a vision for columbia park
10B
City of Torrance Council Meeting
August 19, 2025
Adriana Carías-Sison, Senior Design Associate
presentation overview
01. introduction
02. engagement
process
03. design process
04. design proposal
05. next steps
introduction01.
KDI is a community
design and development
non-profit committed to
building a more just and
inclusive public realm.
project scope recap
community outreach +
engagement
concept design + park planning
as-needed socal edison
coordination
right-of-way
80’
project timeline
MOBILE
ENG.
January - March
2025
PROJECT
KICK OFF
COMMUNITY SURVEY FOCUS GROUPS
FINDINGS
+
ANALYSIS
CITY STAFF
+
COUNCIL
CONCEPT
DESIGN
WORK-
SHOPS
CHERRY
BLOSSOM
FESTIVAL
FINAL
CONCEPT
June
2024
December
2024
February
2024
April
2024
March - June
2024
December, 2024
January, 2025
September - November
2024
September
2024
October - November
2024
engagement process02.
October, 2024
November, 2024
February, 2025
March, 2025
MOBILE ENGAGEMENT FOR
AYSO + PARK USERS
CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL
BOCCE CLUB
FOCUS GROUP
FOCUS GROUPS
Community Garden
North Torrance HOA
Magruder Middle School
North High School
West Torrance HOA
DESIGN WORKSHOPS
Community Garden
Community-wide
~1000 residents
engaged!
engagement recap
425 51
70+
50+
123
General community
survey responses
Focus group
participants
Mobile engagement
participants
Design workshop
participants
K-12 survey responses
mobile engagements
focus groups
North Torrance HOA Magruder Middle School Bocce Club
survey - park usage patterns
daily
daily
monthly monthly
few times
a year
few times
a yearweekly weekly
never
never
General survey results K-12 survey results
survey - what keeps residents from
visiting columbia park
123 20
133
30149
21 Distance to the park
from my home
Park activities do not
suit my interests
Park amenities do
not suit my needs
Park amenities do
not suit my needsPark activities do not
suit my interests
Distance to the park
from my home
General survey K-12 survey
survey - activities enjoyed at
columbia park
Walking or jogging
23%Walking or jogging
Dog walking
Playing organized
sports
Visit playground
Attending
special events
Exercising
Dog walking
25%
17% 22%
10% 18%
9% 12%
8%
8%
Attending events or
festivals
Visit playground
General survey Top 5 results K-12 survey Top 5 results
survey - what the community
would like to see
27%Pickleball court Native planting
Dog park
Workout
equipment
25%
14%
9%11%
9%
Multipurpose trails
Multipurpose trails
14%Dog park
Pickleball court
Basketball
court Water features
10%
10%
9%
9%
General survey - top amenities K-12 survey - top amenities key takeaways
SAFE AND CALM SPACES
FOR RELAXATION
STRONG DESIRE FOR
COMMUNITY EVENTS AND
ACTIVITIES
INSFRASTRUCTURE
IMPROVEMENTS FOR
ACCESSIBILITY
DESIRE FOR VEGETATION
AND NATURAL
ELEMENTS
COMMUNITY SEEKS FAMILY-
FRIENDLY FEATURES, CATER TO
ALL AGES
design process03.
Community Garden
Design Workshop
a collective vision
a collective vision
Hands on community
workshop
recurring themes
EEXXPPAANNDDEEDD
PPLLAAYYGGRROOUUNNDD
(divided by age group)
Expanded Sports & Fitness Amenities
• Pickleball + tennis courts: Addressing demand for additional courts with scheduled usage.
• Pump track: A dedicated area for bikes, scooters, and skateboards.
• Basketball court + sand volleyball: Encouraging team sports and casual play.
• Outdoor exercise stations: Strategically placed along walking trails.
Improved Play & Family Zones
• Gated toddler playground: Safe play area near existing playground.
• Expanded playgrounds: More shade, climbing structures, and an interactive play experience.
• Multi-use lawns: Flexible open space for events and casual games.
Upgraded Infrastructure & Facilities
• Relocated amphitheater: Better seating and sound
projection for community events.
• Additional restrooms + water stations: Improving
accessibility and convenience.
• Improved trails + lighting: Safer, well-lit pathways with repaired surfaces.
Columbia
Park
Move, Play, Connect!
PPUUMMPP
TTRRAACCKK
MMUULLTTII--UUSSEE
LLAAWWNN
MMUULLTTII--UUSSEE
LLAAWWNN
upgrade paths and
community areas of
garden
keep compound
location
update entrance
to community
garden
WWWWIIII
MMEEMMOORRIIAALL
AAMMPPHHIITTHHEEAATTEERR
SSPPOORRTT
CCOOUURRTTSS
EEXXEERRCCIISSEE
SSTTAATTIIOONN
EEXXEERRCCIISSEE
SSTTAATTIIOONN
EEXXEERRCCIISSEE
SSTTAATTIIOONN
keep
bocce ball
court
enhance
existing picnic
area
expand
restrooms
expand
picnic area
expand parking lot
keep parking lot
DDOOGG PPAARRKK
W 190th St
Prairie Ave
Move, Play, Connect!
Expanded Sports & Fitness Amenities
Improved Play & Family Zones
Upgraded Infrastructure & Facilities
W 190th St
Prairie Ave
SSEEAATTIINNGG
SSEEAATTIINNGG
MMEEDDIITTAATTIIOONN
PPAATTHH
SSEEAATTIINNGG
SSEEAATTIINNGG
SSEEAATTIINNGG
SSEEAATTIINNGG
PPIICCNNIICC GGRROOVVEE
DDOOGG PPAARRKK
WWWWIIII
MMEEMMOORRIIAALL
expand
restrooms
keep parking lot
AARRTT
PPOOLLLLIINNAATTOORR
GGAARRDDEENNSS
Prairie Ave
Columbia
Park
The Common Ground
AARRTT
AARRTT
AARRTT
AARRTT
OOUUTTDDOOOORR
CCLLAASSSSRROOOOMM
upgrade paths and
community areas of
garden
update entrance
to community
garden
enhance park
entrance
Enhanced Green Spaces & Gardens
• Enhanced community garden: With themed gardens,
educational signage, and an outdoor classroom.
• Zen & meditation garden: A quiet, shaded retreat with a small water feature.
• Pollinator + native lant areas: Supporting local ecology and beautifying the park.
Relaxation & Gathering Areas
• Picnic grove with more T rees: Creating shaded, comfortable gathering spaces.
• Memorial reflection zone: A peaceful, landscaped area for contemplation.
Inclusive Recreation & Accessibility
• Multi-Use trails with seating: Shaded resting points and accessible paths.
• Dog park with separate areas: Space for both large and small dogs.
• Art + cultural elements: Murals, sculptures, and interpretive signage about local history.
Upgraded Infrastructure & Facilities
• Additional restrooms + water stations: Improving
accessibility and convenience.
• Improved trails + lighting: Safer, well-lit pathways with repaired surfaces.
keep parking lot
MMUULLTTII--UUSSEE
LLAAWWNN
EEXXPPAANNDDEEDD
PPLLAAYYGGRROOUUNNDD
(divided by age group)
keep
bocce ball
court
new compound
location
expand parking lot
The Common Ground
Enhanced Green Spaces & Gardens
Relaxation & Gathering Areas
Inclusive Recreation & Accessibility
Upgraded Infrastructure & Facilities
Takeaway:
Community members are
not asking for either/or.
They’re looking for a hybrid
design—a park that invites
movement and play across
age groups and offers
moments of calm, beauty,
and reflection. Blending the
strengths of both concepts
would create a more holistic,
inclusive space.
design proposal04.
concept design
Trail
Enhanced picnic area
Picnic grove
Toddler playground
5-12 yo playground
6 sport courts
Pump track
Expanded restrooms
Meditation path
Pollinator gardens
Outdoor classroom
Expanded parking lot (~90 spots)
Multi-use lawn
WWII memorial
Enhanced community garden
Fenced dog park (separate for small and
big dogs)
Ecological Zone
Active Zone
Family Zone
Meditation Zone
100’
1 1
1 2
3 3
4 5
6 7
8 9
10 11
12 15
13 13
14 16
1 3
4 5
7 6
8 9
10 11
2 12
13 14
15 16
W 190th St
PRARIE AVE
Enhanced trails
Shaded picnic area
Multi-use lawn
Playground Picnic grove
family zone
Enhanced trails
Dog park
Sport courts
Stoop
active zone
precedents
ENHANCED PICNIC AREA
PUMP TRACK
BIG KIDS PLAYGROUND
OUTDOOR CLASSROOM/MEDITATION AREA
STOOP
PICNIC GROVE
cost estimate
TToottaall $$//SSFF
FF)) SSiittee WWoorrkk ((1166--1188)) $$1100,,881155,,338855 $$1199..9999 16 Site Preparation and Demolition $1,541,036 $2.85
17 Site Paving, Structures & Landscaping $7,125,888 $13.17 18 Utilities on Site $2,148,461 $3.97
SSuubb--TToottaall DDiirreecctt CCoonnssttrruuccttiioonn CCoosstt $$1100,,881155,,338855 $$1199..9999 Design/Cost Contingency 15.00% $1,622,308 $3.00
Market Escalation to Buyout 3.87% $481,245 $0.89
TToottaall DDiirreecctt CCoonnssttrruuccttiioonn CCoosstt $$1122,,991188,,993377 $$2233..8888 General Conditions $$6655,,660088 // MMOO 6.09% $787,298 $1.46 General Requirements 3.50% $452,163 $0.84
Subcontractor Default Insur. 1.20% $155,027 $0.29
General Liability Insurance 1.50% $212,376 $0.39
Overhead & Profit 4.00% $581,032 $1.07
SSuubb--TToottaall IInnddiirreecctt CCoonnssttrruuccttiioonn CCoosstt $$22,,118877,,889966 $$44..0044 TToottaall CCoonnssttrruuccttiioonn CCoosstt $$1155,,110066,,883333 $$2288 SSiittee DDeevveellooppmmeenntt
554411,,006655 SSFF
EElleemmeennttaall TTrraaddee CCoosstt OOvveerraallll SSuummmmaarryy CCoolluummbbiiaa PPaarrkk CCiittyy ooff TToorrrraannccee Concept Design Statement of Probable Cost
June 9, 2025
next steps05.
outright sale or donation
socal edison options phasing opportunities
apply for additional grant funding
permanent easement
renewed or expanded license/joint
use agreement
public land acquisition
next steps
[email protected]
gracias
tack
asante
thank you