveys,
online tools, and more.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PARKS
AND RECREATION FACILITIES AND
PROGRAMMING:
Recommendations based on feed-
back collected from data analyses,
residents, stakeholders, staff, and elect-
ed officials.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES:
A set of implementable short, mid, and
long-term projects that will inform the
City’s annual Capital Improvement
Program over the next ten years.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUNDING:
A table of federal, state, and regional
funding sources for parks and recre-
ation projects and programming.
1.2.1 PLAN OVERVIEW
11 BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN10
1.2.2 PARKS AND RECREATION
DEPARTMENT
The Parks & Recreation Department of Bellflow-
er oversees the maintenance and manage-
ment of parks, recreational facilities, programs,
and special events throughout the city. Offer-
ing a diverse array of recreational and edu-
cational opportunities, the Department caters
to community members of all ages. A primary
focus of the department is planning and exe-
cuting special events for the City throughout
the year. It oversees all special events for the
City, activating public spaces with engaging
events, including movie nights, Summer Street-
fest, themed holiday celebrations, and more.
The department also oversees the Information
Technology Division for the entire City, as well
as transportation services like the local Dial-A-
Ride and fixed route transportation services.
The Department is also focused on future plan-
ning, ensuring that parks and recreation in
Bellflower evolve to meet community needs.
This Plan will serve as a vital roadmap for the
Department to effectively manage, maintain,
enhance, and expand Bellflower’s parks and
recreation system for years to come.
12 INTRODUCTION 11
1.3 RELEVANT PLANS AND POLICIES
Several existing City-adopted planning documents and program s
g
o
v
e
r
n
t
h
e
p
r
e
s
e
n
t
a
n
d
f
u
t
u
r
e
o
f
parks and recreation in Bellflower. A review of these documents w
a
s
c
o
n
d
u
c
t
e
d
t
o
e
n
s
u
r
e
t
h
e
P
l
a
n
i
s
consistent and helps to advance City policies and programs in p a
r
k
s
a
n
d
r
e
c
r
e
a
t
i
o
n
.
CITY OF BELLFLOWER GENERAL PLAN:
OPEN SPACE/RECREATION ELEMENT
(1994)
While all elements were reviewed during the
planning process, the Open Space/Recreation
Element is most relevant to this Plan. The Open
Space/Recreation Element of the General Plan
(1994) guides the management of natural re-sources and the preservation and enhancement of scenic and recreation opportunities in Bellflow-er. The Element establishes five goals to address citywide open space and recreation issues:
1. Improve public safety at City parks and
recreational facilities.
2. Utilize effective management strategies
to ensure the City’s parks and recreation
programs are managed efficiently.
3. Maintain and expand the City’s existing
open spaces, parks, and recreational
facilities.
4. Acquire and improve more parkland in the
southern area of the city.
5. Provide recreation programs and services
that meet the needs of Bellflower’s diverse
population.
Although the element is 30 years old, many of
the goals and the supporting policies and pro-grams, have been implemented by the City.
Relevant components of the Open Space/
Recreation Element have been updated,
modified, and integrated into this Plan, where
applicable.
1.3.1 CITY OF BELLFLOWER
GENERAL PLAN (1994)
The City of Bellflower’s General Plan (1994) is
a long-range planning document created to
guide the growth, development, and man-agement of Bellflower from 1995 through 2010.
Although the document is outdated, there are
great takeaways and relevant information re-lated to parks and recreation that still apply today. The General Plan, adopted in 1994,
consists of seven elements: Land Use, Circu-lation, Housing, Conservation, Open Space/ Recreation, Noise, and Safety. Each element
addresses respective issue areas through a se-ries of City-adopted goals, policies, and imple-mentation programs. The Safety Element was updated in 2017 and the Housing Element was
updated in 2022. However, the remaining ele-ments have surpassed their intended planning time horizon and are due for an update.
13 OPEN SPACE/RECREATION
ELEMENT
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BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN12
1.3.2 LOS ANGELES
COUNTYWIDE COMPREHENSIVE
PARKS & RECREATION NEEDS
ASSESSMENT (2016)
In 2016, the Los Angeles County Department
of Parks and Recreation released the County-wide Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Needs Assessment, documenting existing parks
and recreation facilities in Los Angeles County,
including Bellflower’s park system. Data col-lected included acreage available for parks, areas where park needs are the highest, and
study area profiles to aid local officials in plan-ning future parks.
The assessment of Bellflower categorized the
city as having a “Very High” park need com-pared to other cities in Los Angeles County. The assessment also identified four priority projects
for Bellflower at an estimated cost of $169 million;
1. Construct a new sports complex with multi-
purpose grass fields.
2. Construct a new park with artificial turf
soccer fields.
3. Construct a new public Senior Center.
4. Replace the current activity building
at Ruth R. Caruthers Park with a new
Community/Recreation Center.
1.3.3 THE DOWNTOWN
BELLFLOWER TRANSIT ORIENTED
DEVELOPMENT SPECIFIC PLAN
(2019)
The Downtown Bellflower Transit Oriented De-velopment Specific Plan was created to fa-cilitate transit-oriented development in the downtown area along the Los Angeles County
Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (Met-ro) West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor. The specific plan established a vision and guide to
leverage the benefits of the light-rail line, such
as attracting new development, encouraging
multimodal transportation, improving access
to employment centers, and revitalizing Down-town Bellflower. Three parks currently exist with-in the specific plan boundary: Library Garden, Pirate Park, and John S. Simms Park. Addition-ally, the plan aims to encourage unique design features into the specific plan area, including
linear parks, courtyards, and other outdoor
open spaces.
1.3.4 BELLFLOWER-PARAMOUNT
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN
(2019)
The Bellflower-Paramount Active Transporta-tion Plan (2019) was a joint planning effort be-tween the cities of Bellflower and Paramount.
The plan was developed to support both cities
in the development of active transportation in-frastructure and programs to enable safe and enjoyable multi-modal transportation. The plan
recommended several infrastructure projects
to increase bicycle and pedestrian facilities on
key corridors, with a focus on providing safe
connections to key community destinations,
such as parks and schools.
14 PARK MET mcs ‘ ‘
15'.“tt lama-mun
PARK PRESSURE
How much pm land Is available 10 residents in the area around each park? It Hymn Zinn Community PM: Ind lll Camus Park mm lam) (11 Ann)
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INTRODUCTION 13
1.3.5 CITY OF BELLFLOWER
CLIMATE ACTION PLAN (2012)
The City of Bellflower Climate Action Plan (2012)
was developed to guide community-wide en-ergy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions re-ductions and to facilitate sustainable growth and development. Reduction strategies were
organized into four categories: (1) Buildings,
(2) Urban Form and Mobility, (3) Government
Operations, and (4) Preparing for Climate
Change. Many strategies are relevant to Bell-flower’s parks and recreation facilities, such as using recycled water for landscaping, installing
low-flow water fixtures, providing electric ve-hicle charging stations at City-owned parking lots, increasing open space, and planting trees.
These strategies, among others, are integrated
into the Plan’s recommendations to advance
sustainability and resilience at Bellflower parks
and recreation facilities.
1.3.6 CITY OF BELLFLOWER
RESIDENT SATISFACTION SURVEY
REPORT (2023)
The City of Bellflower completed a resident sat-isfaction survey in 2023 to gather information about resident opinions and attitudes toward
issues and services affecting residents. Some
common issues reflected in this survey include
issues regarding homelessness, public safety, a
rise in the cost of living and lack of affordable
housing, and the revitalization of outdated city
facilities and public areas.
15 City of Bellflower
Resident Satisfaction Survey
2023
Survey Conducted January 4-19, 2023
311 OF BELLl‘mR
............... /"
OPINION RESEARCH a STRATEGY w
City of Bellflower
Resident Satisfaction Survey
2023
Sunny Conducted January 4-1.9, 2023
cfl" or murmur"
OPINION
I SYMTEW RESIAICN
320-105“
—
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79,070
35.5 25,070
133
1 68°
Average summer
high temperature
RESIDENTS IN 2022
Parks
Indoor Community Facilities
Multi-use Trail
MEDIAN AGE
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME
HOUSING UNITS
Average winter
high temperature
$75,379
6.1 Sq Mi
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INTRODUCTION 15
1.4 BELLFLOWER AT A GLANCE
Gaining a clear understanding of the existing and projected demographic composition of the city is an important component of the planning process. Bellflower’s population data can be paired with emerging parks and recreation trends to enable community-specific decision-making and resource allocation strategies for the provision of public parks, recreation amenities, and open spac- es. Various datasets were analyzed and summarized to identify current demographic statistics and trends that can impact the planning of public parks and recreation services in Bellflower.
1.4.1 COMMUNITY PROFILE
This demographic profile was completed using the most current data available from the 2022 U.S.
Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates. Bellflower has a total popula- tion of 79,070 residents and 25,070 housing units within its 6-square-mile boundary.
Key demographics and comparisons with Los Angeles County and California statistics include:
»Race & Ethnicity: The racial and ethnic makeup in Bellflower is 25 percent white, 12.2 percent Black, 11.5 percent Asian, 1.3 percent American Indian, 0.6 percent Native Hawaiian, 15.1 per- cent two or more races, and 34.2 percent are other race. Approximately 60.1 percent of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
»Age: The median age of Bellflower residents is 35.5, which is slightly lower than the median age of Los Angeles County (37.4) and California (37.3).
»23.6 percent of the population is under the age of 18, which is slightly higher than the county (21.2 percent) and the state (22.3 percent).
»12.2 percent of the population is over the age of 65, which is slightly lower than the county (14.2 percent) and the state (12.9 percent).
»Sex: Similar to Los Angeles County and California, the population of Bellflower is fairly evenly split between the sexes with 48.4 percent of the population identifying as male and 51.6 percent identifying as female.
»Income & Poverty: The median household income in Bellflower ($75,379) is lower than the me- dian of $83,411 for Los Angeles County and $91,905 for California. The reported percentage of people in poverty is 14.2 percent.
POPULATION GROWTH TRENDS
Southern California Association of Govern-
ments (SCAG) projects that the population
of Bellflower will increase by 1.1 percent to
a total of 80,400 residents by the year 2035.
The number of households is projected to in-
crease by 2.8 percent to 25,100 and the total
employment will increase by 1.7 percent to a
total of 17,900 by the year 2035. The projected
growth estimates are displayed in Figure 1-1.
The data used in this analysis is based on 2019
population data.
FIGURE 1-1: Bellflower Population Growth
Data source: SCAG
17 90,000
80,000
70.000
60,000
50, 000
40,000
30,000
20, 000 ‘
1 0, 000
1 79,500 80.400
24.400 25.100 7
17.600 17.900
2019 | 2035 2019 | 2035 2019 | 2035
Population Households Employment
90,000
80,000
70,000
60, 000
50, 000
40,000
30,000
20,000 ‘
10,000
24.400 25-100
17.600 17.900
2019 | 2035 2019 I 2035 2019 | 2035
Population Households Employment
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BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN18
2.1 PARK CLASSIFICATIONS
The Plan classifies the City’s parks into four categories: Mini/Pocket Parks, Neighborhood Parks, Community Parks, and Special Use Parks, as shown in Table 2-1. Each park type provides standard and unique recreation opportunities. The park types were analyzed both independently and col- lectively to determine existing conditions.
2.1.1 MINI/POCKET PARKS AND
PLAZAS
Mini/Pocket Parks are generally smaller parks
that provide passive recreation opportunities
and access to nature. Although they are small-
er in size and focus on passive recreation, they
play an important role in providing outdoor ac-
cess for neighborhoods. These parks are typ-
ically less than two acres and serve residents
within a half-mile walk. Open grassy areas, pic-
nic tables, walking paths, and playgrounds are
typical park amenities.
2.1.2 NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS
Neighborhood Parks are mid-sized parks that
provide both passive and some active recre-
ation opportunities. They are usually between
two and eight acres in size and contain ame-
nities like walking paths, playgrounds, picnic
areas, and sometimes court sports. They are
important for both providing neighborhoods
within a half-mile walk with access to nature
and some active recreation opportunities.
2.1.3 COMMUNITY PARKS
Community Parks serve the daily recreation-
al needs of the local neighborhood they are
located in as well as the community at large.
They are generally between eight and 30 acres
in size. They typically contain larger park facil-
ities such as sports fields, swimming pools, and
multiple-court sports. Community Parks also
may contain indoor recreation facilities like
community centers, senior centers, and recre-
ation centers.
2.1.4 SPECIAL USE SPACES
Special-use spaces are park areas that pro-
vide unique and specific recreation opportuni-
ties such as indoor recreation buildings like se-
nior centers or community centers, standalone
community gardens, trail corridors, dog parks,
and equestrian centers.
Pirate Park - Mini/Pocket Park
Constitution Park - Neighborhood Park
Caruthers Park - Community Park
Flora Vista Dog Park - Special Use Space
20 ANALYSIS 19
PARK TYPE ACRES SIZE
Mini/Pocket Park/Plaza 2.5 Typically less than 2 acres Neighborhood Park 8.30 Typically between 2 and 8 acres
Community Park 64.30 Typically greater than 8 acres
Special Use Facility 25.7 Varies
Total 100.80
TABLE 2-1: Park Acreage by Type
21 BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN20
H. Bryum Zinn Community Park and Trail
T. Mayne Thompson Park and Aquatic Center
Chevron Pocket Park
Riverview Park
Constitution Park
Palm Park
John S. Simms Park
Bellflower Bike Trail & Plaza
Caruthers Park, Caruthers Skate
Park, & Caruthers Park North
Library Gardens
6 7
8 9
10 11
12 Pirate Park 1
2 3
4 5 Flora Vista Dog Park
Butterfly Garden Park13
Carpenter House Museum
1 2
3 45
6 7
8 9
10 11
12 13
FIGURE 2-1: Existing Bellflower Parks
Town Center Plaza14
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ANALYSIS 21
14 100.8
Recreation Centers
Basketball Courts
Swimming Pools
Community Center
Volleyball Courts
Equestrian Trail
Dog Park
Picnic Areas
Tennis Courts
Skate Park
Walking PathsPlaygrounds
Diamond fields
Outdoor
Fitness Areas
Tot Lots
Splashpad
2 5
2 1
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Park Acres
2.2 A QUICK LOOK AT BELLFLOWER’S PARKS
Restroom Facilities
3 Pickleball Courts
2 Multi-purpose Field
1 Outdoor Am-phitheater
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BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN22
2.2.1 QUALITATIVE AMENITY
ASSESSMENT
A qualitative assessment of existing park ame-
nities was conducted using data collected by
the planning team during field surveys of each
park. Each amenity falls into one of four cate-
gories: Excellent, Good, Fair, or Poor.
The condition of each amenity at each park
was averaged to determine the overall con-
dition of the park, as shown in Table 2-2. Table
2-2 is a useful tool to determine which parks will
require additional resource allocation to re-
place amenities in the future. Bellflower’s parks
have amenities that are in good overall condi-
tion, indicating that most parks are functioning
as intended and are providing a quality park
experience for park users. This does not mean
that all of the park’s amenities are in good con-
dition, there are several instances where parks
had a mix of fair, good, and excellent con-
ditions, leading to an overall grade of good.
This table also identifies the overall amenity
condition for specific amenity types. For exam-
ple, park restrooms received an overall rating
of fair, meaning the City may want to look at
replacing each restroom within the next few
years. Other amenities with “Fair” scores should
be monitored and replaced as needed. The
findings of this qualitative assessment of park
amenities were used alongside other metrics
to develop into the “Park Grades” displayed in
the following section.
Qualitative
Analysis of
Existing Park
Amenities
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o
o
l
Ou
t
d
o
o
r
Am
p
h
i
t
h
e
a
t
e
r
Pa
r
k
A
v
e
r
a
g
e
H. Bryum Zinn Park G F Good
Thompson Park G E G G F F Good
Flora Vista Dog Park G Good
Constitution Park G Good
Palm Park F E Good
John S. Simms Park F G G E G G F Good
Pirate Park G Good
Caruthers Park G G G G G E F F E F Good
Town Center Plaza G Good
Overall Amenity
Conditions F G G G G G G G F G F G F F F
TABLE 2-2: Amenity Condition Assessment
Excellent (E)
Amenity is in
near-perfect condition
and has many years
left in its lifecycle.
Good (G)
Amenity may have
some minor signs of
wear and tear, but it
is functioning as it
should.
Fair (F)
Amenity is functioning,
but is showing some ma-
jor signs of wear and tear
and will need replace-
ment or repair within
the next one to two
years.
Poor (P)
Amenity is not func-
tioning and needs
to be replaced or
removed as soon as
possible.
24 ANALYSIS 23
25 BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN24
Site Amenities inventory of items:
2.3 PARK PROFILES
Each park in Bellflower was visited during the site inventory process. Figure 2-2 below shows the parks visited in the site visit and parks were inventoried for existing amenities and condition of amenities.
Recreation
Center
Community
Center
Group Picnic
Area
Playground
(ages 6-12)
Tot Lot
(ages 2-5)
Basketball
Court
Volleyball
Court
Tennis Court Ballfield
Splashpad Swimming
Pool
Equestrian
Trail
Skatepark Dog Park Walking Path Outdoor
Fitness
Soccer Field
FIGURE 2-2: Bellflower Parks Site Visits
Outdoor
Amphitheater
26 ANALYSIS 25
2.3.1 PARK GRADING RUBRIC
Each park in Bellflower was evaluated based on five different categories and received a grade for each category. This grading system allowed the project team to assign an overall grade to each park based on the established metrics. Park grades can be used by the City to determine priority parks to direct resources when making decisions about future park improvements to existing parks.
These park grades were also utilized for recommendations.
A B C D
Excellent Satisfactory Needs Improvement Unsatisfactory Satisfies 4 or all 5 of
the metrics for the
category
Satisfies 3 of the
metrics for the
category
Satisfies 2 of the
metrics for the
category
Satisfies 1 or 0 of
the metric for the
category
Amenities
Based on the condition of the
amenity observed during park
visits.
A: Park amenities are in excellent
condition overall
B: Park amenities are in good
condition overall
C: Amenities are in fair condition
overall
D: Amenities are in poor condition
overall
Connectivity
Metrics:
Multiple access points
Multi-use trail connections
ADA ramps
Nearby transit stop
Full walking loop/circulation
Activation
Metrics:
Park has organized program-
ming activities
Park is frequently-used by the
community
Park amenities are not over-uti-
lized by park users and pro-
gramming activities
Park has informal program-
ming uses
At least one community
event takes place at the park
throughout the year
Safety and Comfort
Metrics:
Well-maintained
Properly lighted and/or good
visibility
Sense of place
Controlled access (has a clear
access and egress points)
Territorial Reinforcement (Uses
design elements to distinguish
different areas of the park)
Park Identity
Metrics:
Entry signage
Public art
Features that facilitate social
gatherings and events
Diversity of park amenities
Park design elements that
reflect the surrounding context
of the neighborhood
27 BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN26
2.3.2 H. BYRUM ZINN PARK
AMENITIES:
Park Size: 3.1 acres
Park Type: Neighborhood Park
Walking Path Outdoor
Fitness
28 REPORT CARD
Amenities
Connectivity & Accessibility
Recreational Programming
Safety & Comfort
Park Identity
Based on the overall amenity condition
assessment score in Table 2-2
Multiple access points Multi-use trail connections ADA ramps Nearby transit stop Full walking loop/circulation Park has organized programming activities Park is frequently used by the community Park amenities are not over-utilized by park users and programming activities Park has informal programming uses Community events occur at the park throughout the year
Well-maintained Properly lighted and/or good visibility Sense of place Controlled access Territorial reinforcement Entry signage Public art Features that facilitate social gatherings and events Diversity of park amenities Park design elements that reflect the surrounding context of the neighborhood
ANALYSIS 27
B
✔
✔
✔
✔
B
C
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
C
C
B
Description: H. Byrum Zinn Park, also referred
to as Zinn Park, is a neighborhood park located
on the north east corner of the City. The park
contains a passive walking trail around the pe-
rimeter of the park and several outdoor fitness
stations along the trail. The park is located un-
derneath powerlines which limits the types of
amenities allowed for public use.
29 BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN28
2.3.3 T. MAYNE THOMPSON PARK
AMENITIES:
Park Size: 12.87 acres
Park Type: Community Park
& BELLFLOWER AQUATIC CENTER
Recreation
Center
Group
Picnic Area
Playground
(ages 6-12)
Tot Lot
(ages 2-5)
Basketball
Court
BallfieldSwimming
Pool
30 REPORT CARD
Amenities
Connectivity & Accessibility
Recreational Programming
Safety & Comfort
Park Identity
Based on the overall amenity condition
assessment score in Table 2-2
Multiple access points Multi-use trail connections ADA ramps Nearby transit stop Full walking loop/circulation Park has organized programming activities Park is frequently used by the community Park amenities are not over-utilized by park users and programming activities Park has informal programming uses Community events occur at the park throughout the year
Well-maintained Properly lighted and/or good visibility Sense of place Controlled access Territorial reinforcement Entry signage Public art Features that facilitate social gatherings and events Diversity of park amenities Park design elements that reflect the surrounding context of the neighborhood
ANALYSIS 29
B
B
B
B
A
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
B
Description: T. Mayne Thompson Park, also
referred to as Thompson Park is located in
the central-north area of Bellflower. The park
contains a playground that was renovat-
ed in 2023, picnic areas, two softball fields, a
baseball field, basketball half-courts, and re-
strooms. The indoor facility at Thompson Park
contains a gymnasium with indoor pickleball,
and a multipurpose room for recreational pro-
gramming. The Bellflower Aquatic Center is
also located at this Park. The Aquatic Center
contains both indoor and outdoor pool facili-
ties and a weight room.
31 BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN30
2.3.4 CHEVRON POCKET PARK
AMENITIES:
Park Size: 0.18 acres
Park Type: Mini/Pocket Park
N/A
32 __— ._.-
:3:k _ 7 A I - :{i 14".“ s»... -‘q.~—t-
'9' ' 1"q
4937332,.- <7 7:.“ , ‘7“ -_ ‘4n
REPORT CARD
Amenities
Connectivity & Accessibility
Recreational Programming
Safety & Comfort
Park Identity
Based on the overall amenity condition
assessment score in Table 2-2
Multiple access points Multi-use trail connections ADA ramps Nearby transit stop Full walking loop/circulation Park has organized programming activities Park is frequently used by the community Park amenities are not over-utilized by park users and programming activities Park has informal programming uses Community events occur at the park throughout the year
Well-maintained Properly lighted and/or good visibility Sense of place Controlled access Territorial reinforcement Entry signage Public art Features that facilitate social gatherings and events Diversity of park amenities Park design elements that reflect the surrounding context of the neighborhood
ANALYSIS 31
NA
D
D
D
D
✔
✔
✔
B
Description: Chevron Pocket Park is locat-
ed on the corner of Somerset Boulevard
and Eucalyptus Avenue. It is a very small
park with no amenities. This park is located
on leased land with a utility pipeline under-
neath. Recommendations of how to acti-
vate this space will be included in chapter
4 of this report.
33 BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN32
2.3.5 RIVERVIEW PARK
AMENITIES:
Park Size: 16.94 acres
Park Type: Community Park
Walking Path
34 aim-1i
.g
'
:5
!
REPORT CARD
Amenities
Connectivity & Accessibility
Recreational Programming
Safety & Comfort
Park Identity
Based on the overall amenity condition
assessment score in Table 2-2
Multiple access points Multi-use trail connections ADA ramps Nearby transit stop Full walking loop/circulation Park has organized programming activities Park is frequently used by the community Park amenities are not over-utilized by park users and programming activities Park has informal programming uses Community events occur at the park throughout the year
Well-maintained Properly lighted and/or good visibility Sense of place Controlled access Territorial reinforcement Entry signage Public art Features that facilitate social gatherings and events Diversity of park amenities Park design elements that reflect the surrounding context of the neighborhood
ANALYSIS 33
B
A
D
C
B
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
B
Description: Riverview Park is located on the
east side of the City adjacent to the San Gabri-
el River. This park contains a long walking loop
along the perimeter of the park and a Class 1
multi-use path. The park is located underneath
powerlines which limits the types of amenities
allowed for public use.
✔
35 BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN34
2.3.6 FLORA VISTA DOG PARK
AMENITIES:
Park Size: 0.72 acres
Park Type: Mini/pocket Park
Dog Park
36 REPORT CARD
Amenities
Connectivity & Accessibility
Recreational Programming
Safety & Comfort
Park Identity
Based on the overall amenity condition
assessment score in Table 2-2
Multiple access points Multi-use trail connections ADA ramps Nearby transit stop Full walking loop/circulation Park has organized programming activities Park is frequently used by the community Park amenities are not over-utilized by park users and programming activities Park has informal programming uses Community events occur at the park throughout the year
Well-maintained Properly lighted and/or good visibility Sense of place Controlled access Territorial reinforcement Entry signage Public art Features that facilitate social gatherings and events Diversity of park amenities Park design elements that reflect the surrounding context of the neighborhood
ANALYSIS 35
B
B
B
B
B
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
B
Description: The Flora Vista Dog Park is located
in the north west area of the City, adjacent to
the Bellflower Bike Trail. This dog park offers two
separate fenced areas; one for small dogs and
one for larger dogs. The park contains bench-
es, seating, and ADA accessible parking.
37 BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN36
2.3.7 CONSTITUTION PARK
AMENITIES:
Park Size: 2.15 acres
Park Type: Neighborhood Park
Walking Path
38 REPORT CARD
Amenities
Connectivity & Accessibility
Recreational Programming
Safety & Comfort
Park Identity
Based on the overall amenity condition
assessment score in Table 2-2
Multiple access points Multi-use trail connections ADA ramps Nearby transit stop Full walking loop/circulation Park has organized programming activities Park is frequently used by the community Park amenities are not over-utilized by park users and programming activities Park has informal programming uses Community events occur at the park throughout the year
Well-maintained Properly lighted and/or good visibility Sense of place Controlled access Territorial reinforcement Entry signage Public art Features that facilitate social gatherings and events Diversity of park amenities Park design elements that reflect the surrounding context of the neighborhood
ANALYSIS 37
B
B
D
D
B
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
B
Description: Constitution Park is a neighbor-
hood park located in the south area of the City.
Currently, the only existing amenity is a small
walking path, but the City plans to add a play
area and fitness equipment in 2025. The park is
located underneath powerlines which limits the
types of amenities allowed for public use.
39 BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN38
2.3.8 PALM PARK
AMENITIES:
Park Size: 2.98 acres
Park Type: Neighborhood Park
91 Group
Picnic Area
Playground
(ages 6-12)
Tot Lot
(ages 2-5)
Walking Path
40 REPORT CARD
Amenities
Connectivity & Accessibility
Recreational Programming
Safety & Comfort
Park Identity
Based on the overall amenity condition
assessment score in Table 2-2
Multiple access points Multi-use trail connections ADA ramps Nearby transit stop Full walking loop/circulation Park has organized programming activities Park is frequently used by the community Park amenities are not over-utilized by park users and programming activities Park has informal programming uses Community events occur at the park throughout the year
Well-maintained Properly lighted and/or good visibility Sense of place Controlled access Territorial reinforcement Entry signage Public art Features that facilitate social gatherings and events Diversity of park amenities Park design elements that reflect the surrounding context of the neighborhood
ANALYSIS 39
B
A
B
C
C
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
B
Description: Palm Park is a linear neighbor-
hood park located in the south area of the
City adjacent to the Artesia Freeway. This park
contains a picnic area, a playground, tot lot, a
plaza space for Bellflower Recreation in Motion
(BRIM), and a walking path.
41 BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN40
2.3.9 JOHN S. SIMMS PARK
AMENITIES:
Park Size: 12.56 acres
Park Type: Community Park
Recreation
Center
Group
Picnic Area
Playground
(ages 6-12)
Tot Lot
(ages 2-5)
Basketball
Court
Ballfield Walking Path Outdoor
Fitness
42 REPORT CARD
Amenities
Connectivity & Accessibility
Recreational Programming
Safety & Comfort
Park Identity
Based on the overall amenity condition
assessment score in Table 2-2
Multiple access points Multi-use trail connections ADA ramps Nearby transit stop Full walking loop/circulation Park has organized programming activities Park is frequently used by the community Park amenities are not over-utilized by park users and programming activities Park has informal programming uses Community events occur at the park throughout the year
Well-maintained Properly lighted and/or good visibility Sense of place Controlled access Territorial reinforcement Entry signage Public art Features that facilitate social gatherings and events Diversity of park amenities Park design elements that reflect the surrounding context of the neighborhood
ANALYSIS 41
B
A
A
B
A
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
B
Description: John S. Simms Park, also referred
to as Simms Park, is located in the central area
of Bellflower. This park offers a large outdoor
fitness area, a playground, a tot lot, picnic ar-
eas, basketball courts, and two softball fields.
The City plans to convert the two softball fields
into a multipurpose field in 2025. The recreation
center located at this park contains an audi-
torium and multipurpose rooms used for pro-
gramming activities. The City plans to construct
a new Senior and Teen Center in 2025 that will
expand program offerings for residents.
43 BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN42
2.3.10 AMENITIES:
PIRATE PARK
Park Size: 0.18 acres
Park Type: Mini/Pocket Park
Playground
(ages 6-12)
Tot Lot
(ages 2-5)
44 REPORT CARD
Amenities
Connectivity & Accessibility
Recreational Programming
Safety & Comfort
Park Identity
Based on the overall amenity condition
assessment score in Table 2-2
Multiple access points Multi-use trail connections ADA ramps Nearby transit stop Full walking loop/circulation Park has organized programming activities Park is frequently used by the community Park amenities are not over-utilized by park users and programming activities Park has informal programming uses Community events occur at the park throughout the year
Well-maintained Properly lighted and/or good visibility Sense of place Controlled access Territorial reinforcement Entry signage Public art Features that facilitate social gatherings and events Diversity of park amenities Park design elements that reflect the surrounding context of the neighborhood
ANALYSIS 43
B
C
C
A
B
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
B
Description: Pirate Park is located in the down-
town area of Bellflower. This pirate-themed
play area includes a pirate ship, fort, skull
cave, climbing bridge, and a treasure chest.
This is a completely gated park with seasonal
park hours posted at the park entry and on the
City’s website.
45 BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN44
2.3.11 LIBRARY GARDEN AND VETERANS MEMORIAL
AMENITIES:
Park Size: 0.43 acres
Park Type: Mini/Pocket Park
N/A
46 REPORT CARD
Amenities
Connectivity & Accessibility
Recreational Programming
Safety & Comfort
Park Identity
Based on the overall amenity condition
assessment score in Table 2-2
Multiple access points Multi-use trail connections ADA ramps Nearby transit stop Full walking loop/circulation Park has organized programming activities Park is frequently used by the community Park amenities are not over-utilized by park users and programming activities Park has informal programming uses Community events occur at the park throughout the year
Well-maintained Properly lighted and/or good visibility Sense of place Controlled access Territorial reinforcement Entry signage Public art Features that facilitate social gatherings and events Diversity of park amenities Park design elements that reflect the surrounding context of the neighborhood
ANALYSIS 45
B
B
A
B
B
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
B
Description: The Library Garden and Veterans
Memorial is located in the heart of Bellflower.
It is a mini/pocket park commemorating the
Veterans of the City and serves as a small pas-
sive space for community members. This themed
park has unique art sculptures with seating areas.
47 BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN46
2.3.12 BELLFLOWER BIKE TRAIL & PLAZA
AMENITIES:
Park Size: 25.35 acres
Park Type: Special Use Facility
91 Alondra BlvdAlondra Blvd
Be
l
l
f
l
o
w
e
r
B
l
v
d
Be
l
l
f
l
o
w
e
r
B
l
v
d
Flower StFlower St
Park StPark St
Cl
a
r
k
A
v
e
Cl
a
r
k
A
v
e
La
k
e
w
o
o
d
B
l
v
d
La
k
e
w
o
o
d
B
l
v
d
Wo
o
d
r
u
f
f
A
v
e
Wo
o
d
r
u
f
f
A
v
e
Walking Path
48 REPORT CARD
Amenities
Connectivity & Accessibility
Recreational Programming
Safety & Comfort
Park Identity
Based on the overall amenity condition
assessment score in Table 2-2
Multiple access points Multi-use trail connections ADA ramps Nearby transit stop Full walking loop/circulation Park has organized programming activities Park is frequently used by the community Park amenities are not over-utilized by park users and programming activities Park has informal programming uses Community events occur at the park throughout the year
Well-maintained Properly lighted and/or good visibility Sense of place Controlled access Territorial reinforcement Entry signage Public art Features that facilitate social gatherings and events Diversity of park amenities Park design elements that reflect the surrounding context of the neighborhood
ANALYSIS 47
B
A
B
B
A
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
B
Description: The Bellflower Bike Trail is a 2.3-
mile Class 1 multi-use path located along the
right-of-way of the old Pacific Electric transit
system. In the 1920’s, it was the largest electric
railway system running through all of Los Ange-
les. The Bike Trail includes lighting, signage, a
plaza, and planting areas.
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
49 BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN48
2.3.13 RUTH R. CARUTHERS PARK
AMENITIES:
CARUTHERS PARK NORTHCARUTHERS PARK
Park Size: 14.1 acres
Park Type: Community Park
Community
Center
Group
Picnic Area
Playground
(ages 6-12)
Tot Lot
(ages 2-5)
Basketball
Court
Volleyball
Court
Tennis Court
Ballfield Splashpad Equestrian
Trail
Skatepark Walking
Path
Outdoor
Fitness
50.6 ma
fia.
-
If: . as '
t
«m
a“
Ir
EE
I
:
37 3
‘
‘
"1
‘
a
REPORT CARD
Amenities
Connectivity & Accessibility
Recreational Programming
Safety & Comfort
Park Identity
Based on the overall amenity condition
assessment score in Table 2-2
Multiple access points Multi-use trail connections ADA ramps Nearby transit stop Full walking loop/circulation Park has organized programming activities Park is frequently used by the community Park amenities are not over-utilized by park users and programming activities Park has informal programming uses Community events occur at the park throughout the year
Well-maintained Properly lighted and/or good visibility Sense of place Controlled access Territorial reinforcement Entry signage Public art Features that facilitate social gatherings and events Diversity of park amenities Park design elements that reflect the surrounding context of the neighborhood
ANALYSIS 49
B
B
B
D
A
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
B
Description: Ruth R. Caruthers Park (Caruthers
Park) and Bellflower Skatepark is a community
park located in the southern area of the City.
This park offers a variety of amenities including
lighted basketball, handball, volleyball and
tennis courts, picnic areas, playground, out-
door fitness area, game room, skatepark, and
a splashpad. The northern portion of this park
also contains an equestrian and walking trail.
51 WELCOME
,5 *
CITY OF BELLFLOWER‘
RUTH R. CARUTHERS PARK
10500 E. FLOR A VISTA STREEI
CITY OF BELLFLOWER
RUTH Kuwmms rm
LORA \15“ mm
10500 E. F
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN50
2.3.14 BUTTERFLY GARDEN PARK
AMENITIES:
Park Size: 3.89 acres
Park Type: Neighborhood Park
Walking Path
52 REPORT CARD
Amenities
Connectivity & Accessibility
Recreational Programming
Safety & Comfort
Park Identity
Based on the overall amenity condition
assessment score in Table 2-2
Multiple access points Multi-use trail connections ADA ramps Nearby transit stop Full walking loop/circulation Park has organized programming activities Park is frequently used by the community Park amenities are not over-utilized by park users and programming activities Park has informal programming uses Community events occur at the park throughout the year
Well-maintained Properly lighted and/or good visibility Sense of place Controlled access Territorial reinforcement Entry signage Public art Features that facilitate social gatherings and events Diversity of park amenities Park design elements that reflect the surrounding context of the neighborhood
ANALYSIS 51
A
D
B
D
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
NA
NA
Description: Butterfly Garden Park opened in
December 2023. It is a small park with planted
gardens, bench seating, and a small walking
path. This space provides a passive recreation-
al area for nearby residents.
✔
53 BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN52
2.3.15 TOWN CENTER PLAZA
Park Size: 0.5 acres
Park Type: Plaza
AMENITIES:
Amphitheater
54 REPORT CARD
Amenities
Connectivity & Accessibility
Recreational Programming
Safety & Comfort
Park Identity
Based on the overall amenity condition
assessment score in Table 2-2
Multiple access points Multi-use trail connections ADA ramps Nearby transit stop Full walking loop/circulation Park has organized programming activities Park is frequently used by the community Park amenities are not over-utilized by park users and programming activities Park has informal programming uses Community events occur at the park throughout the year
Well-maintained Properly lighted and/or good visibility Sense of place Controlled access Territorial reinforcement Entry signage Public art Features that facilitate social gatherings and events Diversity of park amenities Park design elements that reflect the surrounding context of the neighborhood
ANALYSIS 53
Description: Town Center Plaza is a small plaza
and park space located in Downtown Bellflow-
er. It contains a small stage, plaza spaces, and
some grassy areas. Recommendations for how
to better activate this space can be found in
Appendix A.
✔
B
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
A
A
B
A
✔
✔
55 BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN54
2.4 COMMUNITY FACILITIES
2.4.1 THOMPSON PARK
RECREATION CENTER & THE
BELLFLOWER AQUATIC CENTER
Located at Thompson Park is the Bellflower
Aquatic Center. The Aquatic Center contains
an indoor and outdoor swimming pools used
for programming activities and community
events such as swim lessons and family dive-in
movies. The Aquatic Center may also be rent-
ed out for private parties. The remainder of the
indoor facilities include a gymnasium with pick-
leball courts, basketball courts, and indoor vol-
leyball courts, a multi-purpose room, a kitchen
facility, a game room, and a weight room.
2.4.2 SIMMS PARK RECREATION
CENTER
John S. Simms Park Recreation Center contains
spaces for recreational programs, senior ac-
tivities, and special events. It has multipurpose
rooms for programs, a gymnasium, and a 300-
seat auditorium and kitchen facility. It also con-
tains offices for park and recreation staff. Facili-
ties may be rented out to community members
for private events.
2.4.3 CARUTHERS PARK
COMMUNITY CENTER
Caruthers Park also contains a small commu-
nity center which contains a game room used
for recreational activities. The facility also con-
tains City offices for park and recreation staff.
2.4.4 BRISTOL CIVIC
AUDITORIUM
The Bristol Civic Auditorium is a fully staffed
community theater located inside the Bellflow-
er City Hall. This 340-seat community theater
showcases plays, musicals, school events, and
community events. This facility is also available
to the public to rent for private events.
Bellflower Aquatic Center at Thompson Park
Simms Park Recreation Center
Caruthers Park Community Center
56 ANALYSIS 55
2.5 NEARBY PARKS AND NATURAL RESOURCES
2.5.1 HOLLYWOOD SPORTS PARK
Hollywood Sport Park is a privately operated
facility on City-owned property that is leased
from the City. A variety of different activities are
offered at this facility including paintball,airsoft,
and BMX.
2.5.2 LIBERTY PARK AND
FITNESS CENTER
Liberty Park and Fitness Center is a community
park located in Cerritos, about one mile south
of the city boundary. This park consists of an
indoor fitness center, ballfields, tennis courts,
sand volleyball, a track, playgrounds, a water
play area, an outdoor fitness area, picnic ar-
eas, a disc golf course, and pickleball courts.
2.5.3 MAYFAIR PARK
Mayfair Park is located in Lakewood about a
half mile from the southern city boundary. It is a
community park with amenities such as a rec-
reation center, swimming pool, ballfields, bas-
ketball courts, tennis courts, playgrounds, and
picnic areas.
2.5.4 RAMONA PARK
Ramona Park is located in Long Beach about
two blocks from the western city boundary. It
is a neighborhood park with a multi-purpose
ballfield and soccer field, a basketball court,
tennis courts, pickleball courts, a playground,
and a picnic area.
2.5.5 PROGRESS PARK
Progress Park is located in Paramount, about
four blocks from the western city boundary. It
contains a community center, two ballfields,
basketball courts, playgrounds, an outdoor fit-
ness area, and picnic areas.
2.5.6 GOLDEN PARK
Golden Park is a neighborhood park located
in Downey, about one block from the western
city boundary. It consists of a community cen-
ter, a ballfield, picnic areas, a basketball court,
and playgrounds.
Hollywood Sports Park
Mayfair Park
Paramount Park
Golden Park
57 BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN56
2.6 TRAILS
2.6.1 BELLFLOWER BIKE TRAIL
The Bellflower Bike Trail is a 2.3-mile pedestrian
and bike trail that traverses the city from east to
west, beginning at Caruthers Park and ending
at Lakewood Boulevard at Paseo Street, bor-
dering the City of Paramount. It follows the right
of way of the old Pacific Electric Railway.
The trail has two five-foot striped bike lanes and
a four-foot pedestrian lane, with a natural sur-
face buffer in between. The trail has decorative
lights and signage.
The Southern California Association of Gov-
ernments (SCAG), in coordination with the
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transporta-
tion Authority (Metro) and the Orange County
Transportation Authority (OCTA), is conducting
a transit Alternatives Analysis (AA) for the PE
ROW / West Santa Ana Branch. The AA will ex-
amine potential transit services along the corri-
dor that can provide additional travel options
between Los Angeles and Orange Counties,
reduce congestion on nearby streets and free-
ways, and provide adjacent communities with
access to the regional transit network.
These potential future rail lines may impact the
Bellflower Bike Trail. It is integral to ensure cohe-
sive planning efforts between involved agen-
cies in order to maintain and enhance the Bike
Trail for residents and visitors alike.
2.6.2 RIVERVIEW PARK TRAIL
The primary amenity at Riverview Park is the
Class 1 Multi-use Path, the Path is over half a
mile long and connects to the San Gabriel Riv-
er Trail. The trail is made up of compacted De-
composed Granite (DG), making it suitable for
wheelchair use. It is critical to continue main-
taining this trail as a Class 1 Multi-use Path.
2.6.3 SAN GABRIEL RIVER TRAIL
This multi-use trail runs north-south, stretching
from the Cities of Azusa to Seal Beach. The trail
passes along the eastern city boundary on the
east side of the San Gabriel River channel. The
trail is a popular bicycle route for traveling to
neighboring cities and destinations.
58 ANALYSIS 57
2.7 LEVEL OF SERVICE (LOS) ANALYSIS
A park Level of Service (LOS) analysis is a method of measurement used in park planning to eval- uate how parks, open spaces, and facilities serve a given community. The analysis in this Plan uses three types of park LOS analyses to determine the overall park LOS for Bellflower.
1. Population-based LOS analysis uses population and park acres to determine LOS.
2. Amenity LOS analysis uses population and park amenity counts and compares them to national averages to determine park LOS.
3. Accessibility analysis LOS uses residential population density and park locations to determine the accessible distance to travel to get to a park.
These three LOS analysis methods enable the planning team to determine how well the existing park system serves the community, from an analytical perspective, which will be complemented by qualitative input gathered from the community members, stakeholders, and City staff. In ad- dition to illustrating current park needs, the LOS analysis can be used with population growth pro- jections and planned park facilities to help guide park planning efforts long into the future. A LOS analysis for Bellflower’s future parks and recreation system is provided in Chapter 4.
2.7.1 POPULATION LOS
A population-based park acreage level of ser-
vice analysis demonstrates the extent to which
the City is meeting its established goal of pro-
viding four acres of parkland for every 1,000
residents. Table 2-3 shows the existing LOS is
1.27 park acres per 1,000 residents. The City is
currently in a 2.73 park acre deficit per 1,000
people. In other words, to reach the goal of
four park acres per 1,000 residents, the City will
need to add 215.48 acres to the existing park
system to meet the needs of current residents.
POPULATION LOS ALL CITY
PARKS
Existing Park Acreage 100.80
Recommended Adopted Standard per
1,000 Population 4.00
Acres per 1000 Population (2022)1.27
Total Surplus/Deficit Acres per 1,000
Population (2022)-2.73
Acres in Deficit 215.48
COMPARING NEARBY CITIES
Comparing Bellflower to other Cities in Los An-
geles County can shed a unique light on this
analysis. Table 2-4 shows park acreages de-
rived from each city’s Park and Recreation
Master Plan or data available on each City’s
official website. At a glance, Bellflower ranks
in the middle compared to nearby cities. It is
important to note that each city has varying
access to parks and open space and some
may or may not count regional parks or nature
reserves. The average LOS of these cities also
fall below the typical three to five acres for ev-
ery 1,000 residents goal most cities in Southern
California aim for.
COMPARING
NEARBY
CITIES CI
T
Y
P
O
P
TO
T
A
L
P
A
R
K
AC
R
E
A
G
E
AC
R
E
S
P
E
R
1,
0 0
0 G
O
A
L
AC
R
E
S
P
E
R
1,
0 0
0 Gardena 61,543 49 3 0.80
Norwalk 106,629 113 N/A 1.10
Bellflower 79,070 100 4 1.27
Montebello 62,742 125 4 1.30
Lakewood 79,919 150 4 1.88
Whittier 85,306 260 5 3.05
Cerritos 51,488 187 3 3.64
Average 74,605 147 4 2
TABLE 2-3: Population LOS
TABLE 2-4: Population LOS of Nearby Cities
The four acres per 1,000 residents standard is recommended based on LOS standards of nearby cities and throughout southern California. LOS standard averages nationally are typically much higher due to better access to large parks and open spaces. 59 BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN58
2.7.2 AMENITY LOS
A population-based amenity LOS analysis for
Bellflower’s park system was performed us-
ing National Recreation and Park Association
(NRPA) park metric averages from Agency Per-
formance Reviews of similar-sized cities from
2008 to 2023 in combination with an invento-
ry of existing park amenities. The NRPA metrics
are based on the results of a comprehensive
nationwide survey of park and recreation
agencies. These NRPA metrics are used by the
planning team as guidelines for best practices.
The planning team surveyed the City’s existing
recreation facilities to collect an inventory of
amenities located within each park.
Bellflower’s existing park amenities were to-
taled to understand the number of amenities
available to residents city-wide. The amenity
totals are displayed in Table 2-5 alongside the
NRPA guidelines for service level and recom-
mended benchmarks for Bellflower’s popu-
lation of 79,070. Table 2-5 displays the existing
amenity LOS based on the NRPA guidelines for
cities of Bellflower’s population size. Amenities
shaded in green meet the needs of the popu-
lation with a strong margin, amenities in yellow
are on the cusp of meeting the needs of the
population, and amenities in orange do not
meet the needs of the population.
While the amenity LOS analysis serves as a
valuable indicator for identifying deficits, it
should not be the sole measure used to eval-
uate park facilities. It is important to consider
regional trends specific to southern California,
such as futsal, handball, pelota mixteca, and
adventure-oriented sports like obstacle cours-
es, climbing walls, rope courses, bouldering,
pump tracks, and adventure playgrounds.
These activities are not adequately reflected
in the NRPA’s National Agency Performance
Review. Therefore, it is necessary to gather ad-
ditional perspectives that capture the commu-
nity’s park priorities and needs through a com-
prehensive community engagement process.
A summary of community input is provided in
Chapter 3.
Picnic Areas Tennis Courts Walking Paths PlaygroundsRestroom Facilities 1 2 3 4 5
TOP 5 MOST AMENITIES NEEDED
BASED ON LOS DEFICITS
60 ANALYSIS 59
AMENITY LEVEL OF SERVICE
(79,070 EST. POP. CENSUS 2022)
EX
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Recreation Center 2 2.0 40,338 40,300 2.0 0.0
Community Center 1 1.0 45,909 45,900 1.7 -0.7
Senior Center 1 1.0 67,836 67,800 1.2 -0.2
Teen Center 1 1.0 64,386 64,400 1.2 -0.2
Ou
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s
Picnic Area (12+ People)3 3.0 - 5,000 15.8 -12.8
Playground (ages 6-12)5 5.0 5,616 5,600 14.1 -9.1
Playground/Tot Lot (ages 2-5)3 3.0 17,562 17,600 4.5 -1.5 Restroom Facility 3 3.0 - 4,600 17.2 -14.2
Basketball 5 5.0 7,803 7,800 10.1 -5.1
Volleyball 2 2.0 - 10,000 7.9 -5.9
Tennis 2 2.0 5,448 5,400 14.6 -12.6
Pickleball 0 0.0 11,150 11,200 7.1 -7.1
Multi-purpose (Tennis & Pickleball)1 1.0 22,100 22,100 3.6 -2.6 Youth Baseball*6 6.0 9,874 9,900 8.0 -2.0
Adult Baseball 1 1.0 27,031 27,000 2.9 -1.9
Youth Softball*5 5.0 12,395 12,400 6.4 -1.4
Adult Softball*4 4.0 14,519 14,500 5.5 -1.5
Rectangular Soccer Fields*0 0.0 11,671 11,700 6.8 -6.8 Football 0 0.0 38,516 38,500 2.1 -2.1
Multi-purpose Fields*1 1.0 23,738 23,800 3.3 -2.3
Splashpad/Sprayground 1 1.0 - 35,000 2.3 -1.3
Swimming Pool 2 2.0 61,784 61,800 1.3 0.7
Equestrian Trail 1 1.0 - 26,000 3.0 -2.0
Equestrian Staging Area 0 0.0 - 32,000 2.5 -2.5
Skate Park 1 1.0 62,318 62,300 1.3 -0.3
Stage (no built-in seating)1 1.0 - 42,000 1.9 -0.9
Community Garden 0 0.0 41,804 41,800 1.9 -1.9
Dog Park 2 2.0 51,417 51,400 1.5 0.5
Li
n
e
a
r
Re
c
r
e
a
t
i
o
n
Walking Path 5 5.0 - 5,300 14.9 -9.9
Outdoor Exercise Area/Exercise Path 7 7.0 - 28,000 2.8 4.2 TABLE 2-5: Amenity Level of Service
Meets or exceeds
amenity benchmark
Within one facility of
meeting the benchmark
Does not meet
amenity benchmark
* Indicates a shared facility type
61 BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN60
2.7.3 ACCESSIBILITY LOS
A geographic distribution analysis was per-
formed to evaluate the spatial distribution and
accessibility of park and recreational facilities.
The analysis visualizes which areas within the
community currently have easy walking ac-
cess to a park facility and which do not by dis-
playing areas within a 10-minute walk (or half-
mile) of each park or recreational facility.
Instead of showing a simple half-mile radius of
the area surrounding each park facility, the
analysis generates a “walkable service area”
around each park by using viable routes based
on the actual road network and park access
points. By using Bellflower’s road network as
the basis of the analysis, the analysis draws at-
tention to opportunities to improve sidewalks,
trails, and roads to increase access to park fa-
cilities. Most importantly, the analysis highlights
residential areas in Bellflower that do not live
within an easy 10-minute walk of a park, which
can be used to determine where new park fa-
cilities should be prioritized.
SER
V
I
C
E
AR
E
A
ROAD
PARK
EXISTING PARK ACCESSIBILITY
Figure 2-3 displays the walkable service area
of Bellflower’s park and recreation system.
The areas within the green shade depict the
10-minute walk areas, and the areas without
a green shade depict the areas outside the
walkable service area. It is evident that gaps
in park accessibility exist throughout the city
but significantly in south Bellflower, south of
the Artesia freeway. Gaps also exist in west
Bellflower along the western boundary and in
northeastern Bellflower along Rosecrans Ave-
nue and Woodruff Avenue. New park devel-
opment should be prioritized in these areas to
address park access gaps.
10-MINUTE WALK PROGRAM
This analysis is part of a national initiative
led by The Trust for Public Land (TPL), in
partnership with NRPA and the Urban
Land Institute. This movement, known as
the 10-Minute Walk, aims to ensure that
by 2050, everyone in the United States has
safe and easy access to a park within a
10-minute walk of their home. The 10-min-
ute walk benchmark is recognized nation-
ally as a best practice and standard for
creating equitable and accessible parks
and recreation systems.
62 ANALYSIS 61
FIGURE 2-3: Walkable Area to Parks
Walkable area to a park
63 So th
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BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN62
AMENITY-SPECIFIC ACCESSIBILITY
Amenity-specific geographic analyses were also completed for each park to illustrate the spatial distribution of key recreational amenities across Bellflower. Figure 2-4 to Figure 2-7 display the areas within a 10-minute walk of indoor recreation facilities, playgrounds, sport courts, and sports fields.
Indoor Recreation Facilities: Figure 2-4 dis-
plays the walkable service area of indoor
recreation facilities in Bellflower in the green
shade and the blue shade depicts the two-
mile drive service area, as indoor facilities
also serve the greater community. There are
three indoor recreation facilities in Bellflow-
er distributed in the north, central, and east
areas of the City, but service gaps are still
evident throughout Bellflower.
Playgrounds: Figure 2-5 displays the walk-
able service area to parks containing
playgrounds with the green shaded area.
Not all parks in Bellflower contain a play-
ground. There are gaps evident through-
out the community.
Courts: Figure 2-6 displays the walkable
service area to parks with sport courts with
the green shaded area. Only three parks in
Bellflower contain sport courts, which means
there are gaps all throughout the community.
Fields: Figure 2-7 displays the walkable
service area to parks with sport fields with
the green shaded area. Only three parks in
Bellflower contain sports fields, which leads
to gaps throughout the community. Sports
fields are large facilities that require careful
planning and large flat areas but are in high
demand for recreational activities like soc-
cer, lacrosse, softball, and baseball.
64 A l
BELLF owsn AQUATI ‘t CENT R -
ANALYSIS 63
FIGURE 2-4: Walkable Area to Indoor Recreation Facilities Parks with an Indoor Recreation Facility Community Center Recreation CenterWalkable Area to an Indoor Recreation Facility Driveable Area to an Indoor Recreation Facility
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BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN64
FIGURE 2-5: Walkable Area to Playgrounds
Walkable area to a park with a playground Playground
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ANALYSIS 65
FIGURE 2-6: Walkable Area to Sport Courts
Tennis/Pickleball Court
Basketball Court
Tennis Court
Volleyball Court
Walkable area to a park with sport courts
sport court
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BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN66
Multipurpose Field
FIGURE 2-7: Walkable Area to Sport Fields
Baseball/Softball FieldWalkable area to a park with a sport field a sport field
68 m
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fit?
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ANALYSIS 67
2.8 PARK EQUITY
The numerous benefits of parks and open
spaces to health and well-being are well-doc-
umented. However, in many cities across the
United States, these benefits are not distrib-
uted equitably. Research shows that racial
and socio-economic factors play a role in
the provision, distribution, and quality of parks
in many cities across the nation. In 2021, The
Trust for Public Land reported that neighbor-
hoods where residents predominantly identify
as people of color have access to an aver-
age of 44 percent less park acreage than pre-
dominantly white neighborhoods, and low-in-
come neighborhoods average 42 percent less
park acreage per person than high-income
neighborhoods. The Trust for Public Land also
revealed that parks in communities of color
are, on average, five times more likely to be
crowded and half the size of parks that serve
white populations. Similarly, parks that primarily
serve low-income households are, on average,
four times smaller than parks that serve a ma-
jority of high-income households. Studies have
also shown that in addition to having access
to less park acreage, low-income communities
and communities of color tend to have access
to poorer-quality park spaces with less recre-
ational programming.
2.8.1 CALENVIROSCREEN
Recognizing systemic inequities in park access
and quality is integral to creating an equitable
park and recreation system in Bellflower. The in-
tentional prioritization of community resources,
such as new parks or recreation programs, in
disadvantaged communities is one way that
cities can advance social and environmen-
tal justice in their community. Disadvantaged
communities refer to State-identified census
tracts that experience combined high lev-
els of economic, health, and environmental
burdens. Figure 2-8 displays the Census Tracts
in Bellflower and their CalEnviroScreen Score.
Based on CalEPA’s SB 535 CalEnviroScreen
data, most census tracts in Bellflower scored at
60 or higher, indicating that most residents face
disproportionate economic, health, and envi-
ronmental burdens throughout the communi-
ty, but especially true in the central-west, and
south areas of the city.
2.8.2 HEALTHY PLACES INDEX
Figure 2-9 shows the Healthy Places Index (HPI)
scores in Bellflower. The data shows that most
census tracts in bellflower fall below the 50 per-
cent threshold of Healthy Places, meaning that
these areas may face inequities including edu-
cation, job opportunities, clean air and water,
and access to nature in comparison to other
census tracts across California. These areas in
Bellflower include the central and south-west
areas of the City.
Potential priority areas for future park and
recreation opportunities based on CalEnviro-
screen, HPI, and areas with limited park access
include south of the Artesia Freeway, west of
Lakewood Boulevard, and central Bellflower,
north of the Bellflower Bike Trail. By improving
existing parks, access to parks, and addition-
al programming opportunities in these areas,
it will improve the community’s quality of life
and set them up for improved health bene-
fits. To address systemic injustices and invest in
Bellflower’s Disadvantaged Communities, the
“higher burdened” areas featured in Figure 2-8
and Figure 2-9 should be prioritized for any park
improvement, enhancement, or development
projects.
69 BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN68
FIGURE 2-8: CalEnviroScreen
Source: OEHHA
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ANALYSIS 69
FIGURE 2-9: Healthy Places Index
No Data
Source: California Healthy Places Index
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BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN70
2.9 FUTURE POPULATION
Analyzing how the existing park system is serving the current population is important because it can help determine priority areas for new parks or park renovations in the future. It is assumed that these areas of high deficit will continue to worsen in the future as additional development and population growth occurs and no new parks are added to the park system. Park pressure and park priority area maps are only one aspect of the existing conditions analysis, all of the analysis completed in this report was taken into account for future recommendations.
2.9.2 PARK PRIORITY AREAS
Identifying areas of high park need within the
City is essential when prioritizing future projects
such as choosing vacant or underutilized sites
for potential future parks. Like many commu-
nities in southern California, Bellflower is built
out and vacant land is scarce. The results of
the following analysis help identify priority ar-
eas the City can focus on for improving park
access. The City can use this to consider next-
steps such as purchasing private land or enter-
ing into creative partnerships with other entities
to improve park access.
Figure 2-11 identifies locations within areas of
high park pressure of existing parks and cate-
gorizes them into either “Very High”, “High”, or
“Moderate” priority based on the socio-eco-
nomic and environmental factors of those areas.
Four different layers were used for this analysis:
1. Healthy Places Index
2. CalEnviroScreen
3. Population Density
4. 2022 Census Variables
»Households with children
»Households in poverty
»Households without vehicle access
»Persons over 65
»Persons who take public transportation,
walk, or bicycle to work).
These factors were then combined and nor-
malized into four equally distributing areas and
summarized. The results in Figure 2-11 depict
several areas of “Very High” and “High” park
need, most of which fall in central Bellflower
and south of the Artesia Freeway.
The results of this analysis can help the City
make informed decisions about acquiring land
in these priority needs areas to help address
park equity needs and level of service gaps.
2.9.1 PARK PRESSURE
Park pressure is a modeled analysis of park size
and accessibility to demonstrate how park us-
age or “pressure” varies in different parts of the
city. Park pressure is based on the residential
population density within the walkable service
area of each park. This process assumes that res-
idents use the park that is closest to their home.
Each park serves a unique amount of acres per
residents within the walkable service area. The
estimated number of park users within each
service area is based on population data. Park
acreage was used to calculate the number of
park acres available per 1,000 residents within
the service area. The City’s established goal of
four park acres per 1,000 residents was used as
the basis of the park pressure model, shown in
Figure 2-10. Areas may have a surplus of acres
per 1,000 residents or a deficit based on the
residential density around each park.
EXISTING PARK PRESSURE
Figure 2-10 shows that many parks walkable
service area in the city fall within the deficit
categories because they have a large num-
ber of residents with fewer park acres available
to them, making the demand for the nearby
parks high. These are shown in red, orange,
and yellow colors. The areas surrounding Palm
Park, Constitution Park, Thompson Park, Zinn
Park, and Downtown Bellflower have a great-
er park pressure due to the higher density of
residents living nearby and the limited number
of park acres nearby. These parks are likely to
experience heavier demand and use due to
the lack of park acres relative to the number of
residents living nearby.
72 ANALYSIS 71
Park Pressure
Lower number = higher park pressure
FIGURE 2-10: Park Pressure
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BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN72
FIGURE 2-11: Park Priority Areas
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0.5 ANALYSIS 73
2.10 RECREATION PROGRAMS
2.10.1 RECREATIONAL AND PARK PROGRAMMING
The City of Bellflower Parks and Recreation Department provides recreational programming through indoor facilities, parks, and the City’s Civic Auditorium. The Department aims to meet the demands of residents by providing a wider variety of programming and updated amenities for them to enjoy. The Department is organized so that programming is managed through the Department’s Director and Recreation Manager. Location-specific Supervisors manage and plan programming focused on the amenities and options provided at those locations. These same per- sonnel also manage and implement city-wide special events.
Existing programs primarily concentrate on athletics, aquatics, diverse adult classes, and youth-ori- ented options. The Department is actively enhancing its offerings, striving to create a comprehen- sive selection of programs catering to residents and non-residents. The following parks and recre- ation facilities are owned and staffed by the City:
»John S. Simms Park
»Ruth R. Caruthers Park
»T. Mayne Thompson Park
»Bellflower Aquatic Center at Thompson Park
»Bristol Civic Auditorium at Simms Park
75 BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN74
PROGRAM TYPE YOUTH ADULTS SENIORS
Adaptive Recreation Adaptive / Therapeutic X X X
Aquatics: YMCA Swim Lessons Aquatics X X X
Aquatic Lap Swimming Aquatics X X X
Aquatic Aerobics Aquatics X X
Aqua Fit Aquatics X X X
Aquatics: Lifeguard Class - Adults Aquatics X
Aquatics: Junior Lifeguard Class - Youth Aquatics X
Drawing and Painting Visual/Graphic Arts X X X
Ballet Performance Arts X
Basketball Training Sports X
Before/After School Programs Educational X
Basic Life Safety Classes Virtual X X X
Bellflower Symphony Assoc.Performance Arts X
B.R.I.M.Other X
Dance (Hula, Square Dance, Hip-Hop, Cheer & more) Performance Arts X X X Discovery Club Educational X
Cartoon Drawing Class Visual/Graphic Arts X
Civic Chorus Performance Arts X
Crazy-4-Sports (Instructional)Sports X
Driver’s Education (Online)Other X X X
Full Body Fitness Sports X X
Golf Lessons Sports X X
Hatha Yoga for Joy and Connection Sports X X
Hawaiian Hula Dance Other X
Karate Sports X X
Kids Love Soccer Sports X
Meals on Wheels Other X
Nutrition Programs Other X
Oil Painting Club Visual/Graphic Arts X
Open Gym Basketball Sports X X
Parent & Me Painting Visual/Graphic Arts X X
Pickleball (drop-in)Sports X X
RECESS Summer Program Other X
Summer Day Camp (YMCA)Other X
Tennis Lessons Sports X X X
Volleyball Fundamentals Sports X
Weight Room (drop-in)Sports X X
Weird Science Other X
TABLE 2-6: Programs offered for the 2022-2023 Program Year
2.10.2 EXISTING BELLFLOWER RECREATION PROGRAMMING
The City currently offers various services and programs for youth, adults, and seniors. From June 2022 to June 2023, the City offered just over three hundred separate program registration options, primarily focused on amenities available at primary staffed facilities. The following table represents the activities offered in that period.
76 ANALYSIS 75
YOUTH
Youth are considered elementary school aged
and below and teens are considered middle
and high school aged kids. A significant num-
ber of current program offerings are focused
on patrons that are middle-school aged or be-
low. This includes aquatic programs for swim
lessons, before and after school programs,
sports instructional programs, open-gym pro-
grams, and educational programs.
Bellflower Recreation in Motion (BRIM) is a
mobile recreation program where staff bring
pop-up activities such a ping pong tables,
connect-4, and sports equipment to closed-off
streets, at parks, or at special events. This free
program allows youth patrons to participate in
recreational activities close to home and in ar-
eas lacking access to parks.
The City currently lacks offerings in league ath-
letics and organized sport options for young
patrons to participate in. This could include
recreation-managed basketball leagues, vol-
leyball leagues, and others. Sports leagues
are essential for continued growth of recre-
ation programming.SENIORS
Senior activities are programmed primarily at
Simms Park and Thompson Park. Programs fo-
cus on nutrition or meal service, arts, and fit-
ness. The Thompson Park Seniors Club provides
basic programming and socialization programs
for Seniors.
As the City constructs the new senior and teen
center, additional programming will be neces-
sary to meet the needs of Seniors in the com-
munity, including card games, educational
classes, support groups, senior-focused fitness
programs, and other programs desired from
the community engagement process.
ADULTS
Adult programs vary in type and popularity,
however most of these focus on contract class
options such as arts, basketball, drivers educa-
tion, golf and tennis lessons, pickleball, fitness
activities, life safety courses, and aquatic offer-
ings. These programs are site-specific and are
based on the availability of facilities at those
sites to provide class times.
While the adult community has contracted
class and fitness-related options for participa-
tion, athletic options such as organized sports
leagues such as softball, basketball, kickball,
and tennis are lacking. Since the COVID pan-
demic, adult sports programming has been
difficult for the Department to implement and
program it but recognizes the need and inter-
est from the community.
77 BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN76
2.10.3 PROGRAM UTILIZATION
The City utilizes a web-based program called
Active Network (or ActiveNet) to manage the
registration and enrollments for classes. The
project team reviewed the data and found
most program enrollments are concentrated
in specific program areas. The collected data
indicates that aquatic programming surpasses
other facilities by a significant margin in terms
of enrollment. While there are identified areas
for improvement in enrollments across various
program offerings, the aquatic center remains
a robust and consistently high-performing as-
set. Throughout the various classes that were
offered, the data indicates that over three
hundred total classes were offered during this
period. The number of enrollments within these
classes ranged anywhere from five to thirty. The
cost of each class varies throughout, but the
City aims to make programming affordable to
participants.
Table 2-7 outlines the top classes and their en-
rollments for the 2022-2023 program year. The
top three programs are a compilation of the
multiple offerings that are provided through-
out the year. The top three programs are ex-
tremely popular and typically have the highest
volume of offerings. These have found success
due to their popularity, however offering a
higher number of enrollment spaces than oth-
er classes, participants do not find the ability
to enroll to be cumbersome. The ease of use
of the parks and recreation programming and
staff’s ability to assist, allow for participants to
easily access all the activities and register with
limited issues. The top programs also offer these
classes amongst all age ranges, which boost
the potential enrollments over various demo-
graphic groups.
CLASS DAYS
OFFERED
TOTAL
ENROLL-
MENTS
Aqua Fit MWF 848
Aqua Zumba MW 332
Youth Volleyball (Beginner-
intermediate)Su 252
Karate MW 232
Resident Lap Swim M-Sa 193
Youth Volleyball
(Intermediate-Advanced)Su 189
Full Body Fitness MW 142
Youth Soccer Clinic F 127
Non-Resident Lap Swim M-Sa 123
Volleyball Clinics M-Th 112
Youth Volleyball Extension Su 103
Youth Tennis Clinics Sa 97
Little Dragons Karate MW 90
Youth Basketball Training Th 77
Youth Painting Classes Tu 70
TABLE 2-7: 2022-2023 Top 15 Programs
AQUATICS VOLLEYBALL KARATE
TOP 3 PROGRAM TYPES
78 ANALYSIS 77
EXAMPLES OF PROGRAMMING BY FACILITY:
Simms Park
»Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED
»All in One Dance
»Ballet and Tap
»Butterfly Ballerinas
»Full Body Fitness
»Hatha Yoga for Joy and Connection
»Hip Hop Dance
»Karate
»Pump It Up Cheer and Dance
»Rhythm Fit
»Youth Basketball Training
Bellflower Aquatic Center
»Aqua Fit
»Aqua Zumba
»Dive-in (Boo-vie)
»Lap Swimming
»Aquatics/Swim Lessons provided through
YMCA.
Caruthers Park
»Adaptive Recreation
»Cartoon Drawing
»Elementary Drawing Classes
»Mommy/Daddy & Me Soccer
»Soccer
»Tennis
»Weird Science
Thompson Park
»Monday Volleyball Game Night
»Volleyball Clinics
»Youth Painting Class Session
»Pickleball
79 \VELCOME
CITY OF BELLFLOWE
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BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN78
2.10.4 SPECIAL EVENTS
The Parks and Recreation Department oversees
a variety of special events aimed at fostering
community engagement and providing rec-
reational opportunities for residents of all ages.
These events are a major function of time and
resources the Departments invest in throughout
the year. The Department meticulously plans
each event, collaborating with local businesses,
sponsors, and volunteers to enhance the overall
experience and promote community involve-
ment. This process includes the management
of the City’s calendar of events which usually
averages 30-40 events per year, ranging from
city events, co-hosted events, and events from
other organizations that request permits. Some
examples of events coordinated by the Parks
and Recreation Department include:
»Artsfest
»BRAVO Awards
»Family Campout Event
»Father Daughter Dance “Glow Up the Night”
»Here We Glow Again- Family Dance Party
»Mom Prom “Lets Glow Crazy”
»Penny Carnival
»State of the City
2023 FREE COMMUNITY EVENTS
Free community events organized by the City
provide opportunities for people to connect,
learn, and enjoy shared experiences without
financial barriers. Activities such as cultural fes-
tivals and family-friendly movie nights offer en-
tertainment and social experiences. By bring-
ing together people from various backgrounds
and age groups, free community events en-
hance social cohesion, civic pride, promote
local culture, and stimulate economic activity
in the area.
»Bellflower’s Day of the Shred
»Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony
»City of Bellflower Car Show
»Remember and Honor - Veterans Event
»Job Fair
»National Night Out
»Summer Movie Nights
»Summer Street Fest
80 fi-«YIM-EWAV-‘v'é‘ “3574”"4‘ ~- rm- '3; ‘\s . mu gnimgAVAVAVA 'Vf-syAV‘V-A , I “I _ ‘1 ‘ \ W \ , 2 x o 19‘1“”:1rffi‘.
ANALYSIS 79
2.10.5 PROGRAMMING COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS
To provide context to the City’s current program offerings and staffing, an analysis was conducted to compare the City of Bellflower to the data available in the NRPA Annual Agency Performance Review. The NRPA Agency Performance Review is an annual data based developed by NRPA utilizing data provided by hundreds of member parks and recreation agencies. This data is ag- gregated and provided for public use on the NRPA website and can be analyzed based upon qualifying variables, but not by specific responses. This review included the following assessments:
»Programming nationwide was compared to programming in Bellflower to assess if major pro- gramming areas that are the most common across the nation are offered in the City. »The general programming analysis compares general programming areas, such as team sports, special events, and aquatics, based on a set of variables, designed through NRPA’s research, to compare communities of similar size. These variables are park acres, number of parks, popu- lation, and region. This assessment allows an ‘apples to apples’ comparison between Bellflower and similarly sized communities.
»A staffing analysis was performed to determine if City staffing for programming is adequate compared to agencies of similar size and geographic location. 81 BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN80
NATIONAL PROGRAMMING COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT
The 2022 NRPA Agency Performance Review was used as the baseline data for comparing Bell- flower to peer agencies. Within the NRPA southwest pacific region, peer agencies were deter- mined based on the following criteria set by the NRPA measured for each park district’s jurisdiction:
population, number of parks, and park acreage. Bellflower meets the following threshold levels for each category:
»Population: 50,000 to 99,999 people (Bellflower population: 79,070) »Number of parks: 10 – 19 Parks (11 park facilities in Bellflower) »Park acreage: 250 acres or less (100.8 total park acres in Bellflower) Table 2-8 outlines general programming, on average, and is broken down by major variables as well as a focus on programming types and is broken down by those same major variables. Most items are provided directly by the City and Parks and Recreation Department, however, some spe- cific items (such as Aquatic Swim Lessons) are provided through a contracted vendor. Items with a “Yes” designates programs offered through either source in the City.
NRPA PROGRAMMING
COMPARISON
BE
L
L
F
L
O
W
E
R
PR
O
G
R
A
M
S
AVERAGE % OF
PEER AGENCIES
ACROSS ALL
CRITERIA
PROVIDING
PROGRAM TYPE
PEER
AGENCY
CATEGORY:
PARK
ACRES (250
ACRES OR
LESS)
PEER AGENCY
CATEGORY:
POPULATION
(20,000
- 50,000
PEOPLE)
PEER AGENCY
CATEGORY:
# OF PARKS
(FEWER
THAN 10
PARKS)
% OF
AGENCIES
IN PACIFIC
SW REGION
OF U.S.
PROVIDING
PROGRAM
TYPE
Ge
n
e
r
a
l
P
r
o
g
r
a
m
m
i
n
g
T
y
p
e
s
Themed Special Events Yes 91%87%94%89%94%
Social Recreation Events Yes 89%88%90%86%92%
Team Sports Yes 90%89%92%88%90%
Fitness Enhancement Classes Yes 85%79%90%80%92%
Health and wellness education Yes 83%76%85%79%90%
Individual Sports Yes 77%72%83%75%78%
Safety Training Yes 76%69%84%67%83%
Racquet Sports Yes 72%65%82%66%75%
Aquatics Yes 72%61%80%65%80%
Performing Arts Yes 65%51%78%62%69%
Visual Arts Yes 63%52%75%56%69%
Natural and cultural history activities No 56%43%63%56%60% Cultural Crafts Yes 61%53%67%57%67%
Trips and Tours No 60%54%67%55%64%
Martial Arts Yes 63%57%73%52%71%
Running/cycling races No 47%39%54%43%52%
Golf No 42%28%54%39%47%
eSports/eGaming No 10%7%15%8%8%
Sp
e
c
i
f
i
c
P
r
o
g
r
a
m
m
i
n
g
T
y
p
e
s
Summer Camp No 84%74%93%81%86%
Specific Senior Programs Yes 79%72%88%79%78%
Specific Teen Programs No 68%56%77%64%75%
Programs for people with disabilities Yes 61%45%75%58%64% STEM Programs No 56%47%66%52%60%
After School Programs Yes 53%50%52%43%66%
Preschool No 38%32%43%32%46%
Before school programs No 19%17%22%15%21%
Full daycare No 8%6%12%4%10%
TABLE 2-8: Programming Comparison to Peer Agencies
>75% of peer agencies
offer program type
between 74% and 50% of peer
agencies offer program type
<49% of peer agencies
offer program type 82
ANALYSIS 81
BELLFLOWER PROGRAMMING STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, AND UNIQUENESS Programming strengths are identified as programs offered in Bellflower that are also offered by 75 percent or greater of peer agencies in one or more categories used in the NRPA Agency Perfor- mance Review. These categories apply to the City of Bellflower and provide data cross-tabulation over similar agencies nationwide.
Unique programs are identified as programs
that are offered in Bellflower but are not of-
fered by 75 percent or greater of peer agen-
cies in one or more categories. Programs in this
category may be considered strengths if they
are well-utilized, or weaknesses if they are not.
Consideration must be given to the commu-
nity’s awareness of these programs if they are
not well-utilized; marketing campaigns may be
needed to boost utilization before decisions
are made on program continuation. Unique
programs in Bellflower are:
»After school programs
»Cultural crafts
»Martial arts
»Programs for people with disabilities
Table 2-8 shows that Bellflower provides sever-
al programs when compared to peers across
more than two categories. These programs
should be maintained by the Department to
continue matching offerings provided by peers.
These programs are:
»Themed special events
»Social recreation events
»Team sports (Little League)
»Fitness enhancement classes
»Health and wellness education
»Individual sports
»Safety training
»Specific senior programs
The following programs are provided by peer
programs in one or two categories. These pro-
grams should also be maintained by the De-
partment to continue matching offerings pro-
vided by peers. These programs are:
»Racquet sports
»Aquatics
»Performance arts
»Visual arts
»Cultural crafts
»Martial arts
Programming weaknesses are identified as
programs offered by 50 percent or greater of
peer agencies in one or more criteria, but not
offered in Bellflower. These programs may be
considered by the Department to match of-
ferings provided by peer agencies. These pro-
grams are:
»Natural and cultural history activities
»Trips and tours
»Summer camp
»Specific teen programs
»STEM programs
83 BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN82
This analysis shows that the City provides at least the same amount of programming options as other neighboring communities and is a leader in providing different types of programming for dif- ferent age groups in the area. The primary areas of potential growth are in youth and adult sports and additional virtual or online classes and programming.
2.10.6 STAFFING
RECREATION AND PROGRAMMING STAFF
The Parks and Recreation Department of the City currently employs ten full-time staff including two assigned as administrative staff, one in an information technology (IT) role, and seven providing programming-related services. Each of the program positions also have additional responsibilities, including the supervision and coordination of recreational activities. For the fiscal year 2024-2025 budget, parks and recreation has an approved total staffing allocation of 31.1 FTE (Full-Time Equiv- alents) including part-time and full-time employees.
An analysis was conducted on the City’s parks and recreation staffing. Staffing levels were com- pared to NRPA industry standards, using the NRPA’s Agency Performance Review as the bench- mark. This review incorporates national data sets, considering factors such as population and park acreage. The analysis, based on percentages of staffing and total staffing in parks and recreation departments within the southwest pacific region, revealed that comparable cities maintain staff- ing levels ranging from 2.3 FTEs (lowest quartile of agencies with similar park acreage) to 56.8 FTEs (highest quartile of agencies in southwest pacific Region) dedicated to programming activities.
The pink line in Figure 2-12 represents the current total FTEs for Bellflower (31.1), the yellow line rep- resents the current full-time employees for Bellflower (10) and the bars represent the lower quartile, median, and upper quartiles of agencies in each category.
REGIONAL COMPARATIVE PROGRAMMING ASSESSMENT
Table 2-9 shows a summary of the types of classes or programs provided by nearby recreational program providers and programs provided by Bellflower. These categories are broad based on program types typically advertised in program guides. The results in this list stems from current pro- gram guides from comparable cities. This list stems from current program guides from nearby cities.
PROGRAM AREA BELLFLOWER NATIONAL
CITY DOWNEY NORWALK CERRITOS
Population 79,190 56,173 114,355 102,773 49,578
Early Childhood (Tiny Tots and Toddlers)X X X X
Youth X X X X
Teen X X X
Adult X X X X X
Fitness X X X X X
Senior /Active X X X X X
Aquatics X X X X
Camps X X X X X
Youth Sports X X X X X
Adult Sports X X X
Cultural Arts X X X X X
Adaptive/ Inclusive X X X
Virtual X X
TABLE 2-9: Comparative Programming to Nearby Cities
84 ANALYSIS 83
The City’s ten full-time staff is near the lower end of this range, with the remaining services being performed by part-time staff. Staffing is also organized based on location and coverage for cus- tomer service purposes, not to focus on programming or services directly.
Anticipating growth in programming, it is essential to hire additional full-time staff to adequately support and expand its operations, with a particular emphasis on enhancing programming. Full- time staff for programming provides additional coverage and reliability in scheduling to manage types of programs and is recommended for supervisors and coordinators. This type of staffing in recreation is best used for administrative personnel to schedule programming overall and to hire and coordinate program providers. Part-time staff is best utilized for coordination of particular pro- grams and specifically management of leagues and services provided mainly after hours and on weekends. This provides for easier scheduling of coverage for these times and more flexibility in the assignment of time over the course of each time period.
In line with practices observed in comparable southwest pacific agencies, there should be a shift in organizational structure from a location-focused approach to a program-type focused manage- ment model. More information about this recommendation can be found in Appendix A.
FIGURE 2-12: Staffing Comparison to NRPA Data
PARK PATROL PROGRAM
The Park Patrol program supplements staffing at city-managed parks by assisting staff at su- pervised locations and overseeing satellite, unsupervised, and pocket parks. A team of two Recreation Leaders patrols all parks, assisting with opening, closing, and cleaning outdoor restrooms, litter abatement, and enforcement of municipal codes and ordinances governing park use, including restrictions on dogs, alcohol/drug use, and loud or amplified music. The Park Patrol team engages with park visitors, offering assistance, addressing public relations needs, and providing reminders of municipal codes related to park use. For severe illegal ac- tivity, the team contacts Southwest Patrol or the Sheriff’s Department as appropriate. Before proceeding to the next location, the team ensures parks are safe, clean, and free of litter and debris. The program currently operates on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. 85 Average % of peer agencies across all criteria '
providing program type
% of agencies in Pacific SW region of U3.
providing program type
Peer agency category: # of parks (Fewer than 10
parks)
Peer agency category: Population (20,000 —
50,000 people)
Peer agency category: Park acres (250 acres or
less) ‘
0 l 0 20 30 40 50 60
l Programmers — Upper Quartile I Programmers - Median I Programmers - Lower Quartile /
Average % of peer agencies across all criteria ‘
providing program type
% of agencies in Pacific SW region of U.S.
providing program type
Peer agency category: # of parks (Fewer than 10
parks)
Peer agency category: Population (20,000 -
50,000 people)
Peer agency category: Park acres (250 acres or
less)
0 l 0 20 30 40 50 60
I Programmers — Upper Quartile I Programmers - Median I Programmers - Lower Quartile /
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN84
Crews for maintenance are each established with a Crew Leader that reports to the Parks and Facilities Division Manager and a team of Maintenance Workers. The crews established (as of Oc- tober 2024) include the staffing as follows:
Simms Park Crew
»Crew Leader
»Maintenance Worker I
»Maintenance Worker II
»Maintenance Worker (PT)
Thompson Park Crew
»Crew Leader
»Maintenance Worker II (2)
»Maintenance Worker (PT)
Caruthers Park Crew
»Crew Leader
»Maintenance Worker II
»Maintenance Worker I
»Maintenance Worker (PT)
Downtown Crew
»Crew Leader
»Maintenance Worker II (3)
»Maintenance Worker (PT) (5)
FACILITIES, PARKS, AND GROUNDS MAINTENANCE STAFF
The City of Bellflower’s parks and landscaped areas are maintained by the Public Works Depart- ment, as well as their occupied facilities. This group is responsible for any preventive or routine maintenance as well as repairs and rehabilitations due to damage or age. This includes activities such as mowing, weeding, flowering and planting, playground inspection and maintenance, irri- gation inspection and repair, and tree pruning and management.
There is about 1 FTE per 5.81 acres of parks. The bulleted lists below outline the Public Works De- partment organization among parks maintenance activities. Each of these crews also manage the landscaping and maintenance of other city properties such as City buildings, parking lots, and along rights of way.
Park maintenance crews and parks maintained
Simms Park Crew:
»Simms Park
»Library Gardens
»Town Center Plaza
»Pirate Park and
Friendship Square
Thompson Park Crew:
»Thompson Park
»Aquatic Center
»Zinn Park
»Palm St. Park
(South)
Caruthers Park Crew:
»Caruthers Park
»Riverview Park
»Palm St. Park
»Constitution Park
Downtown Crew
»Butterfly Garden
»Bellflower Bike Trail
»The Mayne Events
Center
»Pacific Electric
Train Depot
»Flora Vista Dog Park
»City Hall/Bristol
Auditorium
86 ANALYSIS 85
FIGURE 2-13: Maintenance Staffing Comparison to NRPA Data Total FTE equals 18.8 based upon part-time staff working 29 hours per week. The Department noted that finding qualified personnel to fill part-time positions is sometimes difficult due to the reduced hours. Using NRPA Agency Performance Data agencies of this population size, parks acreage, number of parks and region of the United States have typically between 2.92 (lower quartile of agencies with similar park acreage) and 68.47 FTEs (upper quartile of agencies in the southwest pacific region) designated for operations and maintenance activities. The following graph rep- resents estimated FTEs by category broken down into the lower quartile, median, and upper quar- tile ranges. The yellow line represents the FTEs in Bellflower (18.8).
This analysis indicated that staffing for maintenance is adequate, but processes for work order management are not up to modern standards that work for both Public Works and Parks and Rec- reation Departments and are in need of improvement.
87 Average % of peer agencies across all criteria
providing program type
% of agencies in Pacific SW region of U.S.
providing program type
Peer agency category: # of parks (Fewer than 10
parks)
Peer agency category: Population (20,000 -
vi
i
50,000 people)
Peer agency category: Park acres (250 acres or r I
less) I
O i 0 2O 3O 40 50 60 70 80
I Maintenance - Upper Quartile I Maintenance - Median I Maintenance - Lower Quartile Average % of peer agencies across all criteria
providing program type
% of agencies in Pacific SW region of U.S.
providing program type
Peer agency category: # of parks (Fewer than 10
parks)
Peer agency category: Population (20,000 —
50,000 people)
til
I
10 2o 30 40 50 so 70 80
Peer agency category: Park acres (250 acres or
less) "I
O
I Maintenance - Upper Quartile I Maintenance - Median I Maintenance - Lower Quartile
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN86
EVENT PERCENT (%)
PARTICIPATION
Athletic events (general)77.6%
Fitness related activities 67.4%
Outdoor sports 55.0%
Individual sports 41.3%
Team sports 23.2%
Racquet sports 16.4%
Water sports 14.4%
Winter sports 8.0%
FIGURE 2-14: Topline Participation
2.10.7 RECREATION TRENDS
In recent years, according to NRPA, national
trends in recreation programs have evolved sig-
nificantly, reflecting broader societal shifts and
the growing emphasis on wellness and com-
munity engagement. These programs have
increasingly prioritized inclusivity, ensuring that
diverse populations can access recreational
opportunities. Technological advancements
have also played a pivotal role, with digital
platforms enhancing program accessibility
and participation. As Bellflower recognizes the
myriad benefits of recreational activities, from
improved physical health to enhanced social
engagement, recreation programs should
adapt to meet these needs, fostering healthier
and more connected communities nationwide.
Pickleball remains the fastest-growing sport
in America, with over four million people par-
ticipating annually, as reported by the NRPA.
While Bellflower offers programming for various
age groups, there is an ongoing demand from
the community for additional courts and more
pickleball programs. In 2023, the SFIA report-
ed a 51.8 percent increase in participation in
this sport, with a 223.5 percent increase in total
over three years.
The National Recreation and Park Association
have found that youth sports have shown a de-
cline in participation nationally over the past
decade, with a significant reduction due to
the COVID pandemic. However, in the state of
California, most parks and recreation agencies
are seeing increases in youth athletic program
participation and the need to provide staff-
ing support to ensure the success of youth
sports programming.
The NPRA has found that pop-up activities in
neighborhood parks are gaining popularity,
introducing kids to activities like mini-golf and
family game nights. Cities with limited resourc-
es are leveraging these opportunities.
In 2023, NRPA issued a report on Supporting
Older Adults Through Parks and Recreation
that highlighted the following key metrics:
»92 percent of park and recreation agen-
cies offer older adult-related resources
and programs.
»95 percent of agencies say that promot-
ing social connection and addressing so-
cial isolation are top benefits of their older
adult programming.
»30 percent of agencies offer intergeneration-
al programming such as arts and crafts, read-
ing programs, and mentoring opportunities
»30 percent of park and recreation agencies
dedicate 10 percent or more of their annual
operating budget to older adult program-
ming and outreach.
This highlights the need for more adult and old-
er adult programming as a focus to create a
more well-rounded recreational programming
system. This also provides guidance that inter-
generational programming, like the program-
ming being planned for the new senior and
teen center in Bellflower, is growing in popular-
ity, but is a new and innovative approach to
providing these services.
The Sports and Fitness Industry Association
(SFIA) participation data provides valuable in-
sights into the trends and patterns shaping the
sports and fitness landscape. This data, collect-
ed from various industry segments, highlights
the activities gaining popularity, the demo-
graphic shifts in participation, and the evolving
preferences of participants. The following table
details data involving the various trends for par-
ticipation in different types of athletic events:
88 ANALYSIS
8789
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BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN 90
3.1 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OVERVIEW
Ensuring that an inclusive community engagement process was carried out was a critical step in the planning process. The process allowed the team to make informed recommendations about the future of the City’s parks and recreation system. The team participated in a series of events and collected feedback to help prioritize areas of improvement. These events included neigh- borhood-specific meetings, workshops, pop-ups at existing community events, stakeholder group meetings, a statistically-valid survey, and a project website. Everyone who lives, works, or plays within Bellflower was considered an essential collaborator in the planning process and in the de- velopment of the recommendations for this Plan.
3.1.1 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY
The outreach methods used to engage Bellflower community members were:
»Project branding
»Project website
»Social media
»Statistically-valid survey
»Two community workshops
»Three pop-up events
»Six focus group meetings with key stakeholders
»Five neighborhood meetings
»City meetings with Parks and Recreation Commissioners and City Council Members 92 {owe} M
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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 91
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TIMELINE
93 July 10. 2023
Project Kickoff
August 17th, 2023
Summer Streetfest Pop-up
October 2nd, 2023
Statistically—Valid Survey Opens
October 7th, 2023
Bellflower Car Show Pop-up
October 23rd, 2023
City Council 8: Parks and Recreation
Commission Focus Group Meeting
October 23rd, 2023
Youth Focus Group Workshop
October 24th, 2023
Senior Focus Group Workshop
October 24th, 2023
Workshop #1 at Simms Pcrrk
November 28th, 2023
Neighborhood Workshop #i
at Simms Pork
November 3031. 2023
Neighborhood Workshop #2
at Thompson Pork
December ‘Ist, 2023
Beliflower Tree Lighting
Pop-up Event
January 18th, 2024
Neighborhood Workshop #3
at City Hall
January 24th, 2024
Neighborhood Workshop #4
at Springwood Suites
January 25m, 2024
Neighborhood Workshop #5
at Coruthers Pork
January 2024
Survey Closes
February I 3th, 2024
Administrative Staff Focus Group Meeting
Februrary 23rd 2024
Staff Focus Group Workshop
June 14th, 2024
Workshop #2 at Coruthers Pork
July ‘I 0, 2023
Project Kickoff
August 17th. 2023
Summer Streetfest Pop-up
October 2nd. 2023
Statistically—Valid Survey Opens
October 7th, 2023
Bellflower Car Show Pop-up
October 23rd, 2023
City Council & Parks and Recreation
Commission Focus Group Meeting
October 23rd, 2023
Youth Focus Group Workshop
October 24th. 2023
Senior Focus Group Workshop
October 24th. 2023
Workshop #1 at Simms Park
November 28th, 2023
Neighborhood Workshop #1
at Simms Park
November 3051. 2023
Neighborhood Workshop #2
at Thompson Park
December ‘Ist, 2023
Bellflower Tree Lighting
Pop-up Event
January ram. 2024
Neighborhood Workshop #3
at City Hall
January 24th, 2024
Neighborhood Workshop #4
at Springwood Suites
January 25th, 2024
Neighborhood Workshop #5
at Caruthers Park
January 2024
Survey Closes
February mm, 2024
Administrative Staff Focus Group Meeting
Februrary 23rd 2024
Staff Focus Group Workshop
June 14th, 2024
Workshop #2 at Caruthers Park
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN 92
3.2 PROJECT PUBLICITY
Several tools were used to encourage community members to participate in the community en- gagement process. Tools used to promote community outreach events included social media announcements, posted flyers, distinct project branding, and a project website. These tools were provided both in English and Spanish.
3.2.1 PROJECT BRANDING
Bellflower’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan project branding was inspired by the Parks and Rec- reation Department’s branding. Pulling inspiration from the City’s color palette and logo. Project branding was used throughout the project, from announcement flyers to the creation of the Plan document. Branding was used in outreach materials, the project website,and presentations.
3.2.2 PROJECT WEBSITE
The website created an opportunity for community members to access information about the project and to learn about upcoming community engagement opportunities. The project website also contained an interactive online comment map that allowed community members to com- ment on specific parks or problem areas.
3.2.3 SOCIAL MEDIA
Social media was used as a tool to invite and disseminate information regarding community en- gagement opportunities, to publicize the Plan, and share project updates. 94 '5éllfl6W-f
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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 93
3.3 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PUBLIC EVENTS
Two public workshops, three pop-up events, and five neighborhood meetings were conducted through the community engagement process. These events allowed the team to have genuine conversations with residents, yielding valuable and effective feedback about parks and recre- ation in Bellflower. The team included a variety of activities at each event, varying from table maps, amenity voting exercises, and a “Build-a-Park” activity.
COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS AND POP-UPS
Community workshops and pop-up events were an integral part of the engagement process.
These events gave the project team a chance to directly engage with the public at various mile- stones of Plan. Each workshop contained a presentation that was followed by an open-house with various interactive activities.
Top priorities identified by community workshops and pop-ups:
1. Public safety concerns
Residents expressed how many parks in
Bellflower have safety issues, leading to
them feeling uncomfortable at parks.
2. Improved maintenance
Play surfacing repairs, ongoing re-
stroom cleanliness, trash, are all ongo-
ing concerns residents have expressed
at parks.
3. Upgraded playground
amenities
Residents would like to see more
unique and exciting playgrounds and
play equipment at parks.
4. Additional recreational
programming
More programming options are want-
ed by residents such as indoor and
outdoor sports programs, mommy and
me classes, free or reduced fee class-
es, and teen-specific programs.
5. Better park beautification
Additional trees, shrubs, and plants,
and better maintained planted areas
are wanted at parks.
6. Add more dog parks
Residents have expressed a desire
to add dog parks at existing parks
and facilities.
7. Additional and improved
sports fields
Residents expressed a need for soc-
cer fields and a sports complex in
Bellflower to accommodate sports
programs like soccer and flag football.
8. Additional and upgraded
sport courts
Tennis pickleball, volleyball, and
basketball courts are all desired
by residents.
9. Walking paths and loops
Additional areas for walking at parks
and new trails are desired by residents.
10. Additional parks
Residents expressed the need for
creating new park spaces in Bellflow-
er and not currently having enough
places to recreate in the City.
95 BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN 94
NEIGHBORHOOD WORKSHOPS
Neighborhood workshops provided an opportunity for residents of different geographical areas of Bellflower to give specific feedback on their nearby parks. Five neighborhood workshops were conducted at different locations throughout the City and they included Simms Park, Thompson Park, City Hall, the WoodSpring Suites Hotel, and Caruthers Park. Each workshop was designed as an open-house style workshop with informational exhibits and interactive activities. The activities allowed participants to give feedback on desired amenities at parks, existing park improvements, recreational programming, and future programming needs. The “Build-a-Park” activity was avail- able to provide attendees with an opportunity to design their dream park.
The top priorities identified by all of the neighborhood workshops include:
1. Public safety concerns
Public safety is a major concern
for all districts in Bellflower, espe-
cially in District 4. Residents are
concerned with speeding cars,
unsafe areas along the Artesia
(91) Freeway, limited safe spac-
es for children to play, and not
enough safety patrols.
2. Better park maintenance
Residents expressed that parks
have trash and facilities needing
upkeep and repair.
3. Additional arts and
performance arts
programs
Adding more programs such as
arts and crafts, instrument class-
es, and dance classes was ex-
pressed as a desire.
4. Improved park
beautification
Many residents expressed the
need to add additional plants,
trees, shrubs and other features
such as public art to create a more
welcoming environment at parks.
5. Additional and enhanced
sports fields
Residents expressed the need for
improved ballfields and to add
soccer fields to parks.
6. Additional youth and teen
programs
New and modern youth and teen
programs were expressed as a need.
7. Additional fitness programs
Residents expressed a need to ex-
pand options and days/times of
fitness classes.
8. Aquatic programs and
amenities
Residents expressed how the ex-
isting aquatic center is outdated
and needs to be replaced with
a modern facility to have the ca-
pacity for new aquatic programs.
9. Additional educational
programs
Educational programs for seniors,
adults, and teens were expressed
as a need such as computer lit-
eracy, home economics, and
cooking classes.
10. Walking paths and loops
Residents would like to see addi-
tional walking paths, trails, and
connections at parks, and be-
tween parks, especially in south-
ern Bellflower.
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3.3.1 TIMELINE OF COMMUNITY EVENTS (IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER) POP-UP #2 - BELLFLOWER CAR SHOW
The Bellflower Car Show event was the
second pop-up the project team at-
tended. The team set up a booth with
several maps, activity boards, give-
aways, and also promoted the first
workshop and the community survey.
Top priorities:
»Updating or renovating Pirate Park.
»Better walking and bike connections
between the Bellflower Bike Trail and
the San Gabriel River Trail and to
neighboring cities.
»Additional programs for seniors and
the need for youth sports programs
such as soccer.
»Better communication of recreation-
al programs and park information.
POP UP #1 - SUMMER STREETFEST
The Summer Streetfest Pop-up marked
the kick-off to the project’s communi-
ty engagement efforts. It took place at
the Summer Streetfest event in Down-
town Bellflower on August 17th, 2023.
The feedback from this event focused
on issues concerning the safety of
parks, upgrading playground struc-
tures as well as the need for passive
park amenities.
Top priorities:
»Increase park safety by adding light-
ing to parks, fencing certain areas,
and addressing issues with people
experiencing homelessness.
»Adding additional park amenities such
as exercise areas and walking trails.
»Updating outdated park facilities
and amenities such as playgrounds
and indoor recreation facilities.
Pop Up #1 - Summer Streetfest
Pop Up #2 - Bellflower Car Show
97 BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN 96
PUBLIC WORKSHOP #1
The first public workshop was held at
Simms Park on Tuesday, October 24,
2023. This workshop included a short
presentation and open-house activities
that allowed participants to review and
provide feedback on informative exhib-
its and interactive activities.
Top priorities:
»Upgrades to park amenities like adding
shade, either with trees or shade struc-
tures, over playgrounds and exercise ar-
eas. Replacing wood-chip playground
surfacing with rubber surfacing. Mod-
ernize the Bellflower Aquatics Center.
»Adding additional parks to the overall
system. The City should explore con-
verting utility corridors land to park
spaces with walking paths, exercise
equipment, and play elements.
»Add new park amenities such as soccer
fields, group picnic areas, multi-purpose
fields, and an amphitheater.
»Adding programs for youth, adults,
and seniors such as senior excursions,
arts and crafts, fitness classes, adult
swim, and free youth classes.
NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING #1 AT
SIMMS PARK & #2 AT THOMPSON
PARK
The first neighborhood meeting was
conducted at Simms Park on Tues-
day, November 28th and the second
neighborhood meeting was conduct-
ed on Thursday, November 30th in the
multi-purpose room at Thompson Park.
Top priorities:
»Need to renovate the Bellflower Aquat-
ic Center to a more modern facility.
»Additional park amenities such as
volleyball courts, an outdoor am-
phitheater, adventure playgrounds,
and walking trails.
»Need for additional programs such as
adult softball, Ultimate Frisbee, senior
cooking classes, bingo, youth music
classes, youth arts programs, teen
field trips, youth and teen ceramics
classes, and volleyball leagues.
Public Workshop #1 at Simms Park
Neighborhood Meeting #2 - Thompson Park
98 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 97
POP-UP #3 - BELLFLOWER HOLIDAY
TREE LIGHTING
The project team hosted a booth at
the annual Holiday Tree Lighting event
in Downtown Bellflower on Friday, De-
cember 1st, 2023. The purpose was to
inform attendees about the Plan and
collect community input. Communi-
ty input was collected using amenity
voting boards, maps, written com-
ments, and a “Build-a-Park” activity.
The “Build-a-Park” activity was popular
among kids which allowed the project
team to gain insight into potential new
amenities and features in parks most
desired by the community at future
and existing parks.
Top priorities:
»Need to renovate the Bellflower Aquat-
ic Center to a more modern facility.
»Need for new park amenities including
an adventure playground, walking trails,
community garden, and skate park.
NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING #3 AT
CITY HALL
The third neighborhood meeting was
held at Bellflower City Hall on January
18th, 2024.
Top priorities:
»Improve public safety at parks and fa-
cilities by improving lighting and having
better safety patrol and enforcement
of discouraging unwanted activities.
»Additional amenities at parks includ-
ing outdoor exercise areas and more
modern playgrounds.
Pop Up #3 - Bellflower Tree Lighting
Neighborhood Meeting #3 - City Hall
99 )1
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BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN 98
NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING #4 AT
WOODSPRING SUITES
The fourth neighborhood meeting was
held at the WoodSpring Suites lobby on
January 24th, 2024. This was the most at-
tended neighborhood meeting with 25
attendees.
Top priorities:
»Improve public safety and mainte-
nance at parks and other public areas
in the City including along Palm Street
and at Constitution Park. Participants
expressed feeling uncomfortable walk-
ing to parks and in parks at times during
the day and at night. They say parks are
not designed to feel welcoming to users
and welcome unwanted behaviors.
»Attendees also expressed the need for
more and better-designed parks; most
areas south of the Artesia (91) Freeway
contain multi-family housing that lacks
outdoor spaces, they depend on public
parks to meet their recreational needs.
»Participants shared ideas for potential pro-
gramming including youth soccer, sing-
ing programs, art and fashion classes for
teens, and home economics programs.
NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING #5 AT
CARUTHERS PARK
The final neighborhood meeting took place
at Caruthers Park on January 25th, 2024.
There was 17 participants in attendance.
Top priorities:
»Public safety concerns.
»Update and improve park beautifica-
tion such as improving park landscap-
ing, adding public art to parks, and
updating park amenities.
»Add amenities such as an adventure
playground, a pump track/bike park,
and nature play areas.
»Programming desires include providing a
wider variety of class times for seniors, arts
and craft classes, toddler programs, folk-
lorico classes, youth football, paint par-
ties, aqua zumba, and group bike rides.
Neighborhood Meeting #4 - WoodSpring Suites
Neighborhood Meeting #5 - Caruthers Park
Neighborhood Meeting #4 - WoodSpring Suites
100
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 99
PUBLIC WORKSHOP #2
The second and final public workshop
was an open event that took place
at Caruthers Park on Friday, June 14,
2024, as part of the City of Bellflower’s
Park and Recreation Summer Kick-off
Event. The event included fun activi-
ties such as games, music, food trucks,
and face painting. Participants walked
through informative boards where all
comments and input from workshops,
pop-ups, neighborhood meetings, and
surveys were summarized to highlight
key themes. Participants were also giv-
en the opportunity to add comments
to the recommended amenities for
infill of identified existing park oppor-
tunity areas and the drafted initiatives,
objectives, and actions to be included
in the final Plan Report. Additionally, a
kids station provided the opportunity
for children to participate in a “Build-a-
Park” activity.
Feedback for the Draft Plan Initiatives,
Objectives, and Action boards included:
»The desire for more specific safe-
ty measures such as cameras and
lighting to be included in the Safety
and Comfort Initiative.
»The desire for more aquatic ameni-
ties as a part of the Parks and Facili-
ties Initiative.
Public Workshop #2: Summer Kickoff Event at Caruthers Park Public Workshop #2: Summer Kickoff Event at Caruthers Park 101
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN 100
3.4 STAKEHOLDER FOCUS GROUPS
Stakeholder focus group meetings were an integral part of the planning process. They allowed the project team to have direct conversations with specific interest group members in the community.
Each meeting contained a project overview presentation that was followed by a group discussion and interactive activities.
THE TOP PRIORITIES IDENTIFIED BY STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT:
1. Enhanced social and
accessible programming
Many stakeholders expressed the
need for additional social pro-
gramming options among various
age groups as well as accessible
programming options in terms of fi-
nancial accessibility as well as pro-
grams for those living with a disability.
2. Better maintenance of parks
This was a theme among all project
engagement but many expressed
the need to improve park cleanli-
ness and general upkeep of facilities.
3. Additional educational
programming
Educational programming for var-
ious age groups including older
adults and teens was expressed as
a need.
4. Additional arts and
performance arts
programs
The need for additional arts programs
and classes was expressed including
painting, choir, fashion design, cro-
chet, and salsa.
5. Additional sports programs
There is a desire to bring back youth,
adult, and older adult sports. Stake-
holders also expressed the need
for better coordination between
leagues for field time.
6. Public safety concerns
Stakeholders have expressed con-
cerns for public safety at parks and
near parks. Homelessness, lack of
lighting, poor visibility, and speed-
ing vehicles are common issues
mentioned and stakeholders be-
lieve these safety issues lead to visi-
tors feeling unsafe and unwelcome.
7. Need for additional courts
The need for additional outdoor
and indoor sports courts like volley-
ball and pickleball was expressed.
8. Updated aquatic facilities
and aquatic programming
The Bellflower Aquatic Center at
Thompson Park needs renovation
and updated programming options
to better serve Bellflower residents.
9. Additional fitness programs
Fitness programs for adults and old-
er adults are needed. Desired pro-
grams include yoga, senior chair
exercises, aquafit, and Tai Chi. Ad-
ditional daytime programming was
also desired.
10. Exercise equipment
Exercise equipment was also de-
sired along the Bellflower Bike
Trail and updated indoor exercise
equipment at Thompson Park. Bet-
ter marketing of existing park facili-
ties may also be necessary for bet-
ter awareness.
102
'3 O
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 101
3.4.1 BELLFLOWER CITY
COUNCIL AND PARKS &
RECREATION COMMISSION
FOCUS GROUP MEETING
The first stakeholder focus group meeting was
held at Bellflower City Hall on Monday, Octo-
ber 23, 2023. The Bellflower City Council and
the Parks & Recreation Commission provided
valuable feedback on the City’s existing parks
and recreation system. This stakeholder meet-
ing was held as an interactive workshop with
many exhibits and boards for council members
and commissioners to comment and provide
feedback.
Top priorities:
»Renovate existing playgrounds to more
modern standards such as adventure play-
grounds and more climbing equipment.
»Increase youth and senior programs by add-
ing additional program types such as senior
dances, cooking classes, social develop-
ment programs, technology classes, garden-
ing programs, field trips, and arts and crafts.
»Adding outdoor court sports such as pickle-
ball and volleyball.
»Renovating the Bellflower Aquatic Center to
a more modern facility.
»Developing a sports complex to include ad-
ditional field sports fields that the City is lack-
ing like soccer fields.
»Acquire additional space to expand parks
and develop new parks.
3.4.2 YOUTH FOCUS GROUP
MEETING
The youth focus group meeting was held on
Monday, October 23, 2023, at Simms Park. This
meeting began with a presentation followed
by interactive activities. The participants that
attended this focus group meeting identified
many opportunities that can help improve the
City’s existing parks and recreation system.
They were eager to provide feedback specific
to their age group while also keeping in mind
other age groups. Many teenagers focused on
sports-related issues and opportunities.
Top priorities:
»Sports court improvements to basketball
courts, creating additional basketball courts,
and volleyball courts.
»Adding additional programs such as youth
educational programs, summer camps, ten-
nis, singing, arts and crafts, yoga, knitting,
and game nights.
»Need for better park maintenance including
improvements to ballfields, as well as adding
multi-purpose sports fields to the park system.
»Need to add additional amenities to the
overall park system including adventure
playgrounds, pump tracks/bike parks, and
an updated aquatic center.
»Adding playgrounds to parks without play
areas like Zinn Park and Riverview Park.
City Council and Parks and Recreation Commission Youth Focus Group 103
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN 102
3.4.3 SENIOR FOCUS GROUP
MEETING
The senior focus group meeting was held on
Tuesday, October 24, 2023, at Simms Park. This
meeting began with a presentation followed
by gallery-style activities with interactive maps
and exhibits. Participants were excited to pro-
vide feedback to help improve the City’s parks
and recreation system. Although the group
primarily focused on recreation and social pro-
gramming opportunities, they did provide a
handful of park infrastructure comments.
Top priorities:
»More senior program options such as art and
craft classes, book clubs, field trips, educa-
tional classes, fitness classes, senior dances,
and mentorship programs with teens.
»Update the Bellflower Aquatic Center to a
more modern facility and expanding the
gymnasium at Thompson Park.
»Adding shade over play areas and exer-
cise areas and removing fencing around
picnic areas.
»Additional park amenities such as pickleball
courts, a community garden, outdoor am-
phitheater, restrooms, and walking trails.
»Improve park and recreation communica-
tions to seniors by improving awareness of
programs offered and better distribution of
the park and recreation brochure.
»Opening the Carpenter House Museum to
the public.
3.4.4 PARKS AND RECREATION
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF FOCUS
GROUP MEETING
The Parks and Recreation Administrative Staff
meeting was conducted virtually in February
2024. Staff from Thompson Park, Simms Park,
and Caruthers Park were in attendance and
provided input on current and future priorities.
The main topics discussed at this meeting in-
clude public safety, maintenance issues, park
infrastructure, and recreational programming.
Top priorities:
»Relocation of Caruthers Park Skate Park to a
more highly-visible location.
»Better coordination with parks maintenance
staff to help address public safety and main-
tenance concerns.
»Desire to update the Bellflower Aquatic Cen-
ter to a more modern facility.
»Review and updated park use policies to be
more inviting for park users.
»Updating field permitting to allow better
use of Little League’s field time and to allow
more drop-in field time for park users.
Senior Focus Group Meeting Senior Focus Group Meeting
104
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 103
3.4.5 STAFF FOCUS GROUP MEETING
The part-time staff focus group meeting was conducted on February 23rd at Simms Park. A diverse group of 23 part-time staff participated and provided their input on current and future priorities for the parks and recreation system. It is very apparent from both staff meetings that the Bellflower Parks and Recreation Department is very passionate and invested in the parks and the community they serve. They all would like to see changes to improve the quality of life for residents.
Top priorities:
»Future programming needs include addi-
tional senior classes, specifically computer
literacy and scam prevention, senior and
teen mentorship programs, teen tutoring
programs, toddler drop-in programs for stay-
at-home parents, free programs, social pro-
grams for seniors, and basketball programs
for different age groups.
»Improvements to some administrative pro-
cesses such as increasing part-time staff
hours, allowing staff to teach/instruct classes
and programs, and having designated staff ve-
hicles for the parks and recreation department.
Staff Focus Group Meeting Staff Focus Group Meeting
»Need to address public safety concerns
from staff and community members. They
expressed how their concerns lead to park
users feeling unwelcome and uncomfort-
able at parks. Improvements they suggest-
ed include adding better lighting and secu-
rity patrol at parks.
»Updating outdated equipment such as
the gymnasium floors, kitchen, and swim-
ming pools, and weight room equipment
at Thompson Park. They also suggest up-
dating Thompson Park’s, Simms Park’s, and
Caruthers Park’s indoor facilities around the
same time so the distribution of resources
and upgrades are equitable.
105
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN 104
3.5 COMMUNITY SURVEY
Surveys were used to collect input from residents and other park users on city parks and recreation facilities, amenities, programming, and more. The survey was designed to yield results that could help the City develop recommendations that accurately reflect the needs, wants, and desires of the entire Bellflower community. The surveys were available in English and Spanish from October 2023 through January 2024.
Two samples were collected in the survey effort:
Statistically-Valid Sample: Surveys were mailed to a random sample of 5,000 residential house- holds in Bellflower. Of the 5,000 paper surveys mailed to Bellflower households, 412 surveys were completed, resulting in a margin of error of +/- 4.8 percent.
Open-Link Sample: Later, the same survey was made available to all Bellflower community mem- bers through an online survey. The online survey was shared widely through social media, City news- letters, and other promotional activities to reach as many Bellflower parks and recreation users as possible. A total of 311 online surveys were completed online.
In total, 723 surveys were completed by Bellflower community members. Together, the two sam- ples provide a useful source of community input on Bellflower’s existing parks and recreation facil- ities and programming and the need for future improvements. A summary of the survey results is included in this chapter. Complete survey results can be found in Appendix A. 723
Total Surveys
Completed
412
Completed Statistically Valid
Surveys (Invite Survey)
311
Completed Open-link Surveys
(Online Survey)
106
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 105
3.5.1 SURVEY RESULTS SNAPSHOT
Figure 3-1 to Figure 3-8 represents a snapshot of survey results as a comparison of responses from the invite and online samples.
FIGURE 3-1: Response Distribution
Invite Open
Area 1
Area 2
Area 3
Area 4
Area 5
Not sure
Other
n=
24%
21%
20%
12%
13%
1%
9%
406
22%
15%
17%
8%
20%
0%
17%
305
Using the map below, which area do you live in?
Source: RRC
Mailed Survey
Which mode of transportation do you most typically use to get to the park you most frequently visit?
Most respondents use motor vehicles travel to parks (56 percent). However, a large share report walking/running/rolling indicating they live close to a park. A smaller percentage of respondents opt for bicycling. Notably, only seven percent of the invite sample and five percent of the online sample report not utilizing recreational or park facilities.
Which area do you live in?
Respondents came from all areas of the City of Bellflower, with the most being from Areas 1, 2, and 3 for the Invite sample, and scattered around the map for the online sample.
Online Survey
Invite Open
Motor vehicle (car, motorcycle)
Walking/running/rolling
Bicycle
Electric vehicle
Public transit
Uber/Lyft
Other
N/A – I don’t use recreation or parks facilities
n=
56%
29%
6%
1%
0%
0%
7%
399
56%
28%
7%
1%
1%
1%
1%
5%
275
Which mode of transportation do you most typically use to get to the park you most frequently visit? Source: RRC
FIGURE 3-2: Transportation
Mailed Survey Online Survey
107
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BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN 106
Which Bellflower parks/recreation facilities have been used by your household in the past 12 months?
Simms Park is the most frequented park, with 48 percent of respondents from both samples indicat- ing they have visited it in the past year. Followed by the Bellflower Bike Trail, Thompson Park, and Caruthers Park, respectively. Respondents who took the online survey also visited Pirate Park.
Invite Open
John S. Simms Park
Bellflower Bike Trail
T. Mayne Thompson Park
Ruth R. Caruthers Park
Caruthers Park North
Bellflower Aquatics Center
Pirate Park
Library Garden & Veterans Memorial
Riverview Park
Flora Vista Dog Park
Splash Pad
Skate Park
H. Byrum Zinn Community Park & Trail
William & Jane Bristol Civic Auditorium
Palm Street Park
Constitution Park
Other
n=
48%
45%
36%
35%
29%
23%
23%
15%
11%
11%
10%
11%
6%
5%
4%
2%
11%
385
48%
48%
35%
35%
26%
26%
33%
16%
3%
8%
13%
9%
10%
8%
3%
3%
1%
264
Which Bellflower parks/recreation facilities have been used by your household in the past 12 months? (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY) Source: RRC
How long does it take you to get to your most visited park? Most respondents have to travel 10 minutes or less to their most visited parks (85 percent).
Invite Open
Less than 5 minutes
5-10 minutes
10-15 minutes
More than 15 minutes
n=
40%
45%
9%
6%
354
43%
43%
8%
5%
260
How long does it take you to get to your most visited park? Source: RRC
FIGURE 3-3: Frequency
FIGURE 3-4: Time of Transportation
Mailed Survey Online Survey
Mailed Survey Online Survey
108
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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 107
How satisfied has your household been with the overall quality of Bellflower parks, facilities, recreation programs, and services you’ve used in the past 12 months? Respondent satisfaction with the overall quality of Bellflower’s parks, facilities, recreation programs, special events, and services in the past year is relatively high. Special events and parks receive the highest satisfaction ratings, averaging 3.8 out of 5. Satisfaction ratings for recreation facilities and programs or services are lower in comparison. Online respondents report lower satisfaction levels. 5-Very satisfied
2 3
4 1-Not at all satisfied
Special Events (e.g., Streetfests, Tree Lighting)
Invite n=253 Avg. 3.8
Open n=196 Avg. 3.8
Parks
Invite n=321 Avg. 3.8
Open n=230 Avg. 3.4
Recreation facilities (e.g., community centers, aquatics) Invite n=228 Avg. 3.6
Open n=179 Avg. 3.3
Recreation programs or services
Invite n=222 Avg. 3.6
Open n=175 Avg. 3.4
39%31%15%6%9%
40%24%18%10%8%
34%30%23%8%5%
25%26%26%13%10%
27%31%23%11%7%
20%26%30%14%9%
29%27%27%11%6%
23%27%28%12%10%
How satisfied has your household been with the overall quality of Bellflower parks, facilities, recreation programs, special events, and services you’ve used in the past 12 months?
All Sample
Source: RRC
Please rate how well you think the recreation facilities and services currently meet the needs of the community.
In terms of how well each program is meeting the needs of the community, playgrounds, commu- nity/neighborhood parks and special events are the top-rated programs/services according to the invite sample. While all categories were rated closely on average, programs with the lowest ratings included toddler programs, community gardens, and dog parks.
Playgrounds n=222 Avg. 3.8
Community/neighborhood parks n=235 Avg. 3.8
Special events n=229 Avg. 3.7
Athletic fields (e.g., soccer, baseball)n=202 Avg. 3.7
Trails and pathways n=243 Avg. 3.7
Outdoor athletic courts (e.g., basketball, tennis, volleyball, pickleball)n=200 Avg. 3.7 Aquatic facility n=213 Avg. 3.7
Open space/natural areas n=223 Avg. 3.6
Senior programs n=197 Avg. 3.6
Youth sports programs n=185 Avg. 3.6
Picnic areas n=225 Avg. 3.6
Indoor athletic courts (e.g., basketball, volleyball, racquetball, pickleball)n=184 Avg. 3.5 Youth programs (Kids Club, After School)n=172 Avg. 3.5
Adult sports n=185 Avg. 3.4
Teen programs n=168 Avg. 3.4
Skate park n=184 Avg. 3.4
Amphitheater/outdoor stage n=177 Avg. 3.4
Dog parks n=199 Avg. 3.3
Community gardens n=183 Avg. 3.3
Toddler programs n=154 Avg. 3.3
36%27%23%8%5%
36%24%25%8%6%
32%27%29%7%5%
34%25%26%9%6%
33%28%22%10%6%
32%28%26%9%6%
33%27%24%7%8%
31%21%30%10%7%
30%23%30%11%7%
31%23%28%10%8%
30%22%28%13%7%
30%23%26%12%10%
30%21%29%12%8%
28%19%30%13%9%
28%24%23%11%13%
21%27%31%12%9%
31%17%26%18%8%
26%18%32%11%13%
24%20%29%14%12%
28%15%31%18%8%
Please rate how you think the following programs and services are currently meeting the needs of the community. Please provide an answer even if you have not used the program or service.
Invite Sample
Invite Sample
Source: RRC
5-Very satisfied
2 3
4 1-Not at all satisfied
FIGURE 3-5: Level of Satisfaction
FIGURE 3-6: Needs
109
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN 108
Please rate how important the following recreation facilities and services are to your house- hold. Please provide an answer whether or not you have used a facility or participated in the activity.
Among invite respondents, the most important facilities and services include community/neighbor- hood parks, trails and pathways and open space/natural areas. These categories were followed closely by special events, picnic areas, and playgrounds. Amenities rated the least important were primarily special interest areas such as dog parks, toddler programs, and a skate park.
Community/neighborhood parks n=339 Avg. 4.4
Trails and pathways n=349 Avg. 4.2
Open space/natural areas n=346 Avg. 4.2
Special events n=353 Avg. 4.1
Picnic areas n=348 Avg. 4.1
Playgrounds n=346 Avg. 4.0
Aquatic facility n=345 Avg. 3.8
Outdoor athletic courts (e.g., basketball, tennis, volleyball, pickleball)n=343 Avg. 3.8 Athletic fields (e.g., soccer, baseball)n=338 Avg. 3.9
Community gardens n=340 Avg. 3.7
Indoor athletic courts (e.g., basketball, volleyball, racquetball, pickleball)n=342 Avg. 3.6 Youth sports programs n=345 Avg. 3.6
Amphitheater/outdoor stage n=336 Avg. 3.4
Adult sports n=348 Avg. 3.5
Youth programs (Kids Club, After School)n=346 Avg. 3.4
Teen programs n=340 Avg. 3.3
Senior programs n=360 Avg. 3.5
Dog parks n=349 Avg. 3.3
Toddler programs n=343 Avg. 3.0
Skate park n=333 Avg. 2.7
Other (optional, specify)n=83 Avg. 3.3
64%20%10%5%
60%20%10%7%
58%17%15%4%5%
47%25%20%6%
49%25%16%4%6%
52%21%12%12%
45%24%13%13%5%
43%23%19%12%4%
46%25%12%13%4%
40%23%18%12%7%
37%25%16%14%8%
47%17%11%22%
32%21%20%17%9%
32%22%24%16%6%
44%13%29%8%6%
39%16%11%29%5%
40%17%14%22%6%
33%16%20%10%22%
33%14%37%7%8%
19%13%21%16%31%
41%16%31%9%
Please rate how important the following facilities and services are to your household. Please provide an answer even if you have not used the facility or service.
Invite Sample
Invite Sample
Source: RRC
5-Very satisfied
2 3
4 1-Not at all satisfied
What are the most important items that, if addressed by the City of Bellflower, would in- crease your use of parks and recreation facilities?
Both samples feel that more community events would help increase their use of parks and rec- reation facilities followed by better safety and security and more lighting and enhanced mainte- nance of parks/facilities.
Invite Open
More community events
Better safety and security
More lighting (parks, trails, and
facilities)
Enhanced/maintenance of
parks/facilities
Improved communication about
offerings
More programs
More facilities, fields, and amenities
Lower pricing/user fees
Stronger enforcement of regulations
WiFi connectivity
Expanded hours of operation
Better customer service/staff
knowledge
More parking
Handicapped/disabled accessibility
More signage
Other
n=
76%
71%
60%
57%
36%
33%
33%
31%
30%
28%
26%
23%
18%
16%
11%
8%
368
85%
67%
60%
55%
36%
38%
31%
20%
33%
22%
22%
22%
13%
12%
14%
11%
218
What are the most important items that, if addressed by the City of Bellflower, would increase your use of parks and recreation facilities? (CHECK
ALL THAT APPLY)
Source: RRC
FIGURE 3-7: Importance
FIGURE 3-8: Facilities Mailed Survey Online Survey
110
____________________
_
*
1 ._=
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
=
.5
.
__=__________.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 109
3.5.2 KEY FINDINGS
Some of the key themes gathered from the community survey are:
Mid Level of Satisfaction Most Important Facilities
Most Important Focus
Familiarity with Bellflower Parks
Satisfaction with Bellflower parks, facilities, pro-
grams and events is high among both the in-
vite and online samples. Special Events and
Parks each received an average rating of 3.8
out of 5, followed by Recreation Facilities and
programs/services each at 3.6.
Respondents feel that it is most important for
the City to focus on community and neigh-
borhood parks, as well as trails, pathways and
open spaces. In terms of meeting the commu-
nity’s needs, the current offerings in these cat-
egories received moderate ratings, indicating
a desire for future improvements.
A high majority of respondents have lived in
the Bellflower area for 10 or more years, which
reflects a high level of familiarity with the parks
and recreation services and amenities offered.
On a scale from 1 to 5, where 5 is very familiar,
46 percent respond a 4 or 5, and 27 percent
respond a 1 or 2.
Effective Communication
Communications regarding parks and recre-
ation are rated positively by respondents in
both samples. This is supported by an alignment
between communication methods used by the
City and the preferences of respondents. Most
respondents receive communication via City
brochures and email newsletters, which were
also the most preferred communication methods.
Neighborhood parks are important to residents.
85 percent of respondents from both the invite
and online samples report their most visited
park is less than 10 minutes away, regardless of
the area of town they report living in.
Top Three Priorities
Improved amenities (e.g., restrooms and pic-
nic areas), additional community events, and
safety and security were each highlighted as
very important future priorities for respondents
of both online and invite samples.
Highest Level of Importance
Comparing importance to needs met can help
prioritize future needs. The list below describes
the top ten features or services most desired by
the respondents
1. Open space & natural areas
2. Trails and pathways
3. Community/neighborhood parks
4. Community gardens
5. Picnic areas
6. Outdoor athletic courts
7. Amphitheater/outdoor stage
8. Playgrounds
9. Aquatic facility
10. Special events
111
112
“Ir-95$ 2m '23:,“
RECOMMENDATIONS
4 113
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN112
HOW TO NAVIGATE THIS CHAPTER
The recommendations in this Chapter are based on the findings from the existing conditions analy- sis, community engagement, and the comparative analyses described in the previous chapters of this Plan. These recommendations are intended to be consistent with the General Plan and other recently completed planning documents.
This page describes each of the sections included in this Chapter. The goal of each section is to help the City achieve all actions needed to improve and maintain a healthy, sustainable, fun, eq- uitable, and diverse parks and recreation system over the next ten years.
PLAN INITIATIVES
»Establishes eight initiatives
»Each initiative is followed by a series of objectives to help guide the City’s future park and recreation planning efforts
»Full list of actions can be found in Appendix A
ENHANCING BELLFLOWER’S PARKS
»Planned park improvements
»Identified improvement to existing parks through infill amenities, specific recommendations, and park-wide improvements
»Project highlights for park improvements
POTENTIAL PARK OPPORTUNITIES
»Potential areas of focus for future parks
»Potential sites for future parks and concept plans
»Potential park opportunities and their impact on the overall park system
CREATIVE SOLUTIONS
»Pocket parks, parklets, plazas, and public art
»Other creative solutions
4.1 4.2
4.3 4.4
114
RECOMMENDATIONS 113
115
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN114
4.1 Eight initiatives were developed to guide the future of Bellflower’s Park and Recreation System. The initiatives in this section are inten- tionally overarching. They encompass everything from programming recommendations to administrative policies. A list of specific actions associate with each objective can be found in Appendix A.
PLAN INITIATIVES
116
RECOMMENDATIONS 115
Initiative One:
Parks and
Facilities
Initiative Two:
Programs and
Services
Initiative Three:
Safety and
Comfort
Initiative Four:
Equity and
Access
Initiative Five:
Connectivity
Initiative Six:
Public Art and
Placemaking
Initiative
Seven:
Sustainability
and
Stewardship
Initiative Eight:
Administrative
HOW TO INTERPRET THE
INITIATIVES AND OBJECTIVES:
Initiatives:
Initiatives represent an overarching topic
related to parks and recreation.
Objectives:
Objectives provide direction to help cre-
ate the positive change the City envisions.
*Actions are well-defined steps needed
to achieve objectives. These can be
found in Appendix A.
117
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN116
4.1.1 INITIATIVE ONE:
Parks and Facilities are the foundation for the Bellflower parks and recreation system. They provide essential services to enhance community health, well-being, and camaraderie. Parks that contain a variety of experiences for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities provide a balanced and well-rounded experience that ultimately better serves its community. The Parks and Facilities Initiative seeks to improve Bellflower’s park system by evolving the types of amenities offered at parks, incorporating modern park design practices, and exploring opportunities for new parks.
PARKS AND
FACILITIES
OBJECTIVES
•Improve and expand the City’s existing parks, and recreational facilities. •Establish new parks and recreation facilities to meet the needs of the community.
•Promote a well-designed, continuous system of parks and recreation facilities.
•Establish non-traditional park spaces throughout Bellflower. 118
RECOMMENDATIONS 117
4.1.2 INITIATIVE TWO:
PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES
Programs and Services bring Bellflower’s parks and facilities to life. Programs allow community members to partake in a broad spectrum of physical and cognitive activities, learn new skills, so- cialize, and become involved community members. The Programs and Services initiative seeks to introduce innovative new programs at existing facilities at the new community center and improve existing programs and services to better meet the needs of the ever-evolving community.
OBJECTIVES:
•Expand recreational programming to meet the needs and interests of the community and provide a comprehensive recreation program. •Implement new programming at the New Senior and Teen Center. •Expand aquatic programming offering with enhanced amenities provided by a new aquatic center.
•Expand current programming hours.
119
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN118
4.1.3 INITIATIVE THREE:
SAFETY AND
COMFORT
Being comfortable in public spaces is a major factor for many resident’s desire to visit these places.
Throughout this planning process, many community members, City Staff, and stakeholders frequent- ly expressed the need to improve safety and security at parks and near parks. Ensuring safety and comfort is at the forefront of fostering better park experiences and may be achieved through a combination of intentional design practices, crime prevention measures, improved maintenance, and other strategies. The Safety and Comfort Initiative uses a multi-faceted approach to create comfortable park experiences for the community.
OBJECTIVES:
•Continue providing awareness of resources for people experiencing homelessness to lessen their impact in public spaces.
•Create a park and recreation system where all residents and visitors feel safe, comfortable, and secure at all facilities.
•Implement the concepts of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) at parks and recreation facilities when Renovating or developing new parks.
120
RECOMMENDATIONS 119
4.1.4 INITIATIVE FOUR:
Access to nature and park spaces is vital to a person’s physical health, mental health, and overall well-being. Parks have many physical and mental health benefits including reduced risk of diseas- es, stress reduction, improved mood, and increased opportunities for social interaction. The Equity and Access Initiative paves a pathway to creating an equitable park and recreation system for all community members.
EQUITY AND
ACCESS
OBJECTIVES:
•Distribute parks and/or recreation facilities so that residents live within a 15-minute walking distance to Parks and/or facilities.
•Create an accessible, inclusive, and enjoyable atmosphere at parks and recreation facilities.
•Provide residents with an accessible range of recreation services to meet multi-generational, recreational, and educational interests and needs. 121
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN120
4.1.5 INITIATIVE FIVE:
CONNECTIVITY
Providing safe pedestrian and bicycling connections between Bellflower’s neighborhoods, Down- town Bellflower, parks, and schools is a primary ingredient to making such places more accessible to the community. Residents are more inclined to walk, roll, or bike to these places if there is a safe and pleasant route to do so. The Connectivity Initiative aims to enhance non-vehicular links be- tween parks and key destinations for residents, fostering a safer and more appealing environment for everyone.
OBJECTIVES:
•Provide safe pedestrian and bicycle connections to parks and recreation facilities.
•Ensure equitable access to the bikeway network for all residents, and support bicycling as an attractive, convenient transportation choice for all demographic groups.
122
RECOMMENDATIONS 121
4.1.6 INITIATIVE SIX:
PUBLIC ART AND
PLACEMAKING
Placemaking is a term used to describe the act of enhancing public spaces through commu- nity-driven design practices and incorporating significant cultural, historical, physical geogra- phy, and social identities into a public place that defines the community. Placemaking can be expressed through murals, sculptures, landscaping, architecture, signage, and many more. The Placemaking initiative aims to encourage the City to explore incorporating placemaking elements that celebrate Bellflower’s diversity, history, and culture at parks and recreation facilities.
OBJECTIVES:
•Create a distinct sense of place at Bellflower parks and recreation facilities consistent with citywide branding.
•Showcase community diversity, culture, and history at parks and recreation facilities.
123
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN122
4.1.7 INITIATIVE SEVEN:
SUSTAINABILITY
AND STEWARDSHIP
Parks and recreational facilities are key players in fostering environmental resiliency in the City. In a built-out City like Bellflower, parks may be the only access to natural resources within City limits that residents experience. Bellflower should aim to create a City where environmental needs are met without compromising future generations’ capabilities to do the same. The Sustainability and Stewardship Initiative aims to incorporate better sustainable design elements and maintenance practices into parks and recreational facilities and sets the tone of leadership and responsibility for the City.
OBJECTIVES:
•Ensure parks are designed with sustainable design elements and include features that minimize the impacts of sun, heat, and wind. •Foster environmental awareness and stewardship.
124
RECOMMENDATIONS 123
4.1.8 INITIATIVE EIGHT:
ADMINISTRATIVE
Passionate, creative, and efficient City staff are responsible for the success of a park and recreation system and Bellflower Staff are nothing short of that. They perform essential duties that determine the effectiveness of programs, special events, parks, and recreational facilities. The Administrative Initiative is intended to build on the effectiveness of the Parks and Recreation Department to bet- ter serve the evolving community.
OBJECTIVES:
•Reorganize Staffing to better meet service needs.
•Enhance marketing and communications methods to promote parks and recreation programs and services.
•Establish an improved process with Public Works to increase the quality of park maintenance.
125
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN124
4.2 ENHANCING
BELLFLOWER PARKS
Much of this master planning process involved extensive analysis of existing park con- ditions and developing the park report cards shown in Chapter 2. The public en- gagement process highlighted the need to improve the existing parks. This section describes potential park improvements to help address deficits previously-identified. 126
RECOMMENDATIONS 125
RECOMMENDATIONS OVERVIEW
Infill Amenities
Infill amenities are recommendations that add new
amenities to the identified infill sites based on an
identified need.
Planned Improvements
Park-wide improvement may include better con-
nectivity and beautification.
Thompson
Park Zinn Park
Chevron
Park Riverview
Park
Bel
l
f
l
o
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e
r
B
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k
e
T
r
a
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l
Flora Vista
Dog Park
Butterfly
Garden Park
Caruthers
Park
Simms
Park Pirate
Park
Library
Garden
ParkPalm
Street
Park
Constitution
Park
91 Town
Center
Plaza
127
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN126
4.2.1 OPPORTUNITY AREA ANALYSIS AND SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS The opportunity area analysis determines underutilized areas within a park and suggests new park amenities that can potentially be suitable based on the allocation of space required. Each park with an opportunity area is shown with a key map alongside a table of recommended potential amenities.
The table identifies what kinds of amenities will fit in the opportunity areas based on square foot- age and dimensions. The amenities with an “x” indicate a need based on park amenity deficits, geographic distribution of park amenities identified in Chapter 2, community engagement feed- back, and general best practices.
Several parks also include specific recommendations such as upgrading, renovating, or replacing existing amenities and park-wide recommendations such as beautification and connectivity im- provements.
What can we
add here?
128
é:\\ .
RECOMMENDATIONS 127
129
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN128
4.2.2 H. BYRUM ZINN PARK OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS & RECOMMENDATIONS EXISTING AMENITIES:
RECOMMENDED AMENITIES:
NOTES:
»Park is located on Southern California Edi-
son (SCE) right-of-way, park improvements
would require coordination with SCE.
EXISTING CONDITIONS:
Zinn Park is a Neighborhood Park with a walking
path and exercise equipment. The park is locat-
ed underneath SCE powerlines which limits the
uses and amenities permitted at this park.
130
U: ' - , 1"» r
RECOMMENDATIONS 129
COMMON RECREATION FACILITIES TYPICAL SF
Group Picnic Areas (12+ people)500-1,500 x x x
Park Games (Ping-pong, cornhole, etc.)300-600 x x x
Playground (ages 6-12)4,000-8,000 x
Pickleball 1,800*x x x
Tot-lot Playground (ages 2-5)1,500-4,000 x
Dog Park / Dog Run 8,000-50,000 x x x
Community Garden 3,000-12,000 x x
1 2 3
TABLE 4-1: Zinn Park Opportunity Areas
PARK RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Explore the feasibility of installing recom-
mended amenities (picnic area, park
games, playground, and pickleball).
2. Enhance visibility into the park by trimming
low trees and maintaining landscaping
around the park’s perimeter.
3. Update and replace amenities on a cycle
as they age.
Example of a picnic table along pathway Example of a park game 131
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN130
4.2.3 T. MAYNE THOMPSON PARK & BELLFLOWER AQUATIC CENTER
OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS & RECOMMENDATIONS
Approx. location Approx. location
of future X-Treme of future X-Treme
Ninja CourseNinja Course
EXISTING AMENITIES:
RECOMMENDED AMENITIES:
EXISTING CONDITIONS:
Thompson Park is a Community Park with a
Aquatic Center, Recreation Center, baseball/
softball fields, picnic areas, play areas, and
half-basketball courts. The Bellflower Aquatic
Center is over 50 years old and is in need of
complete replacement.
PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS:
Thompson Park is planned to receive a new
X-Treme Ninja Course. This will be a new and
unique amenity and will help serve the needs
of residents of many different age groups. The
ballfields at this park will also receive upgraded
field lighting.
132
RECOMMENDATIONS 131
COMMON RECREATION FACILITIES TYPICAL SF
Group Picnic Areas (12+ people)500-1,500 x x x
Park Games (Ping-pong, cornhole, etc.)300-600 x x
Walking Loop varies*x
Swimming Pool 10,000-60,000*Replace existing facilities Splashpad / Water Play Feature 800-4,000 Incorporate into existing aquatic center or renovation
Multi-purpose Youth Field 30,000-95,000 x
Pickleball 1,800*x x
Tennis 7,200 x x
Outdoor Exercise Area 500-2,000 x
Dog Park / Dog Run 8,000-50,000 x x x
Basketball 6,300*x x
Skate Park 12,000-18,000 x
Volleyball 4,000 x x
1 2 3
TABLE 4-2: Thompson Park Opportunity Area Analysis
PARK RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Explore the feasibility of installing recom-
mended amenities (picnic area, park
games, walking loop, splashpad, multi-pur-
pose field, pickleball, and tennis courts).
2. Explore the feasibility of constructing a new
Bellflower Aquatic Center on the existing
aquatic center site and include modern fa-
cilities such as a lap pool, recreational pool,
therapy/rentable pool, and splashpad.
3. Consider relocation of the existing skate
park at Caruthers Park to Thompson Park.
4. Renovate the existing picnic shelter to in-
clude a modern shade structure with more
attractive and inviting fencing.
5. Update and replace amenities on a cycle
as they age.
Example of an aquatics center
133
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN132
4.2.4 CHEVRON POCKET PARK OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS &
RECOMMENDATIONS
NO EXISTING AMENITIES.
RECOMMENDED AMENITIES:
EXISTING CONDITIONS:
Chevron Pocket Park is a small park with no ex-
isting amenities or features. The land is leased
and contains a pipeline underneath the
ground. It is located on the corner of Somerset
Boulevard and Eucalyptus Avenue adjacent to
a church.
134
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RECOMMENDATIONS 133
COMMON RECREATION FACILITIES TYPICAL SF
Park Games (Ping-pong, cornhole, etc.)300-600 x
1 2
TABLE 4-3: Chevron Park Opportunity Area Analysis
PARK RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Explore the feasibility of installing several
amenities to this park (park games, small
play amenities, picnic tables, etc) that do
not involve adding concrete footings into
the ground.
Example of a park games and picnic tables
135
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN134
4.2.5 RIVERVIEW PARK OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS & RECOMMENDATIONS EXISTING AMENITIES:
RECOMMENDED AMENITIES:
NOTES:
»Park is located on SCE right-of-way, park
improvements would require coordination
with SCE.
EXISTING CONDITIONS:
Riverview Park is a Neighborhood Park also lo-
cated on SCE right-of-way. Existing amenities
include a walking path.
136
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RECOMMENDATIONS 135
COMMON RECREATION
FACILITIES TYPICAL SF
Group Picnic Areas (12+ people)500-1,500 x x x x x x x
Park Games (Ping-pong, cornhole, etc.)300-600 x x x x x x x Playground 4,000-8,000 x x x
Adventure Playground 4,000-8,000 x x
Community Garden 3,000-12,000 x x x x x
Pickleball 1,800*x
Tennis 7,200 x
Tot-lot Playground (ages 2-5)1,500-4,000 x x x x
Outdoor Exercise Area 500-2,000 x x x x x x x x
Dog Park / Dog Run 8,000-50,000 x x x x
Basketball 6,300*x
Volleyball 4,000 x
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
TABLE 4-4: Riverview Park Opportunity Area Analysis
PARK RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Explore the feasibility of installing new ame-
nities to this park (picnic areas, park games,
playgrounds, adventure playground/equip-
ment, community garden, pickleball courts,
and tennis courts).
2. Enhance visibility into the park by trimming
low trees and maintaining landscaping
around the park’s perimeter.
3. Maintain the existing trail as a Class 1 multi-
use path.
Example of play amenities
137
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN136
4.2.6 PALM PARK OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS & RECOMMENDATIONS
EXISTING AMENITIES:
RECOMMENDED AMENITIES:
EXISTING CONDITIONS
Palm Park is a Neighborhood Park. It contains a
play area, picnic area, and a plaza space for
B.R.I.M equipment.
NOTES:
»Park is located on Caltrans Right-of-Way
and may require additional coordination
for improvements or renovations.
138
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RECOMMENDATIONS 137
COMMON RECREATION FACILITIES TYPICAL SF
Park Games (Ping-pong, cornhole, etc.)300-600 x x
Adventure Playground 4,000-8,000 x x
Outdoor Exercise Area 500-2,000 x x
Half Court Basketball 6,300*x x
1 2
TABLE 4-5: Palm Park Opportunity Area Analysis
PARK RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Explore the feasibility of installing new active
amenities to this park (park games, adven-
ture playground/equipment, outdoor exer-
cise equipment, and half-basketball courts).
2. Enhance visibility into the park by trimming
low trees and maintaining landscaping near
the northern park boundary near the Artesia
Freeway.
3. Consider streetscape improvements along
Palm Street for traffic calming.
4. Update and replace amenities on a cycle
as they age.
Example of a curb bioswale as a streetscape improvementExample of a half-basketball court 139
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN138
4.2.7 JOHN S. SIMMS PARK OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS & RECOMMENDATIONS Future multi-Future multi-
purpose fieldpurpose field
EXISTING AMENITIES:
RECOMMENDED AMENITIES:
Future Oaks Future Oaks
CenterCenter
EXISTING CONDITIONS
Simms Park is a Community Park with a recre-
ation center, baseball/softball fields, play area,
basketball courts, outdoor exercise area, pic-
nic areas, and a walking path.
PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS
A new multi-generational community center
serving youth and seniors is coming to Simms
Park. A stormwater capture project is also in
the works for Simms Park, which will involve re-
placing the current ballfield turf with multi-pur-
pose synthetic turf, adding new trees and land-
scaping, and upgrading the existing parking
lot to a permeable pavement design featuring
bioswales between the parking rows. The field
will also received upgraded field lighting.
140
RECOMMENDATIONS 139
COMMON RECREATION FACILITIES TYPICAL SF
Group Picnic Areas (12+ people)500-1,500 x x x
Park Games (Ping-pong, cornhole, etc.)300-600 x x x
Community Garden 3,000-12,000 x x
Dog Park / Dog Run 8,000-50,000 x x
1 2 3
TABLE 4-6: Simms Park Opportunity Area Analysis
PARK RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Explore the feasibility of installing new ame-
nities to this park (picnic areas, park games,
community garden, and dog run).
2. Renovate the existing picnic shelter to in-
clude a modern shade structure with more
attractive and inviting fencing.
3. Update and replace amenities on a cycle
as they age.
4. Explore future renovation opportunities to
the recreation center building.
Example of picnic shelterExample of park game
141
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN140
4.2.8 RUTH R. CARUTHERS PARK OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS & RECOMMENDATIONS EXISTING AMENITIES:
RECOMMENDED AMENITIES:
FUTURE FUTURE
DOG PARKDOG PARK
EXISTING CONDITIONS
Caruthers Park is a Community Park with a
community center, picnic areas, play area,
splashpad, basketball, volleyball, and ten-
nis/pickleball courts, baseball/softball fields,
equestrian trail, skatepark, walking path, and
outdoor exercise equipment.
PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS
A new dog park is planned at Caruthers Park,
south of the softball field. The ballfields are also
receiving upgraded field lighting.
142
RECOMMENDATIONS 141
COMMON RECREATION FACILITIES TYPICAL SF
Group Picnic Areas (12+ people)500-1,500 x x x x x x x
Park Games (Ping-pong, cornhole, etc.)300-600 x x
Expand Playground 4,000-8,000 Already existing
Adventure Playground 4,000-8,000 Add to existing play area Walking Loop varies*x
Community Garden 3,000-12,000 x x x x
Skate Park Relocation 12,000-18,000 x x
Youth Rectangular Soccer Field 4,500-28,350 x x x x x
*Adult Rectangular Soccer Field 65,000-85,000 x
Multi-purpose Field 30,000-95,000 x
Pickleball 1,800*x x x
Tennis 7,200 x x
Basketball 6,300*x
Volleyball 4,000 x x x x x
Youth Baseball 50,000-77,000 x
Youth Softball 35,000-50,000 x
Equestrian Amenities varies*x
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
TABLE 4-7: Caruthers Park Opportunity Area Analysis
PARK RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Explore the feasibility of relocating existing
skatepark to a more highly-visible location
within the park. It is not recommended to re-
move the existing skate park without plans
to construct a new facility.
2. Update and replace amenities on a cycle
as they age.
3. Expand outdoor area at the Carpenter
House Museum to be used for programming,
events, and rentals. Example of skate park adjacent to street 143
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN142
4.2.9 PARK PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
SIMMS PARK
Several new projects are underway at Simms
Park. A new 11,834 square foot multi-genera-
tional community center serving youth and se-
niors will be developed on City property adja-
cent to Simms Park, located at 16600 S. Clark
Avenue. This project is being funded by a com-
bination of Measure A funds, local matching
funds, and other grant funds.
A stormwater capture project is also planned
for Simms Park, which will feature a diver-
sion system, a filtration and infiltration facil-
ity, treatment and release of the captured
water, replacement of the existing ballfield
turf with multi-purpose synthetic turf, new
trees and landscaping, and the renovation
of the current parking lot into a permeable
pavement design with bioswales between
the parking rows. This project is being fund-
ed by a combination of Regional Measure
W funds, and local matching funds.
144
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RECOMMENDATIONS 143
THOMPSON PARK
A new Greenfields Outdoor Fitness X-Treme
Ninja Course is coming to Thompson Park. The
project is anticipated to be completed in 2024
CARUTHERS PARK DOG PARK
A new dog park is coming to Caruthers Park.
This will add a second dog park and gives res-
idents living in the southeast area of the City
access to a dog park. Currently, there is only
one dog park in the City, located in the north-
west area of the City.
CONSTITUTION PARK
Improvements are planned at Constitution Park
and include the installation of security cam-
eras, extended fencing, a new playground,
a walking path, and fitness stations through-
out the park. This project is anticipated to be
completed in 2025. This project is being funded
by a combination of Housing and Urban Devel-
opment Community Planning and Development
grant funds and local matching funds.
Conceptual rendering of the planned play area at Constitution Park 145
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BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN144
4.3 FUTURE PARK
OPPORTUNITIES
Bellflower is a built out city and vacant land is hard to come by. This section of the Plan identifies six different types of park concept designs that could potentially be utilized for future development. The City is encouraged to actively identify vacant or underutilized land to help improve their park level of service.
146
RECOMMENDATIONS 145
Sports Field Complex
Aquatics Center
Court Sports Complex
Linear Park
Mini Park
Pocket Park
Future park opportunities in Bellflower include several different types of parks. The list below de- fines the six types of park concept designs and key elements included in each design. Each design was carefully planned to include park elements that were identified as a need from the level-of-service analysis and/or the from community engagement process.
Planning level cost estimates consider hard and soft costs. To be used for planning purposes only.
Cost estimate totals did not include property acquisition costs. »5 acres
»Multi-purpose soccer field
»Sports-themed tot-lot
»Grass lawn and plaza
»5 acres
»Lap pool, rec pool, and therapeutic pool area
»Aquatic Center building with reception, staff office, restrooms, showers, lockers, weight room, and storage
»Walking trail with outdoor exercise stations
»0.25 acres
»Play area
»Outdoor exercise area
»Grass lawn
»0.56 acres
»Play area and outdoor exercise area
»BRIM activity plaza
»Dog park
»1.9 acres
»Multi-purpose courts for basketball, futsal, and volleyball, four pickleball courts, and a half-basketball court
»Staff office, restrooms, parking, and lighting
»Activity plaza and lawn
»1.42 acres
»Adventure play features
»Dog run
»Outdoor exercise area
»Picnic area
»Staff building and restrooms
147
OQOOO@ OQOOOQ
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN146
4.3.1 SPORTS FIELD COMPLEX CONCEPT
Multi-purpose
rectangular
turf fields
Parking
Sports-themed
tot-lot
FIGURE 4-1: Sports Field Complex Concept
LED field
lighting
Bio-retention
basin
Walking
path
Spectator
lawn area
Plaza
area
Equipment
storage
Planting
buffer
According to the amenity level-of-service anal-
ysis completed in Chapter 2, the City falls short
on meeting rectangular field and multi-pur-
pose field needs. Many community members
expressed the need for additional sports fields
during community workshops, pop-up events,
and neighborhood workshops. There is also a
need for additional youth sports such as flag
football and soccer. To accommodate new
sports programs, the City will need to design
and develop additional facilities.
The sports field complex concept design is in-
tended to provide the City a lighted multi-pur-
pose rectangular field that can be used for a
variety of sports such as soccer, flag football,
and lacrosse. The concept also includes space
adjacent to the field for people to set up chairs,
tents, etc., to watch a game. Also included
in the design is a sports-themed tot-lot, entry
plaza, benches, parking, field lighting, walking
paths, bio-retention basins, and equipment stor-
age building.
Planning-level Estimated Total: $26,255,825.00Park Size: 5 acres 148
RECOMMENDATIONS 147
FIGURE 4-2: Sports Field Complex Concept Rendering
Multi-purpose field example.Sport play area example, Source: Big T Recreation 149
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN148
4.3.2 AQUATICS CENTER CONCEPT
Aquatics
center
building
(17,000 sq ft)
Courtyard
lawn area
Bleachers
with shade
structure
Parking lot
Outdoor
exercise
stations Walking
path
Bio-retention
basin
Outdoor
exercise
stations
Rec pool
Therapeutic
pool area Lap pool (13 lanes)
Cabanas
As previously mentioned in this Plan, the ex-
isting aquatics center is in need of replace-
ment. This concept design showcases how a
modern facility can better serves the needs of
the evolving community. The aquatics center
concept design includes several pools that are
supported by plenty of seating areas, open
lawn areas, and more.
The three pool areas include a lap pool, rec-
reational pool, and a therapeutic pool. The
lap pool includes shaded bleachers that can
be used by spectators for open swim, pro-
grammed activities, or competition swimming
events. The recreational pool includes a ze-
ro-entry design that is family-friendly and can
be used for open swim, toddler swim lessons,
and other programmed activities. The ther-
apeutic pool is separated by the rest of the
aquatic center by a fence. It can be used for
adaptive/therapeutic swim programming as
well as for rentals for private events.
An aquatics center building that is approxi-
mately 17,000 square feet is also included. The
building would include a lobby, locker rooms,
multi-purpose rooms, a weight room, mirrored
rooms, and staff offices.
The site surrounding the aquatics center includes
a parking lot, walking paths, outdoor exercise sta-
tions, planted areas, and a bio-retention basin.
FIGURE 4-3: Aquatics Center Concept
Park Size: 5 acres Planning-level Estimated Total: $41,740,125.00 150
RECOMMENDATIONS 149
Bleachers example Source: shade-n-net.com/commercial/bleacher-shade-structures/Rec pool example. Source: ifoothills.org/pools/ FIGURE 4-4: Aquatics Center Concept Rendering
151
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN150
4.3.3 POCKET PARK CONCEPT
Outdoor
exercise
area
Play area
Benches
Open
grass area
Bollards
Planted
area
The pocket park concept is
designed for small parcels.
These types of sites are intend-
ed to improve park access
in residential areas currently
lacking easy and comfort-
able access to parks.
The pocket park concept in-
cludes active amenities for
multiple age groups such as
a play area and outdoor ex-
ercise areas as well as passive
spaces such as open grass
lawns and benches.
This design concept considers
safety concerns by including
elements such as bollards to
protect park visitors from busy
streets, low groundcover, high
branching trees to enhance vis-
ibility into the back of the park,
and pedestrian safety lighting.
Park entry
FIGURE 4-5: Pocket Park Concept
FIGURE 4-6: Pocket Park Concept Rendering
Planning-level Estimated Total: $892,245.00
Park Size: 0.25 acres
152
RECOMMENDATIONS 151
4.3.4 MINI PARK CONCEPT
Dog ParkBenches
Outdoor
exercise area
Open grass
area
Bollards
BRIM
Driveway
Entry plaza
Picnic
shelter
Play area Walking path
FIGURE 4-8: Mini Park Concept
FIGURE 4-7: Mini Park Concept Rendering
The design includes safety features such as
bollard along the street, low groundcover, high
branching trees to enhance visibility into the
back of the park, and pedestrian lighting. The
dog park is strategically placed in the back
of the park since dog parks are considered a
high-use amenity. By placing it in the back, it
ensures there will often be “eyes on the park”
and encourage positive interactions.
Planning-level Estimated Total: $1,721,972.00
Park Size: 0.56 acres
Similar to the pocket park concept, the mini
park concept is designed for small parcels in-
tended to improve park access in residential
areas. The mini park concept design includes
active and passive amenities such as outdoor
exercise areas, a larger play area, a small dog
park, picnic shelter, and a walking loop. This
concept also contains a driveway and plaza for
the City’s BRIM program.
153
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN152
4.3.5 COURT SPORTS COMPLEX CONCEPT
Pickleball
courts
Storage
building
Multi-purpose
court
Half-basketball
court
Picnic
tables
Benches
Walking
path
FIGURE 4-9: Court Sports Complex Park Concept
FIGURE 4-10: Court Sports Complex Park Concept Rendering LED Lights
Planning-level Estimated Total: $9,901,316.00
Park Size: 2 acres
154
RECOMMENDATIONS 153
Volleyball/futsal turf
multi-purpose field
Parking
Lot
Restroom and
entry building
Entry
plaza
Picnic
shelter
BenchesBenchesShrub wall
The court sports complex park concept was
designed to be a highly-active park. This con-
cept includes different active amenities such
as pickleball, basketball, futsal, volleyball, and
park games thoughtfully designed within a lin-
ear compact space.
The concept includes a fence on all sides and
has controlled access via an entry building. Vis-
itors would be asked to sign in to gain access to
the park and sports equipment. The entry build-
ing would contain restrooms and a staff office.
An entry plaza and a small artificial turf area
Park
entry
for park games, picnicking, and programed
activities such as yoga classes would provide
additional recreational opportunities.
An artificial turf multi-purpose field for activities
such as volleyball, futsal, and youth soccer as
well as a multi-purpose court designed for futsal,
basketball, and other activities are included.
Other sport courts include one half-basketball
court and four pickleball courts. All courts are
designed with LED lighting for them to be uti-
lized at night, as well as adequate pathway
lighting and in other areas. The concept also in-
cludes a small parking lot with a drop-off zone.
FIGURE 4-11: Night view of Court Sports Complex Park Concept 155
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.
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BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN154
4.3.6 LINEAR PARK CONCEPT
Restroom and
staff building
Walking
path Dog run Seat wall
Picnic areaBioswale
The linear park concept design is intended to ac-
tivate narrow unused spaces such as between
major highways and local roads. The design in-
cludes elements such as active play areas, dog
runs, and walking paths to attract park users of
multiple age groups.
These types of spaces often contain design chal-
lenges due to narrow widths and varying terrain.
Creative design solutions can be implemented
to take advantage of these conditions such as
small climbing walls and seat walls. The design
also considers potential safety issues. A small staff
building to help oversee park activities, pedestri-
an lighting, low ground cover, and high-branch-
ing trees are recommended to keep the entire
park visible from the street and from all areas of
the park. Streetscape improvements along the
adjacent street to enhance safety and overall
beautification are also recommended.
Fencing
FIGURE 4-12: Linear Park Concept
Dog run
FIGURE 4-13: Linear Park Concept Rendering
Planning-level Estimated Total: $3,357,851.00
Park Size: 1.42 acres
156
RECOMMENDATIONS 155
Climbing wall example. Source: ucpreschool.org Adventure play equipment example. Source: myadventurepark.com Dog run example. Source: greenbenefit.org/dog-run-park Seat wall example. Source: externalworksindex.co.uk Adventure play
equipment
Climbing wall
Adventure play
equipment
Seat wall
Outdoor exercise
area
Fence
157
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN156
4.4 CREATIVE SOLUTIONS
Like many other cities in urban areas of Southern California, Bell- flower is built-out with a limited supply of vacant land and open spaces. This section identifies potential solutions that can help add additional recreational opportunities for Bellflower residents in unconventional ways.
158
RECOMMENDATIONS 157
Although this Plan does not identify an abundance of new park acres to help bring the City out of its park acreage deficit, prioritizing the construction of new park amenities within existing park foot- prints can create a more robust parks and recreation system. These recommendations will positively impact current and future residents by bringing more diverse park experiences closer to home.
The goals and objectives described at the beginning of this Chapter will help the City enhance the parks and recreation system, but the City is also encouraged to think about other creative elements that can help chip away at their park level of service goals. The City should consider both typical and creative ways to improve access to safe and comfortable outdoor spaces. It is easy to forget that not everything has to be a traditional definition of a park (grass, playgrounds, courts, etc.).
The following sections suggest several creative ideas and strategies to help improve both the tra- ditional and nontraditional approaches to parks and recreation.
4.4.1 POCKET PARKS
Small-scale parks are a great way to bring park
access to neighborhoods that lack access to a
park within a 15-minute walk. Pocket parks gen-
erally cannot host amenities like sports courts or
large play areas but they could provide small-
scale amenities like picnic tables, tot-lots, small
play equipment, permanent games, dog runs,
and more. Meaningful play spaces can fit into
surprisingly tight spaces. There are several va-
cant small tracts of land in Bellflower that may
not be large enough for a playground, yet still
offer play possibilities. A climbing sculpture, mu-
ral or hopscotch trail can bring a new purpose
to a neglected or unassuming space. Some
examples include:
»Reclaiming large expanses of sidewalk curb
extensions, or road rights-of-way as new
pocket parks
»Establishing new pocket parks in underuti-
lized spaces by transforming a vacant lot
into a playful oasis
»Activating existing parks or trails without many
amenities by using one or more play installa-
tions along an existing trail or pathway
The City is encouraged to continue identifying va-
cant or underutilized parcels that can be convert-
ed to pocket parks in areas lacking park access.
Pocket park example with a small play features
Pocket park example with a small play structure
159
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN158
4.4.2 PUBLIC ART
Incorporating public art into existing parks or
other public spaces enhances their appeal
and community identity. Interactive public art
installations, strategically placed in small areas
like pocket parks and plazas, encourage en-
gagement and social interaction. These instal-
lations promote inclusivity, making the spaces
more vibrant and enjoyable for all.
4.4.3 TEMPORARY PARKS
Temporary parks can be a great way to im-
prove equity and access to parks and facilities
in areas lacking access to parks. Examples of
temporary parks include parks built in parking
spaces, adding court striping and picnic ta-
bles at underutilized parking lots, and collab-
orating with schools or churches for use during
summer months.
4.4.4 UTILITY EASEMENT PARKS
While there are several parks located on utili-
ty easements in Bellflower including Riverview
Park, Constitution Park, Zinn Park, Chevron
Park, and Caruthers Park North, there are still
many opportunities to continue enhancing
these existing parks and creating new parks or
trails on utility easements.
Where possible, it is recommended the City
continue to purchase land for new parks to
have better oversight of choice of amenities
to include.
Musical play features along a rail line and trail
Art installation climbing structure in a shopping center Activity striping in asphalt lot
160
RECOMMENDATIONS 159
4.4.5 OTHER SOLUTIONS
»Partner with local hospitals or medical facilities to offer health and fitness classes. »Design curb extension parklets in Downtown Bellflower. »Purchase of private land to convert an existing underutilized building into a new park »Public/private partnerships with community organizations (non-profits, churches, etc.) to lever- age space on non-City-owned lots (i.e. church that hosts a community garden with raised beds in an underutilized space of their property).
»Adding public paseos or plazas in between buildings that can accommodate public art and active play spaces.
»Consider adding rooftop parks, gardens, dog parks, etc., at new City buildings. »Shared schoolyards and Joint-use Agreements with schools for sports field uses.
Curb extension parklet
Mini-pitch soccer field Small climbing structure
Shared schoolyard in San Francisco.
161
162
IMPLEMENTATION
5 163
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BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN162
5.1 FUTURE LEVEL OF SERVICE
Continued residential and economic growth in the overall Los Angeles area is excepted to con- tribute to Bellflower’s future population growth, but only slightly when compared to other cities in Los Angeles County. Bellflower is expected to grow by about 1,300 residents by 2035, according to SCAG. While this may not appear to be a significant change in overall population figures, the aging of the current population, the emergence of new families with young children, and the transition of kids into teenagers and adults create new challenges for future parks and recreation facilities. Bellflower may see an increased demand for active senior amenities, programs for young children, and more adventurous play elements for youth and teens. This section of the Plan ana- lyzes how the projected growth will impact the City’s parks and recreation system and help iden- tify even larger park acreage and amenity deficits.
TABLE 5-1: 2035 Level of Service with
Existing Park Acres
surpluses and deficits of park amenities in the future. Using the future population, the park amenity deficits increase very slightly because the population only slightly grows. This table assumes that the City does not add any additional park amenities by the year 2035.
The following amenities would be in a deficit (in no particular order):
FUTURE POPULATION LOS ALL CITY
PARKS
Existing Park Acreage 100.80
Recommended Adopted Standard per
1,000 Population 4.00
Acres per 1000 Population (2035)1.25
Total Surplus/Deficit Acres per 1,000
Population (2035)-2.75
Acres in Deficit 220.80
5.1.1 FUTURE PARK ACRES LEVEL OF
SERVICE
If zero new parks are developed by 2035 and
the population continues to grow, the park
acres level of service will drop slightly from -2.73
to -2.75, as shown in Table 5-1. The City will re-
quire additional parkland to match the 2024
deficit and to address the growing park acre
deficiencies.
»Picnic area
»Playground (ages 6-12)
»Playground (ages 2-5)
»Restroom facility
»Basketball
»Volleyball
»Tennis
»Pickleball
»Multi-purpose court
»Baseball and softball fields
»Rectangular soccer fields
»Splashpad/sprayground
»Equestrian trail and staging area
»Community garden
»Walking path
5.1.2 FUTURE PARK AMENITY LEVEL
OF SERVICE
Table 5-2 uses the existing park amenities with
the future projected population to determine
164
IMPLEMENTATION 163
FUTURE AMENITY LEVEL OF SERVICE
(80,400 FUTURE POP. SCAG 2035)
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L
F
U
T
U
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E
FA
C
I
L
I
T
I
E
S
N
E
E
D
E
D
TO
T
A
L
F
U
T
U
R
E
SU
R
P
L
U
S
/
D
E
F
I
C
I
T
In
d
o
o
r
R
e
c
.
Fa
c
i
l
i
t
i
e
s
Recreation Center 2 2.0 40,338 40,300 2.0 0.0 2.0 0.0 Community Center 1 1.0 45,909 45,900 1.7 -0.7 1.8 -0.8 Senior Center 1 1.0 67,836 67,800 1.2 -0.2 1.2 -0.2
Teen Center 1 1.0 64,386 64,400 1.2 -0.2 1.2 -0.2
Ou
t
d
o
o
r
P
a
r
k
&
R
e
c
F
a
c
i
l
i
t
i
e
s
Picnic Area (12+ People)3 3.0 - 5,000 15.8 -12.8 16.1 -13.1 Playground (ages 6-12)5 5.0 5,616 5,600 14.1 -9.1 14.4 -9.4 Playground/Tot Lot (ages 2-5)3 3.0 17,562 17,600 4.5 -1.5 4.6 -1.6 Restroom Facility 3 3.0 - 4,600 17.2 -14.2 17.5 -14.5 Basketball 5 5.0 7,803 7,800 10.1 -5.1 10.3 -5.3
Volleyball 2 2.0 - 10,000 7.9 -5.9 8.0 -6.0
Tennis 2 2.0 5,448 5,400 14.6 -12.6 14.9 -12.9
Pickleball 0 0.0 11,150 11,200 7.1 -7.1 7.2 -7.2
Multi-purpose (Tennis & Pickleball)1 1.0 22,100 22,100 3.6 -2.6 3.6 -2.6 Youth Baseball*6 6.0 9,874 9,900 8.0 -2.0 8.1 -2.1
Adult Baseball 1 1.0 27,031 27,000 2.9 -1.9 3.0 -2.0
Youth Softball*5 5.0 12,395 12,400 6.4 -1.4 6.5 -1.5
Adult Softball*4 4.0 14,519 14,500 5.5 -1.5 5.5 -1.5
Rectangular Soccer Fields*0 0.0 11,671 11,700 6.8 -6.8 6.9 -6.9 Football 0 0.0 38,516 38,500 2.1 -2.1 2.1 -2.1
Multi-purpose Fields*1 1.0 23,738 23,800 3.3 -2.3 3.4 -2.4 Splashpad/Sprayground 1 1.0 - 35,000 2.3 -1.3 2.3 -1.3 Swimming Pool 2 2.0 61,784 61,800 1.3 0.7 1.3 0.7
Equestrian Trail 1 1.0 - 26,000 3.0 -2.0 3.1 -2.1
Equestrian Staging Area 0 0.0 - 32,000 2.5 -2.5 2.5 -2.5 Skate Park 1 1.0 62,318 62,300 1.3 -0.3 1.3 -0.3
Stage (no built-in seating)1 1.0 - 42,000 1.9 -0.9 1.9 -0.9 Community Garden 0 0.0 41,804 41,800 1.9 -1.9 1.9 -1.9 Dog Park 2 2.0 51,417 51,400 1.5 0.5 1.6 0.4
Li
n
e
a
r
Re
c
r
e
a
t
i
o
n
Walking Path 5 5.0 - 5,300 14.9 -9.9 15.2 -10.2
Outdoor Exercise Area/Exercise
Path 7 7.0 - 28,000 2.8 4.2 2.9 4.1
Meets or exceeds
amenity benchmark
Within one facility of meeting
the benchmark
Does not meet amenity
benchmark
TABLE 5-2: Future Level of Service with Existing Park and Planned Park Amenities * Indicates a shared facility type
165
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN164
5.2 PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
5.2.2 MID-TERM
Mid-term project goals are those that can typically be implemented with- in a five to ten-year time frame.
5.2.1 SHORT-TERM
Short-term project goals are those that can typically be implemented with- in a five-year time frame.
»Replace play equipment that has been identified in poor condition. »Improve park safety by removing graffiti, trash, debris, and weeds immediately from public ar- eas and ensure parks have adequate lighting.
»Monitor and enforce park regulations.
»Continue the use of the Park Patrol program and third-party contractor, Southwest Patrol at parks. »Identify funding sources on Table 5-3 to help fund park projects. »Develop pocket parks within residential neighborhoods lacking walking access to park facilities. »Determine the feasibility of relocating the skate park at Caruthers Park to a more visible and more accessible location.
»Establish part-time staffing at the Carpenter House Museum to support monthly public tours in collaboration with the Bellflower Heritage Society.
»Implement in-house youth, teen, adult, and senior sports leagues. »Implement new programs at the future senior and teen center. »Prioritize park improvements to parks south of the Artesia (91) freeway. »Reorganize staffing to better meet service needs.
»Establish improved processes with Public Works to increase the quality of park maintenance. »Complete concept designs, construction documents, and begin renovations of the recreation center at Simms Park
»Design a new Bellflower Aquatic Center to replace the current facility with community involvement. »Partner with local artists to design and install more public art at parks and facilities. »Acquire new city-owned land to develop new parks.
»Prioritize developing new parks south of the Artesia (91) Freeway. »Add active amenities to parks currently lacking amenities such as Chevron Park. »Install ADA-accessible walking loops within existing parks that do not already have walking loops. »Install new all-inclusive and accessible play equipment and other amenities for people of all ages. »Continue restructuring staffing organization as programming grows. »Collaborate with LA Metro to add improvements to the Bellflower Bike Trail during the develop- ment of the Southeast Gateway light rail line.
»Begin the development of a long-term plan for future uses of the Carpenter Museum. »Explore partnerships with organizations and local businesses to sponsor new park features and amenities. 166
IMPLEMENTATION 165
FUNDING
PROGRAM
FUNDING
SOURCE PURPOSE/DESCRIPTION FUNDING
CYCLE
PROJECT TYPE PROJECT EXAM-
PLESINFPLNPGMTRL
FEDERAL PROGRAMS
Highway
Safety Im-
provement
Program
Federal
Highway Ad-
ministration /
Caltrans
The Highway Safety Improve-
ment Program funds work on any
public road or publicly owned
bicycle or pedestrian pathway
or trail, or on tribal lands for gen-
eral use of tribal members, that
improves the safety for its users.
Every
1 to 2
years
X X
• Install hybrid
pedestrian signals at
trail crossings
• Install RRFBs at
locations adjacent
to parks, trails, and
schools
Reconnecting
Communities
and Neigh-
borhoods
Grant Pro-
gram
U.S. Depart-
ment of
Transporta-
tion
The Reconnecting Communities
and Neighborhoods Program
provides grant opportunities to
redress the legacy of harm from
transportation infrastructure
including: construction-related
displacement, environmental
degradation, limited access to
goods and services, degraded
public health due to air and
noise pollution, limited opportu-
nities for physical activity, and
hampered economic vitality of
the surrounding community.
Annual
(through
2026)
X X X
• Study for the
removal, retrofit or
mitigation of a trans-
portation facility
that acts as a barrier
to community con-
nectivity
• Replacement or
mitigation of a trans-
portation barrier
with a linear park
and trail
5.3 POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES
The following table identifies potential funding sources to pursue when applicable for specific park projects. Many of these opportunities are grants from the state.
5.2.3 LONG-TERM
Long-term project goals are those that can typically be implemented ten years or longer.
»Replace the Bellflower Aquatic Center with a new aquatic facility. »Use design concepts of CPTED when renovating existing or developing new parks and recre- ation facilities.
»Develop an all-inclusive, all-abilities play area at an existing park or future park. »Install ADA-accessible walking loops within existing parks that do not already have walking loops. »Continue expanding the City’s comprehensive active transportation network to connect parks and open spaces to schools and neighborhoods.
»Create new gathering areas for community members to host parties, meetings, and events at parks »Identify potential public-private partnership opportunities in park priority areas to improve public park access to residents in disadvantaged areas.
»Strengthen partnerships with local school districts and begin discussions of adding JUAs.
TABLE 5-3: Potential Funding Sources
167
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN166
FUNDING
PROGRAM
FUNDING
SOURCE PURPOSE/DESCRIPTION FUNDING
CYCLE
PROJECT TYPE PROJECT EXAM-
PLESINFPLNPGMTRL
STATE AND LOS ANGELES COUNTY PROGRAMS
Los Ange-
les County
Safe, Clean
Neighbor-
hood Parks
and Beaches
(Measure A)
Los Angeles
County
Measure A funds are derived
from an annual special tax on
property within Los Angeles
County. Measure A funds are
distributed into seven funding
categories. Each funding cate-
gory supports a specific funding
program(s).
Annual X X
• Park infrastructure
projects
•Park planning and
design projects
Arts in
California
Parks: Local
Parks Grant
Program
California
Department
of Parks and
Recreation
/ Parks
California
The Local Parks Grant Program
intends to create local commu-
nity connections to California’s
rich and diverse cultural history
and natural areas outside of Cal-
ifornia’s state park boundaries.
The grants designed to support
the early stages of a relationship
to bring an artistic and/or cultur-
al project to a local park.
Annual X X X X
Eligible projects will
enhance connec-
tions to local cultural
history, local parks,
open space or natu-
ral areas through:
• Community events
• Art programming
(e.g., experiential,
performance, etc.)
• Temporary and
permanent art
installations
• Partnership build-
ing, artist selection,
and plan devel-
opment to support
future art projects
Habitat
Conservation
Fund Program
California
Department
of Parks and
Recreation
The Habitat Conservation Fund
provides funding to protect fish,
wildlife, and native plant resourc-
es; to acquire or develop wildlife
corridors and trails; and to
provide for nature interpretation
programs and other programs
which bring urban residents into
park and wildlife areas.
Annual X X X
• Build new trails
• Rehabilitate exist-
ing trails
• Install interpretive
trail elements
• Install seating or
lighting along trails
• Develop educa-
tional or interpretive
activities or trips
Land and
Water
Conservation
Fund
National
Park Service/
California
Department
of Parks and
Recreation
The Land and Water Conserva-
tion is a federal National Park
Service grant program adminis-
tered by the California Depart-
ment of Parks and Recreation.
The program provides funding for
the acquisition or development
of land to conserve irreplace-
able lands and to create new
outdoor recreation opportunities
for the health and wellness of
Californians.
Annual X X
• Land acquisition
for a new park, an
existing park ex-
pansion, a wildlife
corridor with public
viewing and out-
door recreational
use, and/or a recre-
ational/active trans-
portation corridor
• Development of
recreation features
and amenities for
outdoor recreation
168
IMPLEMENTATION 167
FUNDING
PROGRAM
FUNDING
SOURCE PURPOSE/DESCRIPTION FUNDING
CYCLE
PROJECT TYPE PROJECT EXAM-
PLESINFPLNPGMTRL
Outdoor
Equity Grants
Program
California
Department
of Parks and
Recreation
The Outdoor Equity Grants
Program provides funding to
improve the health and wellness
of Californians through new
educational and recreational
activities, service learning, ca-
reer pathways, and leadership
opportunities that strengthen a
connection to the natural world.
The program funds the creation,
operation, and transportation
costs of outdoor programs in
underserved communities.
Annual X
• Programs must
include both com-
munity activities
AND trips to natural
areas.
• Community ac-
tivities can include
environmental
education, nature
discovery walks, and
more.
• Natural area trips
can include trav-
eling to a regional,
state, national park,
tribal land, river or
lake, beach, forest,
mountain, or desert
area for day or
overnight trips within
California.
Outdoor
Recreation
Legacy
Partnership
Program
National
Park Service/
California
Department
of Parks and
Recreation
The Outdoor Recreation Legacy
Partnership Program is a federal
National Park Service grant pro-
gram administered by the Cali-
fornia Department of Parks and
Recreation. The program focuses
on communities with little to no ac-
cess to publicly available, close-by,
outdoor recreation opportunities
in urban areas. The program funds
the acquisition or development of
new parks, or substantial reno-
vations to parks in economically
disadvantaged cities or towns of
at least 30,000 people.
Annual X X
• Land acquisition
for outdoor recre-
ation
• Development of
recreation features
and amenities for
outdoor recreation
Recreational
Trails Program
U.S.
Department
of
Transportation
Federal
Highway
Administration
/California
Department
of Parks and
Recreation
The Recreational Trails Program
is a federal U.S. Department of
Transportation grant program
administered by the California De-
partment of Parks and Recreation.
The program provides funding to
develop and maintain recreation-
al trails and trail-related facilities
for both non-motorized and mo-
torized recreational trail uses.
Annual X X
• Land acquisition
• Development/re-
habilitation of trails,
trailheads, and trail
amenities
• Construction of
new trails
• Maintenance of
existing trails
169
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN168
FUNDING
PROGRAM
FUNDING
SOURCE PURPOSE/DESCRIPTION FUNDING
CYCLE
PROJECT TYPE PROJECT EXAM-
PLESINFPLNPGMTRL
Statewide
Park
Development
and
Community
Revitalization
Program
California
Department
of Parks and
Recreation
The Statewide Park Program
provides funding to create new
parks and recreation opportunities
in critically underserved commu-
nities across California. Project
selection is based on several crite-
ria, including need-based criteria,
such as critical lack of park space,
significant poverty, community
challenges, and more.
Annual X X
• Land acquisition
• Rehabilitation of
existing or devel-
opment of new
recreation features,
such as, an aquat-
ic center, athletic
fields, amphitheater,
community gardens,
dog parks, open
space, trails, skate
parks, public art,
picnic areas, etc.
Wildlife
Conservation
Board Grants
Wildlife
Conservation
Board
The Wildlife Conservation Board
provides funding for habitat
acquisition, conservation, and
restoration, as well as devel-
opment of compatible public
access facilities. Project benefits
should include one or more of
the following: protected bio-
diversity, increased climate
resilience, enhanced public
access, conserved/enhanced
working landscapes, conserved/
enhanced water-related proj-
ects, and/or support of the State
Wildlife Action Plan.
Ongoing X X X
• Open-space corri-
dors or trail linkages
• Publicly accessi-
ble hunting, fishing,
wildlife viewing, and
other wildlife-depen-
dent recreational
opportunities
• Climate adapta-
tion and resilience
projects
• Habitat restoration
PHILANTHROPIC PROGRAMS
Energize the
Environment
Grant
Program
Quadratec
Quadratec offers small one-time
grants for projects that promote
environmental connection, re-
sponsibility, and/or stewardship.
Annual X
• Trail building or
restoration projects
• Park beautification
events
• Environmental ed-
ucation projects
• Youth educational
engagement events
Fruit Trees
For Your
Community
The Fruit Tree
Planting
Foundation
The Fruit Tree Planting Founda-
tion donates fruit orchards where
the harvest will best serve com-
munities for generations, at plac-
es such as community gardens,
public schools, city/state parks,
low-income neighborhoods, Na-
tive American reservations, and
other high impact areas.
Ongo-
ing X
• Planting of
high-quality fruit-
trees and shrubs at
a local park
170
IMPLEMENTATION 169
FUNDING
PROGRAM
FUNDING
SOURCE PURPOSE/DESCRIPTION FUNDING
CYCLE
PROJECT TYPE PROJECT EXAM-
PLESINFPLNPGMTRL
Humanities
Projects
Grants
National
Endowment
for
Humanities
The National Endowment for Hu-
manities offers a range of different
grant programs on an ongoing
basis. Different grant programs
provide funding for a variety of
outputs, including but not limited
to infrastructure, equipment, pro-
gramming, curriculum, research,
media, and more.
Ongoing X X X
• Art or science
exhibitions
• Community discus-
sions
• Films and docu-
mentaries
• Climate adapta-
tion planning
• Cultural preserva-
tion and resilience
• Trainings and
workshops
PeopleForBikes
Community
Grant Program
PeopleFor-
Bikes
The PeopleForBikes Community
Grant Program supports bicy-
cle infrastructure projects and
targeted initiatives that make it
easier and safer for people of all
ages and abilities to ride.
Annual X X
• Bike paths, lanes,
trails and bridges
• Mountain bike
facilities
• Bike parks and
pump tracks
• BMX facilities
• End-of-trip facilities
such as bike racks,
bike parking, bike
repair stations and
bike storage
Rails to
Trails Grant
Program
Rails to Trails
Rails to Trails provides funding to
organizations and local agen-
cies that are working to develop
and connect equitable trail
networks.
Annual X X X
• Rail-trail
• Greenway
• Multi-use trail
• Shared-use path
The Skatepark
Project Grants
The
Skatepark
Project
The Skatepark Project offers
grants to help underserved com-
munities create safe and inclu-
sive public skateparks for youth.
Annual X
• New Skatepark
Construction
• New Skate Spot
Construction
• Skateable Art
Sculptures
• Active City Space
Conversion (legaliz-
ing skateboarding in
shared spaces)
• Accessibility Im-
provements/Repairs
The Soccer
Fund
U.S. Soccer
Foundation
The Soccer Fund provides
funding for mini-pitch and sports
lighting projects. Mini-pitches
are ideal for urban areas and
other communities where finding
a safe place to play can be
difficult. These small, customized,
hard-court surfaces are perfectly
suited for organized soccer pro-
grams and pick-up games.
Ongo-
ing X
• Mini-pitch project
• Soccer lighting
project
171
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN170
FUNDING
PROGRAM
FUNDING
SOURCE PURPOSE/DESCRIPTION FUNDING
CYCLE
PROJECT TYPE PROJECT EXAM-
PLESINFPLNPGMTRL
USTA Facility
Funding Grant
Program
United
States Tennis
Association
The United States Tennis Associ-
ation offers grants to upgrade
existing and build new tennis
facilities.
Ongo-
ing X
• Construction of
new tennis facility
• Resurfacing of
existing tennis court
• Tennis court amen-
ity improvements
Youth
Development
Foundation
MLB/MLBPA
MLB-MLBPA Youth Development
Foundation (YDF) is a joint initia-
tive by MLB and MLBPA to sup-
port efforts that focus on improv-
ing the caliber, effectiveness and
availability of amateur baseball
and softball programs across the
United States and internationally.
Ongo-
ing X X
• Field lighting,
renovations, and
construction
• Equipment and/
or fees for baseball
and softball pro-
grams
• Programs to pro-
mote baseball and
softball
172
IMPLEMENTATION 171
5.4 FUNDING TOOLS FOR LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS
In addition to the funding programs provided in the previous tables, there are also many traditional funding and financing tools available to local governments that may be used to advance parks and recreation projects.
These funding and financing tools include, but are not limited to:
»Community Facilities District
»Easement Agreements/Rules
»Equipment Rental Fees
»Facilities Benefit Assessment District
»Facility Use Permit Fees
»Recreation Service Fees
»Food and Beverage Tax
»General Fund
»General Obligation Bonds
»Infrastructure Financing District
»In-Lieu Fees
»Intergovernmental Agreements
»Lease Revenues
»Mello Roos District
»Park Impact Fees
»Pouring Rights Agreements
»Private Development Agreements
»Residential Park Improvement Fees
»Revenue Bond Revenues
»Sales Tax Revenues
»Surplus Real Estate Sale Revenues
»Traffic Impact Fees
»Transient Occupancy Tax Revenues
»Utility Taxes
»Wastewater Fund Reserves
»Business Improvement District
»Maintenance Assessment District
»Property-Based Improvement District
»Landscape Maintenance District
»Targeted Fundraising Activities
»Special Habitat Conservation Programs
»Special Parks and Recreation Bond Revenues
173
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN172
A
PLAN INITIATIVES,
OBJECTIVES, AND
ACTIONS
APPENDIX
Plan initiatives, objectives, and actions are
not in order of priority or importance.
174
APPENDIX A 173
INITIATIVE ONE: PARKS AND FACILITIES
OBJECTIVE 1: IMPROVE AND EXPAND THE CITY’S EXISTING PARKS, AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.
ACTION 1.1: Pursue a park provision standard of 4 acres per 1,000 residents.
ACTION 1.2: Add recommended amenities to identified park opportunity areas.
ACTION 1.3: Replace the Bellflower Aquatic Center at Thompson Park to include modern facilities and amenities. Recommended facilities include a splash park, recreational pool, lap pool, and therapy pool.
ACTION 1.4: Explore the feasibility of developing additional multi-purpose and rectangular soccer fields at existing parks to accommodate growing sports such as lacrosse, football, flag football, and Ultimate Frisbee.
ACTION 1.5: Explore the feasibility of developing additional sport courts at existing parks such as sand volleyball, pickleball, basketball, and tennis.
ACTION 1.6: Collaborate with the Bellflower Heritage Society to re-establish use of the Carpenter House Museum as a Museum intended to educate the public about Bellflower’s History. An additional staff member may be added to oversee public tours at the facility.
ACTION 1.7: Further enrich the Carpenter House Museum by adding an outdoor event space for community activities, educational events, and private functions.
ACTION 1.8: The City is encouraged to continue activating the Town Center Plaza with special events and performances and adding a few small play elements.
ACTION 1.9: Prioritize park improvements south of Artesia (91) freeway.
ACTION 1.10: Continue plans to renovate the recreation center building at Simms Park to better meet the needs of the community.
ACTION 1.11: Add additional passive park amenities along the Bellflower Bike Trail such as fitness stations, benches, and more public art installations.
ACTION 1.12: Delegate areas in existing park open areas to allow other uses such as passive and self-directive recreational activities.
ACTION 1.13: Consider adding small amenities to the Library Garden Park. 175
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN174
OBJECTIVE 2: ESTABLISH NEW PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
ACTION 2.1: Locate parcels south of the Artesia (91) Freeway that can accommodate future parks or park uses.
ACTION 2.2: Identify and acquire vacant land in park priority areas.
ACTION 2.3: Consider relocating the skate park at Caruthers Park to a more visible and more accessible location to improve maintenance and comfort for all users.
ACTION 2.4: Plan and construct a community or recreation center south of the Artesia (91) Freeway to provide residents in this area access to an indoor recreational facility.
OBJECTIVE 3: PROMOTE A WELL-DESIGNED, CONTINUOUS SYSTEM OF PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES.
ACTION 3.1: Establish citywide park beautification and design standards.
Beautification includes improvements to landscaping, shade trees, pathways, public art, etc.
ACTION 3.2: Improve recreational uses along the San Gabriel River such as bike paths and walking trails, small-scale amenities like fitness stations, play structures, and additional public art.
OBJECTIVE 4: ESTABLISH NON-TRADITIONAL PARK SPACES THROUGHOUT BELLFLOWER ACTION 4.1: Establish non-traditional park spaces through the Town Center (Downtown Bellflower), including linear parks, plazas, courtyards, and other outdoor open spaces and connect them with pedestrian pathways.
ACTION 4.2: Enhance pedestrian activities and accommodate positive social uses in the Town Center by providing street furniture, landscaping, and hardscape amenities.
ACTION 4.3: Investigate the expanded use of joint use agreements with schools and churches.
ACTION 4.4: Ensure new multi-family residential developments in the Town Center include publicly-accessible park spaces.
176
APPENDIX A 175
INITIATIVE TWO: PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
OBJECTIVE 1: EXPAND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMING TO MEET THE NEEDS AND
INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDING A COMPREHENSIVE RECREATION PROGRAM.
ACTION 1.1: Implement additional small educational, adaptive, fitness, and recreational programs through the use of contracted instructors. Examples include yoga sessions, art classes, adaptive and inclusive movie nights or game sessions, senior bingo, teen game tournaments, intergenerational programs for the new Senior and Teen Center, and in-house team or league sports.
ACTION 1.2: Implement in-house youth sports programming to include sports such as football, Ultimate Frisbee, soccer, kickball, volleyball, and gymnastics.
These programs may also be provided through contracts or partnerships with third party providers.
ACTION 1.3: Implement in-house adult sports leagues, such as softball, flag football, Ultimate Frisbee, basketball, volleyball, and pickleball. These programs may also be provided through contracts or partnerships with third party providers.
ACTION 1.4: Expand adaptive recreation options to better serve the special- needs residents and families. Examples of programs that have proven successful in similar municipalities include community movie nights, adaptive dance and meal programs, and play and sports options that are specialized to this group.
ACTION 1.5: Continue to seek input from the community on the need for therapeutic programming.
OBJECTIVE 2: IMPLEMENT NEW PROGRAMMING AT THE NEW SENIOR AND TEEN CENTER.
ACTION 2.1: Implement inclusive Teen and Student programming offerings that serve the City’s middle and high school patrons offering a variety that target after-school periods and during the summer. This can include volunteer tutoring programs, free game play, pick-up sports, arts or skills courses, excursions, job training, and e-gaming.
ACTION 2.2: Implement inclusive senior programming offerings that may include senior dances, senior art activities, and excursions.
ACTION 2.3: Implement multi-generational and alternative programming options, such as chess matches, gaming, mentoring, and community social events such as dances and coffee houses.
177
BELLFLOWER PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN176
OBJECTIVE 3: EXPAND AQUATIC PROGRAMMING OFFERING WITH ENHANCED AMENITIES PROVIDED BY A NEW AQUATIC CENTER.
ACTION 3.1: Develop new pool design based on current aquatic center trends to replace current indoor and outdoor lap pools that incorporates lap swimming, play structures, and therapeutic amenities.
ACTION 3.2: Expand current program options to incorporate swim lessons and lap swimming with fitness programs such as water polo, snorkeling lessons, synchronized swimming through contract program providers.
ACTION 3.3: Integrate play structure programming into a new splash pad, to include water slide use and beginner swimmer level water structures that do not require swim training for use.
ACTION 3.4: Provide therapeutic or adaptive programs in a specialized area of the aquatic center for patrons with special needs, including assisted swimming exercises and family aquatic programs.
ACTION 3.5: Maintain a lifeguard staffing level of at minimum two lifeguards on duty at all times the center is being used and a target of one lifeguard per 25 swimmers or one lifeguard per 1,500 square feet of aquatic space.
OBJECTIVE 4: EXPAND CURRENT PROGRAMMING HOURS.
ACTION 4.1: Provide more programming at after school and evening periods, especially for those who attend school and go to work during the day.
ACTION 4.2: Provide additional toddler programs during daytime hours for parents or guardians with programming needs during the day (example:
mommy and me classes)
ACTION 4.3: Provide additional daytime programs for senior and those who do not attend work or school during daytime periods.
OBJECTIVE 5: CONTINUE AND EXPAND CITY SERVICES AND SPECIAL EVENTS.
ACTION 5.1: Continue City Dial-a-Ride and Fixed Route transportation services to provide increased access to city facilities and services for seniors and those with mobility challenges.
ACTION 5.2: Host citywide special events at different areas throughout the City and including areas south of the Artesia (91) Freeway.
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INITIATIVE THREE: SAFETY AND COMFORT
OBJECTIVE 1: CONTINUE PROVIDING AWARENESS OF RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS TO LESSEN THEIR IMPACT IN
PUBLIC SPACES.
ACTION 1.1: Re-establish efforts with third-party agencies to prevent homelessness and continue seeking out new organizations to coordinate this effort.
ACTION 1.2: Establish designated personnel responsible for educating the unhoused people about resources available to them.
ACTION 1.3: Continue operation of Temporary Shelter, New Hope.
OBJECTIVE 2: CREATE A PARK AND RECREATION SYSTEM WHERE ALL RESIDENTS AND VISITORS FEEL SAFE, COMFORTABLE, AND SECURE AT ALL FACILITIES.
ACTION 2.1: Continue and expand the use of the Park Patrol program and third-party contractor, Southwest Patrol to enhance park security and safety.
ACTION 2.2: Continue to monitor and enforce park regulations.
ACTION 2.3: Ensure parks have adequate lighting to maintain comfort and safety at night.
ACTION 2.4: Continue community -based public safety programs.
ACTION 2.5: Collaborate with volunteer and community watch groups to reduce criminal activities at City park facilities.
ACTION 2.6: Evaluate crime data to determine if there are areas that need additional law enforcement and/or the use of security cameras for crime prevention.
ACTION 2.7: Add prominent signage at parks and facilities encouraging users to call and report suspicious activity to the Police Department.
ACTION 2.8: Coordinate with Sheriff Department to improve safety of park and maintenance staff.
ACTION 2.9: Consider hiring a designated park ranger in addition to the Park Patrol Program responsible for responding to public safety concerns at non-staffed parks.
OBJECTIVE 3: IMPLEMENT THE CONCEPTS OF CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH
ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN (CPTED) AT PARKS AND RECREATION
FACILITIES WHEN RENOVATING OR DEVELOPING NEW PARKS.
ACTION 3.1: Provide a visual connection between all areas of the park to allow for good visibility by park users and keep unwanted behavior under observation. (Natural Surveillance)
ACTION 3.2: Use design elements such as sidewalks, hardscapes, lighting, and low fencing to help distinguish different areas of the park to discourage unwanted use. (Territorial Reinforcement)
ACTION 3.3: Use landscape elements to physically limit access and egress points and guide users to a specific direction within the park. 179
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INITIATIVE FOUR: EQUITY AND ACCESS
OBJECTIVE 1: DISTRIBUTE PARKS AND/OR RECREATION FACILITIES SO THAT RESIDENTS LIVE WITHIN A 15-MINUTE WALKING DISTANCE TO PARKS AND/OR FACILITIES.
ACTION 1.1: Prioritize the addition of new parks and recreation facilities in underserved areas and in higher-density areas that tend to have limited access to private outdoor spaces.
ACTION 1.2: Acquire new city-owned land to develop new parks in priority areas.
ACTION 1.3: Evaluate opportunities to construct temporary parks and recreation facilities in underserved areas such as parklets, adding court striping and picnic tables at underutilized parking lots, collaborating with schools or churches for use during summer months, etc.
OBJECTIVE 2: CREATE AN ACCESSIBLE, INCLUSIVE, AND ENJOYABLE ATMOSPHERE AT PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES.
ACTION 2.1: Ensure all parks are fully accessible in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
ACTION 2.2: Continue to use both English and Spanish languages and easy- to-understand graphics on parks and recreation signage.
ACTION 2.3: Ensure park entrances are clearly visible with walkways, signage, and lighting.
ACTION 2.4: Collaborate with neighboring Parks and Recreation departments and non-profit organizations to explore opportunities for sharing resources and developing regional programs for individuals with special needs (e.g. wheelchair basketball league).
ACTION 2.5: Explore the feasibility of expanding park restrooms to include wheelchair-accessible and ADA-compliant, family-style restrooms to make it easier for caregivers to tend to individuals with special needs.
ACTION 2.6: Conduct research and develop accessible recreation pilot programs or events for individuals with disabilities. Adjust and expand programs as necessary.
ACTION 2.7: Evaluate existing special events with an inclusivity and accessibility lens and make adjustments to enable individuals with special needs to attend with ease and comfort.
ACTION 2.8: Explore the development of a formal inclusion policy to ensure that everyone has access to the benefits of parks and recreation. See the NRPA’s Guidelines for Developing an Inclusion Policy for reference.
ACTION 2.9: Consider the development of an all-inclusive, all-abilities play area at an existing park or future park.
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OBJECTIVE 3: PROVIDE RESIDENTS WITH AN ACCESSIBLE RANGE OF RECREATION
SERVICES TO MEET MULTIGENERATIONAL, RECREATIONAL, AND
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS AND NEEDS.
ACTION 3.1: Evaluate the demographics of participants in Bellflower programming, events, and services to determine if participation is representative of community demographics.
ACTION 3.2: Conduct targeted outreach to neighborhoods and demographics with low participation in Bellflower programs and services.
ACTION 3.3: Continue the use of Bellflower Recreation in Motion (B.R.I.M) in park deficient areas with limited access to standard recreational programming.
ACTION 3.4: Ensure new sport programs offered through Parks and Recreation are available for all genders.
ACTION 3.5: Consider offering financial assistance for special-interest classes for community members that experience financial barriers to participation.
ACTION 3.6: Consider the development of a park and recreation foundation.
ACTION 3.7: Ensure each district in the City provides equal recreational opportunities and access to a broad range of recreational facilities. 181
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INITIATIVE FIVE: CONNECTIVITY
OBJECTIVE 1: PROVIDE SAFE PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE CONNECTIONS TO PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES.
ACTION 1.1: Improve bike and pedestrian connections along the San Gabriel River.
ACTION 1.2: Continue to maintain trail at Riverview Park as a Class 1 multi- use path.
ACTION 1.3: Implement projects and programs from the Active Transportation Plan to increase access to City parks.
ACTION 1.4: Improve pedestrian and bicycling infrastructure within 1/2 travelsheds from City parks.
ACTION 1.5: Host guided bicycle rides or walks to encourage active transportation to the Bellflower Bike Trail and City parks.
OBJECTIVE 2: ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO THE BICYCLE NETWORK FOR ALL
RESIDENTS, AND SUPPORT BICYCLING AS AN ATTRACTIVE, CONVENIENT TRANSPORTATION CHOICE FOR ALL DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS.
ACTION 2.1: Conduct public outreach to promote walking and bicycling as viable transportation modes to parks and recreation facilities. Public outreach may include, but is not limited to educational materials, signage, special events, interactive contests, or social media campaigns.
ACTION 2.2: Establish pedestrian-scale wayfinding signage along the Bellflower Bike Trail and popular routes to parks and recreation facilities to increase use of the bike trail.
ACTION 2.3: Establish additional and cohesive wayfinding signage at City parks and facilities.
ACTION 2.4: Establish new and updated pedestrian-scale wayfinding signage along the Bellflower Bike Trail and at nearby City facilities pointing users to the Bike Trail for increased use.
ACTION 2.5: Explore the feasibility of installing new trails and multi-use paths to connect neighborhoods, schools, parks, recreation facilities, and open spaces and install, where appropriate.
ACTION 2.6: Install ADA-accessible walking loops within existing parks. 182
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INITIATIVE SIX: PUBLIC ART AND PLACEMAKING
OBJECTIVE 1: CREATE A DISTINCT SENSE OF PLACE AT BELLFLOWER PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES CONSISTENT WITH CITYWIDE BRANDING.
ACTION 1.1: City should continue to use consistent branding for wayfinding signage for parks, bike paths, and key destinations.
ACTION 1.2: Design and implement different themes to distinguish one park from another, i.e. themed playgrounds, landscaping, or lighting.
ACTION 1.3: Incorporate passive open space and natural areas into the design of parks to provide a balanced range of open space values for the use and enjoyment of residents.
ACTION 1.4: Incorporate placemaking design elements into future parks to ensure park features complement the context of the surrounding neighborhood.
ACTION 1.5: Coordinate with other city departments and developers on streetscape changes to ensure that future streetscape and development projects include pathways, wayfinding signage, and pedestrian amenities that enhance the City’s identity.
OBJECTIVE 2: SHOWCASE COMMUNITY DIVERSITY, CULTURE, AND HISTORY AT PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES.
ACTION 2.1: Partner with local artists to design and install additional public art that celebrates community diversity, culture, and history at parks and recreation facilities.
ACTION 2.2: Introduce new and enhance established community events that highlight the Bellflower’s unique history, diverse culture, and art.
ACTION 2.3: Create new gathering areas for community members to host parties, meetings, and events at parks.
ACTION 2.4: Consider adding additional public art to the Town Center Plaza. 183
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INITIATIVE SEVEN: SUSTAINABILITY AND STEWARDSHIP
OBJECTIVE 1: ENSURE PARKS ARE DESIGNED WITH SUSTAINABLE DESIGN ELEMENTS
AND INCLUDE FEATURES THAT MINIMIZE THE IMPACTS OF SUN, HEAT, AND WIND.
ACTION 1.1: Continue and increase the use of recycled water for landscaping at parks and recreation facilities.
ACTION 1.2: Consider Installing low-flow water fixtures at parks and recreation facilities.
ACTION 1.3: Identify parks and recreation facilities in greatest need of additional shade and develop a plan to increase shade, where needed.
ACTION 1.4: Continue providing and promoting cooling centers in Bellflower and consider adding an additional cooling center south of the Artesia (91) Freeway.
ACTION 1.5: Require the use of drought-resistant vegetation at new parks and park renovation projects.
ACTION 1.6: Consider providing electric vehicle charging stations at parks and other City-owned parking lots.
ACTION 1.7: Consider design components at new parks and park renovation projects to include stormwater infiltration planters at impervious surfaces to treat stormwater runoff.
OBJECTIVE 2: FOSTER ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AND STEWARDSHIP.
ACTION 2.1: Install interpretive signage at parks and pathways to draw attention to and highlight the importance of natural habitats and resources in Bellflower.
ACTION 2.2: Launch a volunteer stewardship program for community members to actively participate in the care and enhancement of parks and trails in Bellflower.
ACTION 2.3: Host environmental education programs and events to give community members the knowledge and tools to become environmental stewards. Program topics may include, but are not limited to water conservation, energy conservation, waste reduction, clean air choices, etc.
ACTION 2.4: Promote riding transit, biking, walking, and dial-a- ride to parks and recreational facilities.
ACTION 2.5: Collaborate with LA Metro to assist in creating safety and beautification improvements to the Bellflower Bike Trail during the development of the Southeast Gateway light rail line to increase use of the bike trail. 184
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INITIATIVE EIGHT: ADMINISTRATIVE
OBJECTIVE 1: REORGANIZE STAFFING TO BETTER MEET SERVICE NEEDS.
ACTION 1.1: Transition and restructure current staffing based on industry standards, designating Supervisors to manage major program types City-wide rather than by individual site. Supervisors should focus on high-priority strategic initiatives and program types to better align with community expectations.
This approach also creates efficiencies by coordinating contractors and partners within specific program areas. As programming expands, consider adding full-time Coordinator-level positions to manage day-to-day technical and customer-facing tasks related to programs, facility operations, and staff oversight at key locations such as Simms and Thompson Parks. Additionally, consider adding administrative support, such as a Management Analyst position, to enhance operational efficiency, grant administration, and strategic planning initiatives.
ACTION 1.2: Hire additional full-time staff with anticipating growth and expansion of programs and services. Full-time staff will support and expand operations with particular emphasis on enhancing programming.
ACTION 1.3: Develop a part-time programming staff schedule that supports full-time programming staff to cover specialty programs such as sports leagues, after-hours fitness and educational programming.
OBJECTIVE 2: ENHANCE MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS METHODS TO PROMOTE PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
ACTION 2.1: Continue use of the Parks and Recreation Brochure for primary marketing efforts related to parks and programming.
ACTION 2.2: Continue and increase social media presence and following to better connect teens and young adults to programs and special events.
ACTION 2.3: Develop a method to collect and address participant feedback upon completion of programming.
ACTION 2.4: Periodically survey residents about their needs and comments concerning the City’s parks and recreation programs and specifically, programming needs at the new Senior and Teen Center.
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OBJECTIVE 3: COLLABORATE WITH PUBLIC WORKS TO STRENGTHEN PROCESSES THAT ENHANCE PARK MAINTENANCE QUALITY.
ACTION 3.1: Develop a documented Park Maintenance Plan for the regular repair and proactive up-keep of City Parks and facilities. This should include service level expectations (frequency and time period) for use in scheduling routine maintenance activities.
ACTION 3.2: Conduct regular monthly meetings with Public Works staff to coordinate park maintenance needs and maintain communication for the proactive up-keep of parks and recreation facilities.
ACTION 3.3: Implement work order and service request management system technology to improve systems and communications between Public Works crew leaders and Parks and Recreation Staff as well as appropriately track and manage needed maintenance.
ACTION 3.4: Continue to promptly remove graffiti, trash, and weeds from City facilities.
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