Agenda Item No. 3
CITY COUNCIL AND PARKS, RECREATION &
BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION STAFF REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council and Honorable Chair and Parks, Recreation and Beautification Commission
DATE: November 1, 2022
FROM: Matthew Bronson, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Greg Ray, Public Works Director/City Engineer Erin Wiggin, CIP Manager
SUBJECT: Preliminary Design of Ramona Garden Park Rehabilitation Project (CIP 1259)
RECOMMENDATION
Receive an update on the preliminary design of the Ramona Garden Park Rehabilitation (CIP 1259) and provide comments for staff in finalizing the design.
BACKGROUND
Ramona Garden Park is approximately two acres bounded by 9th and 10th streets to the west and the east and Ramona Avenue and Brighton Avenue to the south and north. It is a multi-use facility that includes the Community Center, exterior public restrooms, an open plaza area with amphitheater, a plaza area previously covered by a gazebo, drought tolerant landscaping including a rock-bed stream and a large open turf area that makes up most of the park area.
Ramona Garden Park is the focal point for many events in Grover Beach such as the Stone Soup Music Festival, Summer Concert Series, Halloween activities, City tree lighting and Winter Wonderland, and other City events. The park is centrally located with access to Grand Avenue businesses, retail shops, restaurants, and the post office and as a result could be redeveloped as a comprehensive educational, recreational, and social complex that will continue to serve the community for many years.
While the park is geographically connected to the downtown district, aspects of the current layout and features do not enhance this connection. In late 2019, the Council entered into a consulting services agreement with RRM Design Group (RRM) for development of the Ramona Garden Park Master Plan. The Council adopted the Master Plan on November 16, 2020. The Master Plan provides a high-level “road map” for the City to utilize in planning and constructing the park improvements and a phasing plan with five phases of implementation given the scope and cost.
In 2021, the City requested proposals for more detailed design documents for the park improvements and in May 2022 Council awarded the design to Wallace Group. Wallace has prepared a preliminary design for the Phase 1 of park construction that includes a playground, restroom relocation, and general grading and utility layout at the north side of the park. Pending final design in spring 2023 and funding availability, construction of Phase 1 could proceed in early 2024. As the design has progressed, Wallace has recommended minor changes to the Master Plan including removing trees that conflict with the grading or proposed use of the space and Staff Report: Preliminary Design of Ramona Garden Park Rehabilitation Project (CIP 1259) Page 2 November 1, 2022
altering some of the elements depicted on the Master Plan. Attachment 1 is an exhibit showing the proposed park layout and components in this preliminary design. As shown in the layout, some trees would need to be removed to open up the main event lawn areas and views to the stage along with grading at the playground area though there would be an overall addition of trees at the park with this project. The plans now propose installation of pickleball courts in the location previously identified for an outdoor classroom and fitness equipment. Wallace recommended these courts to further activate this space though staff would recommend the City consider noise mitigation for neighboring residential properties.
Playground Design
The Master Plan identified a park playground theme that includes natural elements inspired by the Central Coast landscape where oak covered hills lead to sandy coastal beaches. As part of the design process, the consultant worked with three different playground equipment vendors to develop concepts that feature gentle slopes, hills and climbers. Attachments 2-4 show concept drawings and below is a description of each concept listed in order of estimated cost:
• Great Western (Attachment 2): The design incorporates natural elements including ocean life, logs, and rocks. The highlights include a large pirate ship play structure, climbers, nature items and slides. Estimated cost of $800,000.
• Play and Park (Attachment 3): The design incorporates natural elements including trees, natural colors and turf. The highlights include an inclusive dual zipline (one unit has a full body support seat), spinners, nature items such as rocks and tunnels, imagination stations, and a tree house type play structure. Estimated cost of $900,000. • Kompan (Attachment 4): The design incorporates natural play elements including wooden logs, an area of turf and beach colors. The highlights include a large pirate ship play structure, a large pendulum swing, a bird’s nest swing and a wooden forest maze.
Estimated cost of $1.2 million.
Staff is seeking input from the Council and Commission about these designs with a request to indicate an overall preference that will inform the next steps in design work for the project. Staff could modify the concepts to add or delete play elements based on input from the Council and Commission. This input will help shape the revised drawings and final cost estimates to be presented to the Council along with the draft CIP in spring 2023.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total cost of the Ramona Garden Park Rehabilitation project was previously estimated at $4.8 million but this total cost will likely be higher as the cost of the Phase 1 construction is now estimated at $1.7 million to $2 million depending on the playground selection. The project is included in the City’s five-year CIP with $500,000 in General Fund funding programmed in both FY 2023-24 and FY 2024-25 with $1,000,000 annually in the subsequent two years. The ability to implement Phase 1 in the next 1-2 years will depend on securing additional funding through City funds, outside grants, and private contributions. Park improvements are ideal projects for raising private funding to support the improvements and staff would seek direction from the Council on opportunities for such funding.
Staff Report: Preliminary Design of Ramona Garden Park Rehabilitation Project (CIP 1259) Page 3 November 1, 2022
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION
The agenda was posted in accordance with the Brown Act.
ALTERNATIVES
The Council and Commission have the following alternatives to consider:
1. Receive an update on the preliminary design of the Ramona Garden Park Rehabilitation (CIP 1259) and provide comments for staff in finalizing the design; or
2. Provide alternative direction to staff.
Attachments
1. Revised Park Layout
2. Great Western Playground Concept
3. Play and Park Playground Concept
4. Kompan Playground Concept
X X
X X
X
X
X X
X X
X
X
0 20 40
(IN FEET)
10 GRAPHIC SCALE
1 IN = 20 FT
4 15
17 14
19 1
2 3
5 6
20 12
7 October 13, 2022
REFINED CONCEPT PLAN
Layout Diagram RAMONA GARDEN PARK
8 9
10 11
11 13
13 18
21 13
16 NOTE:
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXISTING TREES REMOVED 22
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXISTING TREES RELOCATED 3
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXISTING TREES TO REMAIN 12
TOTAL NUMBER OF NEW TREES PLANTED 64
22 Attachment 1
Attachment 2
Attachment 3
Attachment 4