PARKS, RECREATION &
CULTURAL RESOURCES
REATION & CULTURAL RESOURCES
CITY of PATTERSON ~ General Plan
PR-2
PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL RESOURCES
CITY of PATTERSON ~ General Plan
PR-3
Introduction
Parks, recreation, and cultural resources are essential components of any community. Just as a community must plan for its commercial and residential land uses, it must also plan for its parks and recreation facilities. Parks provide amenities such as active and passive recreation areas, a visual contrast to the surrounding developed environment, and areas for relaxation and enjoyment for all age groups. Without adequate outdoor space that is both attractive and useful for relaxation and recreational purposes, the ability to cope with the stress of daily living can be compromised. In addition, studies have shown that a community's economy is strengthened if it contains high-quality parks and recreation.
Access to such spaces is vital for every segment of Patterson’s population.
Besides providing amenities for the enjoyment of the local citizenry, parks improve a community’s image, which translates into increased revenues from tourism and an improved business climate.
Goals and Policies
Park and Recreation Facilities
Goal PR-1 To establish and maintain a public park system and recreation facilities suited to the needs of
Patterson residents and visitors.
Policies
PR-1.1 Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan.
The City shall prepare and adopt a Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan which includes the following
components:
a. Locational standards;
b. Preferred sites;
c. Improvement and equipment standards;
d. Development priorities;
e. Financing mechanisms; and
f. Development of community activity centers
g. Sports facilities.
h. Joint use facilities
PR-1.2 Parks standard. The City shall establish a minimum standard of five acres of developed parkland (combined
pocket, neighborhood, and community) per 1,000 residents.
This symbol denotes a
policy that contributes to
sustainability and/or
sustainable practices.
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PR-1.3 Requirements for development. New development
shall be required to assist in meeting the City’s standard of five acres per 1,000 residents. To this end, the City shall require all new development to dedicate land, dedicate
improvements, pay in-lieu fees, or a combination of these determined acceptable by the City, to the maximum extent authorized by law.
PR-1.4 Grant funding. The City shall pursue all available and appropriate county, state, federal and private funding for the acquisition of parkland and the development of park
facilities.
PR-1.5 Neighborhood parks. Neighborhood parks shall be
integrated into, and become focal points of, new residential neighborhoods. Pedestrian accessibility to these parks shall be emphasized.
PR-1.6 Large-scale park complexes. The City shall
continue to promote the development of large-scale park complexes in Patterson (may be classified as community or regional parks).
PR-1.7 Joint-use. The City shall pursue and maintain
agreements for joint-use of school facilities as a high priority for the development of new park and recreational facilities, especially for after-school activities.
PR-1.8 Safety. Parks shall be located, oriented, and designed in such a way as to facilitate security, policing, and
maintenance.
PR-1.9 Nuisance. High-activity-level parks and parks intended for night use shall be designed to buffer existing and
planned surrounding residential uses from excessive noise, light, and other potential nuisances.
PR-1.10 Use of existing open space. The City shall
identify appropriate open spaces, including areas within the downtown and its western extension and along Salado
Creek and Del Puerto Creek, for development of safe
community activity areas.
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PR-1.11 Design for droughts. The City shall emphasize the use of drought-tolerant, drought-resistant and low use
irrigation landscaping in the development of City parks.
PR-1.12 Rehabilitation of existing parks. The City shall assign high priority to the improvement and rehabilitation of parks in existing neighborhoods.
PR-1.13 Open spaces as buffers. The City shall
encourage the use of open space and recreational uses as buffers between incompatible land uses.
PR-1.14 Pedestrian/bicycle network. The City shall
pursue the development of a citywide network of pedestrian and bicycle pathways to integrate with existing and future regional, community, neighborhood, and, to the extent
possible, pocket parks. (See the Circulation Element for more policies).
Private Recreation Facilities
Goal PR-2 To promote the provision of private
recreational facilities and opportunities.
Policies
PR-2.1 Private facilities. The City shall promote the provision of private open space and recreation facilities in large-scale residential developments.
PR-2.2 Employee recreation. The City shall promote the
inclusion of private outdoor and indoor recreation facilities in large commercial/industrial projects as a benefit for employees and as a means of reducing demand on public
facilities.
PR-2.3 Golf courses. The City may encourage the development of golf courses in conjunction with major new development projects.
PR-2.4 Commercial recreational facilities. The City shall promote the development of commercial recreational
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facilities that meet community needs and complement
public parks, facilities, and programs.
Recreation Programs
Goal PR-3 To promote the provision of communitycentered recreation programs.
Policies
PR-3.1 Recreation program. The City shall develop and
maintain a balanced recreation program which addresses
the diverse needs of the various age and interest groups in Patterson.
PR-3.2 Full inclusion. The City shall provide for full inclusion in programs at City facilities for people of diverse cultures, backgrounds, ages, gender, interests, languages, lifestyles, abilities, and socioeconomic status.
PR-3.3 Residents first. The City shall ensure that residents of Patterson are given first priority for participation in Citysponsored recreation programs, activities, and leagues and use of City facilities for such activities.
PR-3.4 Neighborhood focus. The City shall consider unique neighborhood needs in developing facilities and programs for indoor and outdoor activities.
PR-3.5 Joint-use for programs. The City shall establish cooperative agreements with the Patterson Unified School District for the use of school facilities for City-sponsored recreation programs (in conjunction with Policy PR-1.7, above).
PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL RESOURCES
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Historic Resources
Goal PR-4 To preserve and enhance Patterson’s
historical heritage.
Policies
PR-4.1 Protection of significant structures. The City shall set as a high priority the protection and enhancement of Patterson’s historically and architecturally significant buildings.
PR-4.2 Historic district. The City shall maintain a historic district in the downtown area and along East Las Palmas Avenue
and develop standards for the preservation and
rehabilitation of historic structures and compatible infill development. New development near designated historic
landmark structures and sites shall be designed to be
compatible with the character of the designated historic resource.
PR-4.3 Registration of historic structures. The City shall work with property owners in seeking registration of
historical structures and sites as State Historic Landmarks or listing on the National Register of Historic Sites.
PR-4.4 Support for private historic preservation. The City shall support the efforts of property owners to preserve and renovate historic and architecturally significant structures.
Where such buildings cannot be preserved intact, the City shall seek to preserve the building facades.
PR-4.5 Demolition. The City shall consider demolition of historic resources as a last resort, to be permitted only if the following findings are made: rehabilitation and/or relocation are not feasible; the demolition of the resource is necessary to protect the health and safety of the public; or the public benefits of demolition outweigh the cost of preserving the resource. In all instances, the City shall gather and report input from the public prior to preparing a recommendation (for or against demolition) to decision-makers.
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CITY of PATTERSON ~ General Plan
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PR-4.6 Agricultural heritage museum. The City shall
explore the possibility of establishing a living history center or museum to focus on Patterson’s agricultural heritage.
PR-4.7 Patterson Historical Society. The City shall support the efforts of the Patterson Township Historical Society to keep the Center Building Historical Museum open and
accessible to the public.
Native American Heritage
Goal PR-5 To protect Patterson’s Native American
heritage.
Policies
PR-5.1 Review of development. The City shall refer
development proposals that may adversely affect
archaeological sites to the California Archaeological
Inventory, Central California Information Center, at
California State University, Stanislaus, for review and comment.
PR-5.2 Native American consultation requirements.
The City shall continue to comply with the requirements Government Code Sections 65352.3 and 65352.4 which
require the City to consult with Native American tribes with respect to the possible preservation of, or the mitigation of impacts to, specified Native American places, features, and objects.
PR-5.3 Mandatory avoidance of impacts. The City shall
not knowingly approve any public or private project that may adversely affect an archaeological site without first
consulting with applicable State and local agencies and organizations, conducting a site evaluation as may be
indicated, and mitigating any adverse impacts according to the recommendations of a qualified archaeologist. City
implementation of this policy shall be guided by Appendix K of the State CEQA Guidelines.
PR-5.4 Protection of Native American cultural sites. The City shall ensure the protection of archaeological sites that may be culturally significant to Native Americans, even if
PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL RESOURCES
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they have lost their scientific or archaeological integrity through previous disturbance; sites that may have religious value, even though no artifacts are present; and sites that contain artifacts which may have intrinsic value, even
though their archaeological context has been disturbed.
Archeological Resources
Goal PR-6 To protect the area’s archaeological resources.
PR-6.1 Protection of archaeological resources. The City shall provide for the protection of both known and potential archaeological resources. To avoid significant damage to important archaeological sites, all available measures, including purchase of the property in fee or easement, shall be explored at the time of a development proposal. Where such measures are not feasible and development would
adversely affect identified archaeological or paleontological resources, mitigation shall be required in accordance with the relevant provisions of federal and State laws.
PR-6.2 Archaeologically sensitive areas. Development
within an archaeologically sensitive area shall require a preliminary site survey by a qualified archaeologist
knowledgeable in Native American cultures, prior to a
determination of the potential environmental impacts of the project.
PR-6.3 Archaeological resources present. Where a
preliminary site survey finds substantial archaeological resources, before permitting construction, the City shall require a mitigation plan to protect the resources. Possible mitigation measures include:
o Requiring the presence of a qualified professional
during initial grading or trenching; project redesign;
o Covering with a layer of fill; excavation, removal and curation in an appropriate facility under the direction of a qualified professional.
PR-6.4 Qualified archaeologist present. Where substantial archaeological resources are discovered during
construction or grading activities, all such activities in the
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immediate area of the find shall cease until a qualified archaeologist knowledgeable in Native American cultures can determine the significance of the resource and
recommend alternative mitigation measures.
PR-6.5 Archaeological site records. The City shall establish and maintain archaeological site records about known sites.
Specific archaeological site information shall be kept
confidential to protect the resources. The City shall
maintain, for public use, generalized maps showing known areas of archaeological sensitivity.
CITY of PATTERSON ~ General Plan
PR-11
Implementation Measures
No. Implementation Measure Policies/
Goals Responsibility
Timeframe
Near
Term
MidTermLongTermOngoin
g
PR-1
The City shall maintain and
update a Park and Recreation
Facility Master Plan that
establishes goals, policies, and
standards for the location, size,
and level of development of all
existing and proposed parks.
PR-1.1
PR-1.2
PR-1.3
City Council
City Manager
Parks and
Recreation
Dept.
Community
Development
Dept.
Public Works
Dept.
¢
PR-2
The City shall regularly monitor
county, state, and federal
programs for funding of parkland
acquisition, development, and
rehabilitation. The City shall
actively pursue funding for which it
is qualified.
PR-1.4
Community
Development
Dept.
Parks and
Recreation
Dept.
¢
PR-3
The City shall prepare, adopt, and
periodically update a long-term
Capital Improvement Program
(CIP) that includes parks and
recreational facilities.
All
City Council
City Manager
Community
Development
Dept.
Public Works
Dept.
Finance Dept.
¢
PR-4
The City shall maintain the jointuse agreement with the Patterson Unified School District that
provides use of school facilities for
certain City-sponsored recreation
programs.
PR-1.7
City Manager
Parks and
Recreation
Dept.
¢
PR-5
The City shall investigate the
purchase and rehabilitation of the
historic Del Puerto Theater for use
as a community theater and
performing arts center.
PR-1.1 City Manager ¢
PR-6
The City shall pursue the
development of a citywide
network of pedestrian and bicycle
pathways to integrate with existing
and future regional, community,
and neighborhood parks through
the following:
Implement recommendations in
the 2001 Bicycle Transportation
PR-1.14
City Council
City Manager
Parks and
Recreation
Dept.
Community
Development
Dept.
Public Works
¢
PARKS, RECREATION & CULTURAL RESOURCES
CITY of PATTERSON ~ General Plan
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Implementation Measures
No. Implementation Measure Policies/
Goals Responsibility
Timeframe
Near
Term
MidTermLongTermOngoin
g
Master Plan; and
Update the Plan by 2010.
Dept.
PR-7
The City shall work with the
Patterson Unified School District
to develop and maintain a
balanced recreation program
which provides full inclusion for
the interest groups represented in
Patterson.
PR-3.5
City Council
City Manager
Community
Development
Dept.
¢
PR-8
The City shall impose the
following conditions on all
discretionary projects which may
cause ground disturbance:
“The Planning Department shall
be notified immediately if any
prehistoric, archaeological, or
fossil artifact or resource is
uncovered during construction. All
construction must stop and an
archaeologist that meets the
Secretary of the Interior’s
Professional Qualifications
Standards in prehistoric or
historical archaeology shall be
retained to evaluate the finds and
recommend appropriate action.”
“All construction must stop if any
human remains are uncovered,
and the County Coroner must be
notified according to Section
7050.5 of California’s Health and
Safety Code. If the remains are
determined to be NativeAmerican,
the procedures outlined in CEQA
Section 15064.5 (d) and (e) shall
be followed.”
PR-5.2
PR-5.3
Near-Term = Within 5 Years
Mid-Term = Within 10 Years
Long-Term = 10 Years and Beyond
CITY of PATTERSON ~ General Plan
PR-13