SR-303-001-03-01 (2)
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Santa Monica, Callforn1a, May 20, 1980
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TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM:
City Staff
MAY 2 7 19S0
SUBJECT: Pocket Parks and Playlots
Introductlon
ThlS report 1S presented 1n response to the Council questlons concerning pocket
parks and park funding.
Background
Play lots are deflned by the 1959 Master Plan of the City lias small areas for the
imaginative, creative and sometimes vigorous play by pre-school children. It
supplements the home by providing exoer1ences not possible at home and 15 esoecially
1mportallt in crowded residential sections..."
Whlle some llterature in the field dlst1nguishes between pocket parks and playlots
with the essentlal difference be1ng that pocket parks can be larger, for the CltylS
Durpose they Should be considered synonymous. The Master Plan considers a quarter-
acre or two Clty lots as sufficient space to develop a pocket park.
While the Master Plan recommends pocket parks. it does not locate or deslgnate the
number of these fac1litles. It should be noted that a Comprehenslve Park and
Recreation System is composed of pocket parks, neighborhood parks. community parks
and reglonal parks. The Clty of Santa Monlcals park system is comprehensive Slnce
each of these components are provlded. Within the City system the following
facilities can be considered pocket parks or playlots. Ozone Park, Ashland or
Sunset Park, Goose Egg Park, Paclfic Ave. Park, Shader Park, Park St. Park. and
the community gardens. (See the attached map).
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MAY 2 7 1980
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TO: Mayor and City C4Ittil
Santa Monltlt California, May 20, 1980
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These pocket parks have generated some "dlscomfort" for the residents contiguous
wlth the park i.e. trash thrown lnto yards, noisy parties at nlght, attractlon to
non-nelghborhood I1travelers". To be successful. a pocket park must be desired by
the nelghborhood, partlcularly by the adjacent residents.
Staff's experience has shown that maintenance costs are generally lower for
larger parks and increase as the size of the park decreases. The major factors
include lncreased transportation costs and less efficient use of equipment. In
larger Darks, transportation costs are avoided by having on-site personnel and by
the use of larger equlpment.
Development costs are also more expensive for smaller parks. The cost of Clover
Park was $1.35 per square foot. Staff estimates the cost would be $2.00 per square
foot for pocket parks or play lots.
There are a variety of fundlng aval1able for pocket parks.
Park Acquisition and Development
Federal: land and Water Conservation Fund
State: Urban Block Grants (Z'Berg) & Bond Act funds
City: Assessment District
Recreatlon Unlt Tax
General Fund
Park Malntenance and Operation
State: Urban Block Grants (ZtBerg)
1980 Bond Act (Prop. 1)
City: Assessment Distrlct
General Fund
TO
Mayor and City ~cil
Santa Monic~californla, May 20, 1980
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Staff concurs with the literature of the field that pocket parks are an important
segment of a CltylS park system. In Santa Monlca, however, the greater demand
seems to be for parks with large play flelds which allow for youth sports. The
Clty has had problems for years in trYlog to meet the requests of groups requirlog
the more expansive play areas such as AYSO and Little Leagues.
AcqUlsition of addltional pocket parks may not be the optimum use of avallable
park funds to meet the overall recreational needs of the communlty. When considerlng
the acqulsitlon of any park it is recommended that the potential park be evaluated
on the basls of its abillty to satisfy the expressed needs of the community.
Prepared by: Donald T. Arnett, Director
Recreation and Parks
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RESOLUTI ON NO. 601]
(City Counci1 Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SANTA MONICA APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR
LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUNDS FOR A PROPOSED
POCKET PARK SYSTEM.
WHEREASt tre Congress under Public Law 88-578 has authorlzed the
establlshment of a Federal land and Water Cons~rvatlon Fund Grant-In-Aid Program,
provid1ng matching fund~ to the State of California and its polit1cal subdivisions
for acquiring lands and develop1ng facllitles for public outrioor recreatlon
purposes; and,
WHEREAS, the State Depart~ent of Parks ~nd Recreation 15 responsible
for the administration of the program with1n the State. setting up necessary
rules and orocedures governing appl1cat1on by local agencles under the program;
and,
WHEREAS, said adopted procedures establ1shed by the State Department of
Parks and Recreat10n require the appllcant to certify by resolut1on the approval
of appl1cations and the aval1ability of local matching funds pnor to submlSSlOn
of sQid applic~tlons to the State; and,
WHEREAS, Part V of said appl1cations contains assurances that the
appl1cant must comply with; and~
WHEREAS, the proposed pocket Dark syste~ 1S consistent with the
Callfornla Outdoor Recreation Resources Plan, and,
WHEREAS, the project must be compatible with the land use plans of
those Juri Sd1 ctions immed1 ately surroundl ng roe proJect;
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NOW. THEREfORE. BE IT RFSOLVED that the Clty Council of the C1ty
of Santa Monica hereby:
1. Approves the fll1ng of an application for land and Water
Conservation Fund assistance; and,
2. Certif1es that ~ald agency has matchlng funds from the following
source(s), General Fund, and can finnnce 100 percent of the
proJect, half of which w111 be re1mbursed; and,
1. Cert1fles that the project 1S compat1ble with the land use
plans of those Jurisdict10nS 1mmedlately surround1ng the prOJect;
and,
4_ Appoints the Clty Manager as agent of the Clty to conduct all
negotiations, execute and submit all documents includ1ng but not
limited to applications, agreements, amendments, bllling stQtements,
and so on WhlCh may be necessary for the completion of the afore-
mpntioned proJect.
ADOPTED AND P.P?ROVEO thl S 11 tn day of June ,1980
APPROVED AS TO FORM'
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C1 ty Attorney
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ADOPTED AND APPROVED THiS
11th
DAY
OF
June
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I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE FOREGOING RESOLUTION)
No, 6011 } WAS DULY ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SM.IT A nON I CA AT A REGULAR VEET I NG THEREOF HELD ON
June 11
J 19q~ BY THE FOllOWING COUNCIL VOTE:
AYES:
COUt!C I U/iEr"'1BERS: Jennings 1 Reed, Rhoden, "Iran den Steenhoven,
Bambr ick
NOES:
COUNCILMEMBERS: Yannatta GoldKay, Scott
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(OUNe I U<1nmERS:
;,;one
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ABSTAH~ :
COU"CI Lr/t:MB~QS'
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None
ATTEST:
C2~l 72}v/Uu'c~
CITY CLERK
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