SR-303-002 (9)
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OCT 1 1985
303-002
RP:DTA:VR:bmc
City Council Meeting: 10/1/85
Santa Monica, California
TO:
Mayor and City council
FROM:
City Staff
SUBJECT:
Recommendation to Approve Schematic Plans for
Clover Park Expansion and Authorize the Expenditure
of $9,200 to Redesign the Existing Playlot for
Handicap Accessibility
INTRODUCTION
This report describes the public planning process which led to
the development of the proposed design of the Clover Park expan-
sion, identifies the key issues raised by members of the public,
and recommends Council approve the schematic plans for the park
expansion as presented. In addition, the report requests council
approve the expenditure of $9,200 from account 01-740-511-000-
978 for the redesign of the existing playlot for handicap
accessibility.
BACKGROUND
In January, 1984 Council approved an agreement between the city
and the Federal Aviation Administration which settled the long
standing controversy surrounding the Santa Monica Airport and
adopted a new layout for the airport. Major factors in the air-
port redesign agreement involved expansion of Clover Park and a
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city commitment to a public planning process for the design of
the park expansion.
In February, 1985, City Council appropriated $60,000 from the
Airport Fund to develop plans for the park extension and au-
thorized city staff to retain a landscape architect. council
also expressed its interest in notifying surrounding neighbors by
mail and involving representatives of youth sports leagues in the
planning process.
After an RFP was issued and several proposals were received,
Hogan/Roy Partners was hired to complete the planning phase of
the project.
PUBLIC PLANNING PROCESS
Over 4,000 fliers were mailed to residents of the city living in
the areas adj acent to Clover Park explaining the park planning
process and the constraints on developing a park next to airport
operations. Fliers were distributed widely among youth sports
leagues, and notices of the meetings appeared in the local
papers.
Over 150 people participated in the two planning workshops held
at Clover Park on July 15 and 22. Each workshop included presen-
tations on the design constraints faced by the project and the
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need to include a water-retention facility as part of the park
design. The architect was asked to tabulate all input provided
by the pUblic and to develop two alternative schematic designs
for consideration at the August 22 meeting of the Recreation and
Parks commission.
In addition to the suggestions received at pUblic workshops, a
number of written suggestions were received by the department
regarding the park design. These included a petition requesting
that new softball fields at Clover Park be designated for use by
Bobby sox softball.
At each workshop votes were taken on key issues to identify the
level of support for various program suggestions. To summarize,
the following items received the most support (listed from high-
est to lowest priority) for inclusion in the park design:
1. Handicap accessible play area with accessible equipment in
the existing Clover Park playground
2. Extension of walkway/jogging path
3. Softball field (adult and Bobby Sox)
4. Soccer field
The following items received more limited support from public
participants (listed in order of priority):
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1. Community swimming pool
2. Airport observation deck
3. Bicycle dirt course
4. Tennis courts and banging/practice wall
5. Natural passive area
6. Pet exercise area
7. Natural herb garden/aboretum
8. Golf putting green
9. Lake with paddle boats
10. sculpture garden
11. Community recreation center
A consensus was expressed for providing vehicular access to the
new park land through the extension of 28th street rather than
from 25th Street, a primarily residential street.
Of the two design alternatives presented at the August 22 Recre-
ation and Parks Commission meeting, the one selected by the 35
people in attendance provided for a circular parking lot con-
figuration and a small satellite tot lot.
PARK EXTENSION DESIGN SUMMARY
As designed, the park extension provides a soccer field, two
softball fields, the extension of the walking/jogging path loop,
three par-course stations, a tot lot, an airport observation
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area, and passive picnic facilities. The area is sloped to ac-
como date water retention while at the same time providing passive
recreation areas and landscaped mounds. Access to the area is
provided by extending 28th Street. A 26 space circular parking
lot and a restroom :facility with league equipment lockers are
also included. All facilities in the park extension are handicap
accessible. In response to pUblic interest a handicap accessible
viewing area for softball and soccer and electric service outlets
near the softball field are provided as well.
RECREATION AND PARKS COMMISSION ACTION
On September 19 the completed schematic plans were presented to
the Recreation and Parks commission. pUblic comments were
generally favorable to the plan but there was a request to recon-
sider the exclusion of field lighting. The plans as presented
were approved by the Commission with a strong recommendation to
incorporate field lighting into the play fields if it can be
done, while at the same time maintaining adequate park and air-
port safety. The Commission also recommended that the satellite
tot lot be designed for use by younger children.
LIGHTING
From the beginning of the planning process it had been suggested
that field lighting would be precluded because of the potential
hazards presented to pilots landing and taking off at night from
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the Santa Monica Airport. Due to FAA regulations, light stan-
dards can be no taller than 35-58 feet depending on their loca-
tion. Light fixtures of this height would provide inadequate
lighting of the outfield areas. While staff supports an increase
in the number of lighted playing fields, staff and the landscape
architect feel that these fields cannot be adequately lighted
without posing a danger to pilots utilizing Santa Monica Airport.
ADDITIONAL ISSUES RAISED BY THE PUBLIC
concern was expressed by workshop participants regarding the
parking of cars in residential streets surrounding the park. A
study was conducted of the currently existing park parking lot
which was found to be below capacity at nearly all times. In-
creased signage was suggested to inform drivers of the
availability of parking adjacent to the park in order to reduce
impact on the residential area. While some residents opposed the
inclusion of a parking area in the park extension, it was felt by
city staff and the landscape architects that this feature should
be included for the convenience of park users.
REDESIGN OF EXISTING PLAYGROUND FOR HANDICAP ACCESSIBILITY
At each of the two public workshops and again in discussion be-
fore the Recreation and Parks Commission, strong public support
was expressed for modifying the existing Clover Park playground
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to make it handicap accessible. Such a redesign was not initial-
ly included in the scope of services for the landscape archi-
tects. However, due to public interest in this project and the
city's commitment to accessibility in public facilities, an esti-
mate was requested from the consultants to provide the plans for
the playground redesign. $9,200 was estimated as the cost for a
playground redesign and working drawings. Actual construction
and installation of such a playground is estimated to cost about
$90,000.
Members of the PUblic also suggested constructing a ramp for ac-
cessibility to the picnic area which will be accomplished with
existing department funds.
BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACT
The estimated cost for the entire Clover Park extension project,
which includes extending 28th Street to provide vehicular access,
is $716,520. $125,000 will be paid by the FAA as part of the
grading and drainage plan for the Santa Monica Airport. That
leaves a total cost to the City for the park extension of
$591/520. The cost estimate includes a number of previously un-
anticipated costs including:
1. $75,940 for irrigation which proved to be ineligible for FAA
funding.
2. $53,570 for the extension of 28th street to provide vehicular
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access. This was a design feature suggested by area residents.
3. $36,190 for an unusually long sewer connection required for
the park restroom.
4. General development costs which are higher because the exten-
sion as measured is 5.5 acres, not 4.25 acres.
$198,000 is provided for the Clover Park project from the general
fund in the 1985-86 budget in account #01-740-511-000-978. An
additional $95,000 is available for park design from Roberti-
Z'Berg funds. The total of $293,000 will be used for phase I of
the development which will include grading, landscaping, seeding,
irrigation, the concrete walkway, the 28th street extension, sig-
nage, and installation of the parking lot. The city is applying
for a state 1986-87 Regional competitive Grant to pay for instal-
lation of the softball fields (backstops, seating, etc), tot lot,
handicap viewing areas, and picnic tables totalling $66,850. If
the grant is received, about $232,000 would be required in the
future to complete Phase II which would include restroom, utili-
ties, drinking fountains, airport viewing deck, and par-course
stations.
The funds requested to provide the design and working drawings to
make the currently existing playground handicap accessible will
be drawn from this existing account. other funding sources may
be identified for this project in the future.
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RECOMMENDATIONS
It is recommended that City Council:
1. Approve the schematic plans developed for the Clover Park
extension.
2. Approve the phased development of the park extension as
described in this report.
3. Authorize the expenditure of $9,200 from account #01-740-511-
000-978 for the redesign of the existing Clover playground for
handicap accessibility.
Attachment
prepared by: Don Arnett
Director Recreation and Parks
Vivian Rothstein
Asistant to the Director
Recreation and Parks
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