RICHMOND FIELD ASSESSMENT
RICHMOND FIELD ASSESSMENT
Richmond City Council Meeting
Richmond, CA,
March 5, 2024
RICHMOND FIELD ASSESSMENT
PROJECT PURPOSE
Review of existing parks in
Richmond to identify upgrades to
courts and fields and locations
for soccer fields for recreation,
practice and competition
RICHMOND FIELD ASSESSMENT
COUNCIL RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
• Begin implementation of short-term projects within FY 23-24 & FY 24-25 • Implement existing grant-funded projects
• Continue to look for grants to develop more soccer fields and upgrade other park amenities
• Review all park needs to ensure equitable allocation of resources • Allocate City resources to support the development of soccer fields and upgrade park amenities
• Continue work on Joint Use Agreement with West Contra Costa unified School District
• Engage community members, park users and neighborhood councils
RICHMOND FIELD ASSESSMENT
BACKGROUND
In December 2010, the Richmond Parks Master
Plan was adopted
The Richmond Parks Master Plan provides
long-term vision for the City’s parks, trails and
open space
RICHMOND FIELD ASSESSMENT
BACKGROUND
RICHMOND PARKS:
Richmond has
50 City Parks – 247.6 acres
7 Joint Use Sites – 30.7 acres
278.3 acres of park land including
joint use sites
7 Regional Parks – 5,225 acres
1 National Historical Park
RICHMOND FIELD ASSESSMENT
CURRENT CONDITIONS
POPULATION:
2010 Population Estimate was
105,630 residents, and in 2020,
116,790
26% of the population is under the
age of 18 years, and
14% of the population is 65 years of
age or older.
Children, youth and seniors
constitute significant segments of
Richmond’s population.
RICHMOND FIELD ASSESSMENT
CURRENT CONDITIONS
PARKS LEVEL OF SERVICE:
According to the City of Richmond
General Plan, there is to be 3 acres
of community and neighborhood
park per 1,000 residents.
The City has a City-wide deficit of
2.12 acres per 1,000 residents.
Some of Council Districts meet the
standard while others are
significantly underserved.
RICHMOND FIELD ASSESSMENT
CURRENT CONDITIONS
PARKS LEVEL OF SERVICE:
According to the City of Richmond
General Plan, there is to be 3 acres
of community and neighborhood
park per 1,000 residents.
RICHMOND FIELD ASSESSMENT
CURRENT NEEDS
COURT & FIELD LEVEL OF SERVICE:
Since 2010, several factors have
increased deficits.
The city’s population rose by
approximately 11,000 residents
Existing fields and courts were
taken out of service due to
maintenance issues, termination of
WCCUSD joint-use agreements, or
conversion to other uses.
Few parks, fields, or courts have
been built or upgraded.
RICHMOND FIELD ASSESSMENT
CURRENT NEEDS
SOCCER LEVEL OF SERVICE:
According to the City of Richmond
2010 Parks Master Plan, there is to
be 1 soccer field per 3,000
residents.
Thus, the City should have
23 fields based upon the City’s
current population and currently
have only two dedicated fields.
RICHMOND FIELD ASSESSMENT
SOCCER
Richmond has a robust group of
soccer clubs with 38-40 teams
• Richmond SOL
• Richmond Rayados
• Richmond United Soccer Club
The soccer community plays
year-round with a short break of
2-3 weeks in December
Additional clubs include Albany Berkeley Soccer
Club, West Contra Costa Youth Soccer League,
Eastshore Alliance
RICHMOND FIELD ASSESSMENT
SOCCER
The clubs currently practice and
play at:
• Tom Bates Regional Sports
Complex
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Park
• Booker T. Anderson Park
• Country Club Vista Park
• Sheilds-Reid Park
• Nichol Park
• Wendell Park
RICHMOND FIELD ASSESSMENT
FIELD SPORTS
Richmond has a multiple baseball,
softball and football teams
• Richmond Little League – 12
teams
• City and Richmond Police
Athletic League Flag Football –
12 teams
• Junior Giants Baseball and
Softball – 22 teams
• Richmond Steelers – 6-7 teams
• East Bay Cyclones –
16 teams
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FIELD SPORTS
The baseball, softball and football
clubs currently practice and play
year-round with the exception of
later November to early January
at:
• Booker T. Anderson Park
• Nichol Park
• Richard Boyd Park
• Belding-Garcia Park
• North Richmond Ball Fields
• Tiller Park
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BASKETBALL
Basketball courts are available at
15 parks within Richmond:
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FINDINGS
To support club and league play we
need courts and fields with:
• Parking
• Accessible path of travel
• Restrooms and drinking fountains
• Spectator area
• Fencing
• Play area for non-participating
siblings
• Storage for goals and equipment
• Lighting for evening play
RICHMOND FIELD ASSESSMENT
FINDINGS
Richmond Soccer groups need two
field sizes
• U10 / 7v7 – for practice and
matches for 10-years old and
under
• U13 / 11v11 – for players 13- to
18-years old and above
• Recommend Number of Fields
• 6-10 U13 / 11v11 Fields
• 13-17 U10 / 7v7 Fields
RICHMOND FIELD ASSESSMENT
FINDINGS
U10 / 7 v 7 – for practice and
matches for 10 years old and under
Length (touchline) 55-65 yards
Width (goal line) 35-45 yards
Center Circle Diameter 16 yards
Goal Area Dimensions 4 x 8 yards
Goal Size 18 feet wide x 6 ft.
high
RICHMOND FIELD ASSESSMENT
FINDINGS
U13 / 11 v 11 – for players 13 to 18
years old and above
Length (touchline) 100-120 yards
Width (goal line) 50-80 yards
Center Circle Diameter 20 yards
Goal Area Dimensions 6 x 20 yards
Goal Size 18 feet wide x 6 ft.
high
RICHMOND FIELD ASSESSMENT
RICHMOND PARKS
There are 18-20 Richmond parks
that may accommodate U10/7v7
and U13/11v11 soccer fields of
varying size within the six City
Council Districts plus WCCUSD joint
use sites
• 17 Neighborhood Parks
• 3 Community Parks
• 4-6 WCCUSD Joint Use Site
RICHMOND FIELD ASSESSMENT
RECOMMENDATIONS
• Increase maintenance staff and budget
• Pursue WCCUSD joint-use agreements to
expand recreational offerings
• Upgrade existing facilities
RICHMOND FIELD ASSESSMENT
MAINTENANCE
• Typical park and recreation agencies have 8.9
FTEs/10,000 residents. Richmond would have
103.6 FTEs, with 46% assigned to park
maintenance and operations.
• Richmond has 39 staff in the Parks
Department.
• 3 Park Supervisors oversee maintenance of 50+
City parks, grounds, and landscaped roadways.
• Using the NPRA standard, Richmond would need
an increase of 8.7 FTEs over the current 39 staff
members.
RICHMOND FIELD ASSESSMENT
JOINT USE AGREEMENTS
WCCUSD facilities can offer access to several
needed courts and fields but no joint-use
agreements currently exist.
• PLAYS initiative is a County funding
investment towards the full cost of WCCUSD
custodian fees and a funded part-time
consultant to help pilot the program.
• System Change Collaborative's goal is to
subsidize joint use of any school site and
engage non-profits in managing scheduling.
RICHMOND FIELD ASSESSMENT
SHORT TERM FACILITY
UPGRADES
$4.2 million in American
Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
funds from Fiscal Year (FY)
23/24 to the improvement
of soccer fields, courts,
lighting and restrooms to
improve or expand the
usability of existing fields.
RICHMOND FIELD ASSESSMENT
SHORT TERM FACILITY
UPGRADES
Support short-term projects
with FY 24/25 ARPA
funding.
RICHMOND FIELD ASSESSMENT
SHORT TERM FACILITY
UPGRADES
Engage the Community in
Implementing Wendell Park
as a Pilot Project
RICHMOND FIELD ASSESSMENT
MID TERM FACILITY
UPGRADES
A robust public engagement
process to identify priorities
and develop planning needed
to successfully compete for
grant funding.
RICHMOND FIELD ASSESSMENT
MID TERM
FACILITY
UPGRADES
RICHMOND FIELD ASSESSMENT
MID TERM
FACILITY
UPGRADES
RICHMOND FIELD ASSESSMENT
MID TERM
FACILITY
UPGRADES
RICHMOND FIELD ASSESSMENT
LONG TERM FACILITY UPGRADES
• Apply for grant funding
• Community outreach to identify priorities
RICHMOND FIELD ASSESSMENT
NEXT STEPS
• Finalize park concept plans and
propose field and court
improvements to meet needs
• Prepare and evaluate costs to
construct and maintain
soccer/multipurpose fields and
courts
• Coordinate with the community
and stakeholders to review and
prioritize park improvements
• Evaluate resources required to
operate and maintain parks to
optimal level