DATE:
October 4, 2022
TO:
Adam Politzer, Interim City Manager
FROM:
Rebecca Sermeno, Interim Community Services Director
SUBJECT:
Report To The City Council Regarding Recommendations By The Parks and Recreation Committee For Council Consideration Recommendation
The City Council is asked to receive this report from the Parks and Recreation Committee and provide direction to staff on action or further committee consideration of specific items as desired. Potential direction could include referral to a planned or ongoing planning process such as the Capital Improvement Program; referral to another committee like the Transportation Committee for further review; or acceptance and filing of the report for future Council consideration.
BACKGROUND
The Parks and Recreation Committee consists of seven members of the Emeryville community; it meets monthly to provide input and recommendations related to the City’s recreation programs, cultural events, and activities; public use of parks; development of new parks and enhancements to existing parks and recreation facilities, as outlined in the Park and Recreation Strategic Plan. discussion
This report on Parks and Recreation Committee recommendations covers motions made at the August 17, 2022, meeting.
Nature Play Areas:
The Parks & Recreation Committee’s Nature Play Recommendations presents a range of policies programs and projects that can be implemented to create nature play areas and connect children with nature programs. Attached are the specific recommendations.
Research supports that nature connection is essential to urban populations. The latest neuroscience demonstrates that quality nature experiences are important to cognition and even minimal exposure improves creativity and mental health. Kids who play outside are smarter, happier, more attentive, and less anxious. Yet, in recent decades, the size, quality, and access to outdoor nature experiences for children living in cities have greatly diminished, especially in densely urbanized cities like Emeryville. Children today spend less time outside than any other previous generation, to the detriment of their health and well-being.
There is a growing global movement in cities to thoughtfully infuse childhood with nature experiences by creating spaces and places where children can connect with nature through play. San Francisco, a leader in this movement, is a source of excellent examples and models suitable for Emeryville. Its extensive SF Children & Nature program is part of the national Cities Connecting Children to Nature (CCCN) initiative. CCCN provides resources and support to cities interested in expanding their opportunities for children’s nature exploration. Emeryville has been invited to join CCCN’s Community of Practice, created to foster learning and capacity development among select cities interested in supporting citywide, equity-based early childhood nature connection efforts.
Natural settings for children, youth and families can be deliberately designed in urban environments by implementing features that support the vision for nature-rich childhoods. Developing a comprehensive vision for connecting our children with nature will create opportunities for Emeryville to successfully compete for the increasing funding that these projects are attracting in many cities. The recommendations include initial steps that can be taken with little to no costs or staffing (for example, adopting a Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights). Establishing the vision will help to generate funding for some of our higher cost and staffing recommendations that may be implemented over time.
Eastshore Park Bioswale:
Prioritize and start the groundwork needed for CIP CF-01 Eastshore State Park Powell Street Bioswale Project.
The upland area of Eastshore State Park consists of approximately 5 acres of parkland that could be improved for access and use by Emeryville residents, workers, and visitors. As Emeryville becomes denser and more urban, the opportunities for new, usable park and open space become fewer, land acquisition becomes more expensive, and access to nature for becomes more important. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee recommends that City Council direct City staff to coordinate with East Bay Regional Parks District (EBRPD) and other appropriate agencies to move forward with improvements to Eastshore State Park to enhance its natural habitat values and accommodate passive recreation. In addition to providing a new recreation area, moving forward with the proposed bioswale will address Powell Street flooding and provide further educational opportunities.
The Eastshore State Park General Plan (2002) sets out Specific Area Goals and Guidelines for the Emeryville Crescent Management Zone, with guidance for improvements to the 5-acre uplands area. (See attached.) Emeryville’s Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan, adopted in 2011, notes that Eastshore State Park is “a major natural feature without any direct access to allow residents to experience the area.” It identifies a recommended site program of Respite and Solitude, Water/Shore Recreation, Education/Learning, and Enjoying Nature, Views and Scenery, and recommends that the City work with EBRPD to provide appropriate access to the park from the trail along Powell Street. The Strategic Plan lists Eastshore State Park as an “Active Project,” and indicates its status as “finalizing agreement with East Bay Regional Park District for design south of Powell.” The Strategic Plan’s Design Guidelines reference the Emeryville General Plan goals, and identifies the Eastshore State Park General Plan as a resource for implementing the General Plan goals of:
• A comprehensive open space system
• Integration of parks and open space, and
• An accessible waterfront.
Fiscal Impact
Nature Recommendation:
There are unidentified capital and maintenance costs, as well as staff resource impacts, associated with the actions recommended by the Parks and Recreation Committee. There is no fiscal impact from reporting the actions to Council.
Eastshore Park Recommendation:
There are unidentified capital and maintenance costs, as well as staff resource impacts, associated with the actions recommended by the Parks and Recreation Committee.
Eastshore State Park CF-01 is still in the CIP for FY 2019-2020 through 2023-2024, with $100,000 as Budget Carryover and $400,000 of “potential” Coastal Conservancy Grant via EBRPD projected for 2021-2022. There is no fiscal impact from reporting the actions to Council.
Staff Communication with the Public
There was no significant, non-routine staff communication with the public.
Approved and Forwarded to the
City Council of the City of Emeryville:
Adam Politzer, Interim City Manager
Attachments
Parks & Recreation Committee Nature Play Recommendations Children’s Bill of Rights
CIP CF-01
Eastshore State Park General Plan (2002)
Recommendations from the Parks and Recreation Committee August 17th Meeting | October 4, 2022
City of Emeryville
CALIFORNIA
MEMORANDUM