TO: NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES AND FROM: Jon Cicirelli
EDUCATION COMMITTEE
SUBJECT: PARK DESIGN GUIDELINES DATE: January 24, 2022
REPORT
Approved Date
1/31/22
RECOMMENDATION
Accept the report on the Park Design Guidelines that supports planning and design of parks to align with general plan goals and typical operational resources.
OUTCOME
This report provides the Committee with updates to the Park Design Guidelines (Guidelines) and acknowledges the use of the Guidelines by staff from the Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (the Department) and the Department of Public Works to reference when studying, planning, and designing park projects. The Guidelines set expectations for residential developers when designing turnkey park projects. The Guidelines are intended as a flexible resource document detailing the preferred approaches for park development to support sustainability, functionality and affordability. The Guidelines have been drafted to be accessible to the community, City Council, and other stakeholders of the City’s Parks System.
BACKGROUND
In 2019, the Department secured City Council approval of its 20-year Strategic Plan called ActivateSJ. The plan will guide work plans for the wide range of projects, including parks, trails, community centers, and services offered by the Department. The strategic plan calls for work plans to be framed per five Guiding Principles: Stewardship, Nature, Equity & Access, Identity and Public Life. Delivering a park system that honors these guiding principles will require Department staff, partner departments, and consultants to work from a clear framework that balances high expectations with available resources in a sustainable manner.
The Department identified the need to develop guidelines for teams responsible for planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operation of the parks system to work from a common NSE AGENDA: 02/10/2022
ITEM: (d) 3
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE
January 24, 2022
Subject: Park Design Guidelines Report
understanding and expectations for a national-leading parks system as the objective. The Guidelines are primarily focused on park development because in 2018 the Department prepared the planning and design Toolkit for the San José Trail Network.
The vision for the Guidelines is to balance sophisticated design and affordability, with ease of maintenance and longevity of assets.
The goals for the Guidelines are:
• Ease of use for Planning & Design by City staff, consultants, and developers; Allow flexibility and creativity in park development;
• Advance the five Guiding Principles (ActivateSJ Strategic Plan); • Stewardship
• Nature
• Equity and Access
• Identity
• Public Life; and
• Provide guidance to address common park assets.
Staff presented a progress report to the Parks and Recreation Commission at its December 2, 2020 meeting and a Version 1.0 document at the September 1, 2021 meeting. The Park Design Guidelines Version 1.0 document can be found on the City website at:
https://www.sanjoseca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument?id=76031
ANALYSIS
Staff prepared the Park Design Guidelines by forming a multi-department team to explore standardization of park elements when feasible, while identifying flexibility when appropriate to encourage creative, innovative, and unique park spaces. Staff from the Department’s Capital team, Parks Maintenance staff, and the Department of Public Works’ City Facilities Architectural Services team met to identify challenges and successes in the park system that could inform the development of Guidelines to address the range of decisions typical for the planning and design phases of project delivery.
The Guidelines are intended as a “living document” because there are many park assets to consider and there can be changes in design approaches, products and practices. The Guidelines were to balance sophisticated design with ease of maintenance and longevity of assets. With Version 1.0 of the Park Design Guidelines, the most common park assets were identified, and best practices were documented for each of those assets. Examples of best practices include optimum placement of amenities, defined relationships between assets, proper use of surfacing, and minimum size and shape requirements for new facilities.
With its presentation to the Parks and Recreation Commission, staff received concern that a Guidelines approach to park development might constrain creativity and result in uniform designs across the Parks System. Staff had developed the Guidelines with intent that San José’s
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE
January 24, 2022
Subject: Park Design Guidelines Report
parks will be distinct and support the City’s diverse identity. Staff responded with added clarity and further guidance to the document to ensure the following:
Standardization is appreciated The Guidelines provide a common approach for asset selection, a catalog of preferred amenities, and design standards.
Guidelines should allow for
creativity and uniqueness
The document encourages design professionals (Park
Designers and Landscape Architects) to be creative in the planning, design and selection of park features. The
guidelines provide design parameters supporting affordable and long-term maintenance. The guidelines establish a
protocol for testing new ideas in a cost sensitive manner.
Approach may lead to parks
looking the same
Guidelines do not supersede Master Plans for site-specific design informed by the community. The guidelines reinforce that design professionals should create projects with a strong commitment to Identity (per ActivateSJ).
Creative placemaking solutions
should be included in the
document
The Guidelines reinforce that design professionals should create projects that support Public Life (per ActivateSJ).
The use of the Guidelines is intended to inform and support the development of park-specific Master Plans. The community-led process that shapes a Park Master Plan remains in place and is not altered by the Guidelines.
Staff recognizes numerous topics need to be considered for guidance on planning and design.
With a Version 2.0 document to be prepared when resources are available, staff will prioritize park signage standards and restroom standards. Funding for annual updates is being sought through the capital budget process. If successful, funding would be available in July 2022 with Version 2 updates anticipated to be completed by the end of 2022.
EVALUATION AND FOLLOW-UP
The Department will continue to evaluate and update the Park Design Guidelines through annual revisions which will address changing trends, design practices, and maintenance requirements.
CLIMATE SMART SAN JOSE
The recommendation in this memorandum does not have any negative impact on Climate Smart San José energy, water, or mobility goals.
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE
January 24, 2022
Subject: Park Design Guidelines Report
PUBLIC OUTREACH
The Park Design Guidelines were presented to the Parks and Recreation Commission on December 2, 2020 and again on September 1, 2021. The Guidelines are a development tool to help manage resources. The Park Design Guidelines are applicable to all park sites. Public outreach that guides park development at specific sites occurs as part of the traditional Master Planning for each park site with decisions and options informed by the Guidelines. /s/
JON CICIRELLI
Director of Parks,
Recreation and Neighborhood Services
The principal author of this memo is Sara Sellers, Parks Manager. For questions, please contact Sara Sellers at [email protected].