March 17,2026
City Council
DATE: March 17, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Councilmember Soheila Bana
Councilmember Claudia Jimenez
Subject:
Cheese Park (La Moine Park) Improvements—
Permanent Restrooms, Drinking Fountain, Playground
Safety, Toddler-Area Fencing, Children’s Bike Garden,
and Completion of Volunteer-Led Repainting
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Developing the proposed scope and funding strategy will involve staff time and coordination across departments.
While no immediate costs or budget changes are
anticipated, future improvements will require City Council review and approval of funding sources before
implementation.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
Cheese Park (La Moine Park) is the only community park
in Richmond east of I-80 and serves more than 12,000
residents. The park is a vital gathering place for families, children, seniors, and community groups. Residents have raised longstanding concerns regarding the lack of
permanent restroom facilities, absence of a drinking
water fountain, and the need to restore and ensure the
safety of the play structure.
Residents have also raised safety concerns about the
toddler play area and the need for fencing to reduce the risk of small children wandering beyond the play area.
Community members have reported wildlife activity in the vicinity, including a mountain lion sighting, underscoring the need for clear safety boundaries and improved park
design.
AGENDA
REPORT
March 17,2026
The community has also expressed interest in adding
park facilities that include sports courts, senior activity spaces, teen activity areas, and exercise/fitness
amenities in consultation with the community and
improving the drainage for the area adjacent to
the park that has historically been used as a soccer field, to restore its usability for soccer and other active
recreation.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT a resolution to DIRECT City staff to prepare a
comprehensive work plan for improvements at Cheese
Park (La Moine Park), including permanent restrooms, a
drinking water fountain, playground restoration, safety fencing around the toddler area, completion of repainting started by volunteers, a design of park facilities that include sports courts, senior activity spaces, teen activity areas, and exercise/fitness amenities in consultation with the community, and improving the drainage for the area
adjacent to the park that has historically been used as a soccer field, to restore its usability for soccer and other active recreation; and IDENTIFY feasible funding sources in Fiscal Year 2026–27 Capital Improvement Program
and operating budget process - Councilmember Soheila
Bana (510-672-3490)/Councilmember Claudia Jimenez
(510-620-6565). This item was continued from the
March 3, 2026, meeting.
DISCUSSION:
Cheese Park (La Moine Park) is the only community park in Richmond east of I-80 and serves more than fifteen thousand (12,000) residents. The park is a vital gathering place for families, children, seniors, and community groups. Residents have raised longstanding concerns regarding the lack of permanent restroom facilities, absence of a drinking water fountain, and the need to restore and ensure the safety of the play structure.
In addition, volunteer residents have initiated repainting and park improvement efforts using their own funds and labor. Residents have also raised safety concerns about the toddler play area and the need for fencing to reduce the risk of small children wandering beyond the play area. Community members have reported wildlife activity in the vicinity, including a mountain lion sighting, underscoring the need for clear safety boundaries and improved park design.
The community has expressed interest in adding park facilities that include sports courts, senior activity spaces, teen activity areas, and exercise/fitness amenities in
March 17,2026
consultation with the community and improving the drainage for the area adjacent to the park that has historically been used as a soccer field, to restore its usability for soccer and other active recreation.
The City has an opportunity to support this community stewardship by completing and sustaining these improvements. If adopted, the resolution would direct staff to prepare a comprehensive work plan that improves basic amenities, safety, and equitable access to a key community park.
The work plan elements requested include:
Permanent restroom facilities (replacing reliance on temporary units), including ADA accessibility
Drinking water fountain (preferably with bottle-filler) Play structure restoration to ensure child safety and code compliance Safety fencing around the toddler area to improve child safety and address community concerns, including wildlife activity
Completion of repainting and finishing work initiated by volunteer residents, with appropriate surface preparation and durable materials
Design of park facilities that include sports courts, senior activity spaces, teen activity areas, and exercise/fitness amenities in consultation with the community Improve drainage in the area adjacent to the park historically used as a soccer field to restore its usability for soccer and other active recreation.
City staff would also be directed to identify feasible funding sources through consideration as part of the FY 2026–27 Capital Improvement Program and operating budget process.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Resolution for Cheese Park (La Moine Park) Improvements Attachment 2 – Community Park Characteristics
Attachment 3 – Photos of current conditions / volunteer repainting work