June 4, 2024
Public Works
DATE: June 4, 2024
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Shasa Curl, City Manager
LaShonda White, Deputy City Manager – Community Services Daniel Chavarria, Director of Public Works
Subject:
ARPA-Funded Opportunities for Soccer Fields and Other
Improvements at Shields Reid Park, Martin Luther King, Jr.
Park, and Wendell Park.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: City Council allocated $4.2M in American Rescue Plan Act Fund, and subsequently added an additional $3.5M, for a total of $7.7 million to support soccer field and park project improvements
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
On July 11, 2023, the City Council directed staff to evaluate options for soccer fields in City parks.
Between October 2023 – March 2024, City Council directed staff to evaluate options for applying $4.2 million in ARPA funds to addressing deficits in fields, courts, and lighting in City Parks.
On April 16, 2024, the City Council directed staff to apply an additional $3.5 million in ARPA funds to address deficits in fields, courts, and lighting in City Parks.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
At the April 16, 2024, City Council meeting, Councilmembers directed staff to prepare and implement improvements at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, Shields-Reid Park, and Wendell Park to ensure $7.7 million in ARPA funds for parks
improvements is obligated by executed construction contract prior to the ARPA deadline of December 31, 2024.
AGENDA
REPORT
June 4, 2024
RECOMMENDED
ACTION:
RECEIVE an update related to soccer field and park
improvements; APPROVE the recommended park design
concepts at Shields Reid Park, Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, and Wendell Park, including the installation of artificial turf at Shields Reid Park; and AUTHORIZE the Director of Public Works to award the park project bid and execute the contract with the lowest responsive/responsible bidder for the stated park projects provided that the award is within the Council- approved budget – City Manager’s Office/Community Services Department/Public Works Department (Shasa Curl 510-620- 6512/LaShonda White 510-620-6828/Daniel Chavarria 510-
620-5478).
DISCUSSION:
In 2023, the City Council directed staff to address the need for fields, courts, and other park amenities. Based on the needs identified in the 2010 Parks Master Plan, the Richmond Assessment of Parks Report of 2019, and interviews with stakeholders and sports leagues, a City of Richmond Field Assessment Report was prepared to identify parks where the highest benefit could be realized with the short-term funding the City has available.
The City of Richmond has 50 City-owned parks, of which sixteen are suitable locations for soccer/multi-use fields. According to the 2010 Parks Master Plan, which sets the level of service standards for parks and fields, there is to be one soccer field per 5,000 residents. Thus, based on the City's 2022 population, the City should have 23 fields.
Baseball, softball, and football also require more space and better conditions and would benefit from field and park upgrades.
To help alleviate the established level of service field deficit, City Council has allocated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds from Fiscal Years (FY) 23/24 and 24/25 to improve soccer fields, courts, lighting, and restrooms to improve or expand the usability of existing fields and parks. Restrooms, courts, lighting, play areas, and other improvements adjacent to fields are key to accessibility for residents from across the city and usability during the winter and evening hours.
At the April 16, 2024, City Council meeting, City staff presented a plan to use the initial $4.2 million in ARPA funds and an additional ~$3.5 million in ARPA funds for a total of approximately $7.7 million for park improvements. The City’s ARPA funds must be obligated by executed construction contract(s) before December 31, 2024.
The ARPA funding will be applied to improvements at two community parks, Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, Shields-Reid Park, and one neighborhood park, Wendell Park.
The planned improvements will build on existing work in progress to improve the usability of these three parks with U13 soccer fields, used by league soccer players
June 4, 2024
from 13 to 18 years old up to adults. This proposal was approved by the City Council.
An outline of the proposed work and current project status follows for each park project.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Park (MLK)
The existing restroom will be renovated to return it to full service for park users. The manufacturer of the structure, CXT Restrooms, a division of LB Foster Company, conducted a conditions assessment on May 2, 2024, and will prepare a proposal for the replacement of equipment, fixtures, and repairs for a full renovation of the restroom structure. The estimate for a full renovation of the restroom structure was received from CXT Restrooms on May 15, 2024. The work will be classified as a maintenance project, and the manufacturer will provide its proposal directly to the City of Richmond. No work or minimal site work will be completed at the restroom. The restroom renovation will benefit not only soccer players, but football, baseball, softball, basketball, track users, and tennis players as well.
If funding is available and if the community desires, site work may be completed on the adjacent softball/baseball field to repair the infield and renovate the grass for multi-use field sports, repair or install perimeter fencing, and possibly install conduits for field lighting. Funding availability for expanding work to the baseball field will depend on whether the City Council approves the use and higher cost of artificial turf at Shields- Reid Park.
Shields-Reid Park
A Proposition 68 grant-funded project will install an amphitheater, play areas, pump track, public art, and site lighting, and resurface and light the basketball courts. The ARPA-funded work will complete the renovation of the park and will include the replacement of existing natural grass with irrigated grass or artificial turf at the existing multi-purpose field with soccer and softball striping, cool-down/clean up irrigation system, and installation of new perimeter fencing, back stop, seating, and field lighting.
Consultant crews have recently conducted a survey of the park for the grant-funded work and will be conducting a supplement survey the first week of June for the field project. Design work for the renovation of the park is proceeding. Completion of design work will depend on City Council direction regarding the use of artificial turf.
Wendell Park
Proposed improvements include renovation of the natural grass multi-purpose field, irrigation system, softball infield renovation, installation of new perimeter fencing, back stop, seating, park lighting, and installation of a new single-stall CXT restroom. Wendell Park’s designation as a neighborhood park with homes on all sides of the park and its location within a close-knit residential neighborhood makes it unsuitable for the increased levels of daytime and nighttime use associated with an artificial turf field and field lighting.
June 4, 2024
Consultant survey crews conducted land surveys of the park on May 13-15 and design work for the renovation of the park is proceeding.
If sufficient funding is available, the installation of resilient surfacing around the existing play structure and relocation or replacement of a community-built shade structure with seating and picnic tables will be completed as well.
Artificial Turf Research
In response to the City Council’s concerns brought up during the ARPA project presentation in March 2024, City staff has conducted research into the pros and cons of artificial turf, including information about its potential health and climate impacts. The City’s consultant, CSW|ST2, outlined key considerations and a summary of related findings in a report and presentation (Attachments 1 and 2). The report discusses playability, temperature, harmful chemicals, and water use.
Based on the research, interest from local sports teams, and maintenance needs, the recommendation is to install artificial turf at Shields-Reid Park. The Council will determine if the benefits of artificial turf outweigh the potential risks. If so, the design for artificial turf at Shields-Reid Park will proceed. If not, design work to renovate the baseball field at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park will proceed.
Community Outreach
Staff introduced the projects at the Recreation and Parks Commission meeting on April 3rd. In addition, CSW|ST2 and/or City staff has presented the park work to the appropriate Neighborhood Councils (NCs) for each park during regularly scheduled meetings in April and May. The Shields-Reid Park project will be discussed at the North Richmond Municipal Advisory Committee in June 2024. City staff is attempting to schedule an update at the Shields-Reid Neighborhood Council this summer. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Park project was shared with the Santa Fe Neighborhood Council and the Coronado Neighborhood Council on April 25 and May 18, respectively. Wendell Park improvements were introduced to the North and East Neighborhood Council on April 24. The new improvements planned for Shields-Reid and Wendell Parks will be presented to the Design Review Board during its June 5 or 19 meeting. The renovation of the existing restroom at MLK is classified as maintenance with no design review requirement.
Community meetings will be held in June or July regarding the park projects to introduce and gain feedback on the proposed scope of improvements from the larger communities. City staff will engage with the neighborhood councils and park users such as local soccer, softball/baseball and football clubs to help promote one or more meetings. The feedback received during the meetings will be incorporated into the construction drawings for each site.
June 4, 2024
Design, Bidding, and Construction
Completion of design and permitting work is anticipated by late August 2024, allowing for bidding in September 2024. City staff, in collaboration with the selected architect, CSW|ST2, would develop a base bid and additive alternative strategies to ensure the City received proposals within the Council-approved budget. If proposals are received above budget, City staff would need return to City Council in September 2024 to either reject bids or augment funding.
The plan is to execute contract(s) in December 2024, to ensure that the City’s funds are obligated by signed construction contract before the ARPA December 31, 2024, deadline.
Construction is estimated to take place from March to November 2025. The Recreation Division will work with the design team, neighbors, and soccer and softball groups to relocate gatherings, practice, and play to other parks during construction.
Recommended Action
City staff is requesting that the City Council approve the recommended park design concepts at Shields Reid Park, Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, and Wendell Park, including the installation of artificial turf at Shields Reid Park, and authorize the Director of Public Works to award the bid and execute the contract with the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.
Considering the two-month-long Council recess and the upcoming ARPA deadline to execute contracts by December 31, 2024, this process would allow the Public Works Director to begin the contracting process immediately, allowing the project to proceed if the bid is valid and within budget.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – DRAFT Soccer Field and Park Improvement Slide Deck Attachment 2 – Artificial Turf Report and Recommendation