PARK IMPROVEMENTS: HERMOSA VALLEY PARK

Recommendation

It is recommended by the Parks, Recreation and Community Resources Commission that Council:

1. Approve the list of recommended improvements for Hermosa Valley Park; and
2. Direct Public Works staff to return to Council with an RFP to hire a landscape architect to develop a schematic design for the park improvements.

Background

With the UUT fund balance of over $1.6 million, the Parks, Recreation and Community Resources Commission selected a subcommittee (Koppel/Dunbabin) to identify pressing capital improvement needs in our park and recreation facilities. These recommendations were approved by the Commission at their February 19, 1997 meeting.

In order to ensure that the Greenbelt remained the top priority for these funds, the Commission forwarded and Council subsequently approved an allocation of $300,000 for the Greenbelt improvement project which is currently in the design phase.

Analysis

In order of priority, the Commission recommends improving the following park and recreation facilities:

1. Hermosa Valley Greenbelt
2. Hermosa Valley Park
3. Clark Stadium
4. Community Center
5. Greenwood Park

The Commission advises that each of the facilities be master planned to serve a unique function in the City. That is, parks would be specialized to meet certain community needs (e.g., Clark Field as a sports complex, Valley Park as a passive picnic park) and future improvements would be geared as such.

To that end, a list of recommended improvements for Valley Park has been identified by the Commission to include the following:

VALLEY PARK IMPROVEMENTS

Facility / Area	Commission Recommendation
Restrooms	Remove existing restrooms and relocate/build.
Walkways	Renovate to create 10' - 12' wide walkways throughout the parks and around.
Landscaping	Plant mature trees around the sports. field (note: leased from School District). Improve park perimeter with fence or landscaping.
Basketball Court	Remove existing court and plant grass. Consider if needed (relocate to other park area). Consider other sports court (e.g. Tennis).
Picnic Facilities	Renovate picnic areas and equipment. Install additional tables and benches.
Cement area (northwest side)	Remove
Irrigation	Design and renovate sprinkler system as needed.

As many capital needs in the parks have been deferred through the years, the Commission and staff look forward to expediting these improvements in order to obtain the best use of these funds and to provide our park system with the attention it needs and deserves.

Fiscal Impact: None