City of Hermosa Beach --- 07-27-99

HERMOSA VALLEY PARK RENOVATION

 

Recommendation

The Parks, Recreation and Community Resources Commission recommends that Council:

  1. Review the proposed list of improvements for Hermosa Valley Park as indicated in the grid below.
  2. Add, delete, and amend the list as desired.
  3. Direct Public Works staff to develop a Request for Proposals as necessary to prepare a design, budget, and construction documents for the proposed improvements.

Background

With the surplus monies available from the early retirement of the UUT, the Commission and Council identified park CIP priorities as follows:

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

Analysis

After establishing a priority order for park projects, the Commission and Council developed preliminary plans for both the Greenbelt and Valley Park.

While the Greenbelt renovation has been completed, Valley Park did not progress beyond the development of the initial work program (approved by Council in 1997). This substantial delay was due to the fact that Public Works was seeking funding to expand the use of Valley Park as a water retention basin for the City. As such, we did not want to proceed with designs and/or renovations absent the final water retention plan.

Recently, Public Works informed staff that proposed improvements to Valley Park (relative to water retention) might be several years away, introducing the need to revisit the park improvements for the immediate term.

Council Members met with Commissioners to tour Valley Park. Attachment A outlines some of the issues that were discussed during that tour. From that tour, and subsequent Commission subcommittee evaluation, the grid below identifies the Commission’s revised recommendations for Valley Park:

 

Commission’s Recommended Improvements for Valley Park

 

Facility/Area

Recommended Improvements

Restrooms
  • Renovate or replace existing restrooms. Include stainless steel toilets, sinks, and urinals.
  • Repair or replace the roof.
  • Bring to ADA standards.
  • Design restroom so doors face the south barbecue area.
  • Add a storage/recreation room to the north side of the building.
  • Add drinking fountain on the west side of the restrooms.

Walkways
  • Extend Gould sidewalk west from Valley Drive to west of drainage ditch and east of the Gould Avenue trees.
  • Cover the drainage ditch (sidewalk over).
  • Continue sidewalk so it connects with the sidewalk that runs through the north end of the park to Morningside.
  • Remove southernmost sidewalk at the northwest end of the park.
  • Renovate all remaining walkways at minimum width for ADA standards. Consider using concrete to improve maintenance.
  • Replace handrails on Valley Drive stairs.
  • Place handicap access ramp south of the Valley Drive stairs.
  • Remove or repair railroad tie retaining wall to the north of the stairs.

Parking
  • Repair Kiwanis/Rotary Lot and consider changing the circulation pattern if possible.
  • Extend Gould parking as far east as possible and make necessary repairs to area.
  • Repair/replace wheel stops.
  • Place handicap parking at east end of Gould lot and connect a ramp with the sidewalk.

Landscaping
  • Improve park perimeter with landscaping.
  • Address erosion issues in the park.
  • Add bench in Theodore Payne Native Garden.
  • See if there is any interest from the Garden Club or other group to revamp the Native Garden (alternative—landscape).
  • Plant trees (podocarpus) along the south boundary of the Park.
  • Remove or trim tree south of the Amphitheater seating area.

Basketball Court
  • Resurface/improve existing courts.
  • Consider erecting lower standards for youngsters.
  • Consider reducing court size to accommodate expanded soccer field for youth league play.

Picnic Facilities
  • Renovate existing picnic areas. Include: remove/replace all existing barbecues with new barbecues; add 8 large tables with 2 tables per pad in the area; add electrical outlets; remove/replace sink and drinking fountain.
  • Use decomposed granite for the picnic area surface. Provide boundary for area with a narrow concrete strip.
  • Add picnic area adjacent to Fire Pit.
  • Concrete picnic pads with benches, tables, and trash receptacles (with metal cans inside).

Playground
  • Remove logs and add concrete curb to perimeter (should be wide enough for someone to sit on.
  • Expand sand area on the northeast side to accommodate a toddler playground.
  • Add picnic tables around the north perimeter.
  • Place benches with backs on the south side of the playground.

Fire Pit
  • Decrease the size of the Pit to 12’-15’ diameter.
  • Remove logs and create concrete curbing to define the boundaries of the Pit.
  • Create seating area for Fire Pit.
  • Add a hot coal container to the area.

Cement area (northwest side)
  • Remove cement from volleyball court area to allow for regulation soccer field for youth teams.
  • Retain circular portion of cement.
  • Plant low shrubs around cement pad.
  • Remove sprayer bar.
  • Remove pump.

Irrigation
  • Design and renovate sprinkler system as needed.
  • Crown soccer/baseball field for improved drainage.

Misc.
  • Remove par course station.
  • Add gate to park entrance from Rotary/Kiwanis Lot.
  • Replace park entryway sign.
  • Replace damaged stone walls in Amphitheater.
  • New backstop for baseball.
  • Replace wood benches with concrete unless they are memorial benches.
  • Consider emergency phone (like on Manhattan Beach Parkway).
  • Consider shade gazebo near playground.
  • Evaluate existing play equipment.
   

Attachment B provides Council with a conceptual sketch identifying improvements as recommended by the Commission subcommittee (Dunbabin/Francis).

Once Council approves the park improvement list, the project will become a priority park CIP for FY 1999-2000.

Fiscal Impact: None