SR-092308-8BCity Council Meeting: September 23, 2008
Agenda Item: ~-~'j
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Lee E. Swain, Director -Department of Public Works
Subject: Reed Park Improvements
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. review and provide comment and direction on the proposed design for the Reed
Park improvements, and if appropriate, approve design concept; and
2. authorize the City Manager to modify the existing Contract No. 8674 (CCS) with
Katherine Spitz Associates in an amount not to exceed $16,764 (including 10%
contingency) for the design improvements to Reed Park, for a revised contract
total of $101,849.
Executive Summary
Katherine Spitz Associates is currently providing design services for various
improvements to Reed Park. The design process, initiated in 2007, addressed
underutilized .areas of the park, improvements to the landscaped areas between the
tennis courts and Miles Playhouse, and park frontage along Wilshire Boulevard. During
the community design process, additional improvement areas were added to the project
scope of work for the consultant including the redesign of the exterior waiting area for
the tennis office and an increase in area for drought-tolerant planting to replace the turf
along 7t" Street. This project is funded by the General Fund. Additional appropriations
to fully implement the project have .been included in the proposed FY2008-2009 Capital
Improvement Program. City Council's request for additional street lighting has been
studied; however, no additional funds are available.
Background
On January 23, 2007, City Council authorized the negotiation of a Professional Services
Agreement with Katherine Spitz Associates under Contract No. 8674 (CCS} for the
design of Reed Park Improvements. In May and June of 2007, community workshops
were held. On February 12, 2008, City Council approved the request of Councilmember
Holbrook that staff study additional street lighting needs in Reed Park along with the
planned park improvements.
Discussion
Reed Park occupies a city block and covers 5.3 acres. It is a very active Santa Monica
park, with Miles Playhouse, six lighted tennis courts, two heavily used basketball courts,
a children's play area, community meeting rooms which host the Senior Dining Program
among other activities and staff offices for the City's Child Care Recreation Enrichment
Sports Together (CREST) and tennis programs. The park was last renovated in 1995
and Miles Playhouse was reopened to the public after extensive rehabilitation in 1998.
Since the renovation, community members voiced concerns about safety within the
park, under-utilized lawn spaces, and lack of ample playground space. The City's
FY06-07 capital improvement budget included funding to address these concerns. The
improvement plans presented in this staff report are based on community input from the
meetings and surveys.
Commission Action
The project was presented to the Recreation and Parks Commission on September 20,
2007. The Commission supported the project and recommended the planning process
be expanded to create a master plan for the entire park. Current funding precludes this
expansion of the scope of work at this time.
Park Improvements
Park improvements are focused on three areas: removing the underutilized roque court,
shuffleboard and horseshoe area to expand the existing adjacent playground area;
changing out the turf along Wilshire Boulevard and 7th Street to sustainable, drought-
tolerant plant species; and re-landscaping the area between Miles Playhouse and the
tennis courts to include drought-tolerant plantings and new seating areas by Miles
Playhouse and outside the tennis office. The objective of these improvements is to
create a cohesive landscape that strengthens the park's identity, encourages public
use, and. reinforces the City of Santa Monica's commitment to sustainability.
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Wilshire Boulevard: Wilshire Boulevard is Reed Park's face to .the community.
As such, its new plantings and bioswale will solidify the park's identity, welcome
the public and reinforce the City's commitment to sustainability. A combination of
drought tolerant and California Native plantings with seasonal blooms of orange,
blue and purple will .enliven the boulevard. Additionally, the bioswale, with
varying sized boulders and native grasses, will aid in sustainable groundwater
management.
• Miles Plavhouse Garden: This portion. of Reed Park is envisioned as a strolling
demonstration garden with seating. Adjacent to Miles Playhouse, the garden is
ideal for audiences. gathering before a performance. Additionally, the garden
functions as a demonstration garden for sustainability, complete with new
drought tolerant and California Native plantings, and drip irrigation.
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^ Playcaround: The addition to the existing playground is geared towards children
ages two to five. The design encourages children to develop their motor,
sensory, and social skills in fun, imaginative, and safe ways. The playground
includes an assortment of elements including swing sets, a sandbox and a
unique "Wizard's Maze" topiary that forms the heart of the playground and
stimulates fantasy play. In this new playground, children can run, jump, swing,
explore, dig and play while their caregivers look on. New canopy trees will join
existing mature trees to provide shade, further enhanced in the late afternoon by
shadows cast by tall buildings across the street.
Five new canopy trees (Tipu) placed at the southern edge of the playground maximize
protection from the sun, with a sixth tree within the playground itself. The Tipu tree was
selected based on its suitability to the-site, performance under the site conditions and
nursery availability. This species has been approved by the City Arborist. It is
anticipated these fast growing trees will be installed as forty-eight inch boxes, with
dimensions of fourteen to sixteen feet high and eight to nine foot canopies. Their
average growth is one to two feet per year. In addition, there are six existing trees
within the playground to help shade seating areas in the northern part of the
playground. New gates and perimeter fencing will ensure that children remain within
the playground area.
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7th Street and Tennis Office Waiting Area: To address additional community
member concerns, the turf along 7th Street will be replaced with landscaping
based on the Wilshire Boulevard concept and the waiting area in front of the
tennis office will be enhanced with landscaping and seating to give the public,
especially seniors, a safe pleasant place to sit. The tennis office waiting area will
be an extension of the Miles Playhouse demonstration garden theme.
Street Lighting: In response to City Council's direction, staff assessed the street
light needs surrounding Reed Park and in particular focused on the area north of
Miles Playhouse along Lincoln Boulevard. There are currently no street lights in
this area. Two possible options to address the light levels would be to add street
lights along. Lihcoln Boulevard in the landscaped parkway or to add a row of the
park pole lights along the sidewalk interior edge. The street lights (three
minimum) would cost approximately $195,000. The park pole lights, with
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electrical trenching, would cost approximately $125,000. Funds for these lighting
options are not currently part of the project budget.
Public Outreach
Public meetings were conducted to solicit ideas and concerns from. the community. A
survey was mailed to approximately 4,600 local .residents, businesses and property
owners, soliciting suggestions and input for the areas of improvement and encouraging
attendance at the first community meeting. Prior to that meeting, staff also interviewed
playground users for their input.
The City conducted two public outreach meetings in Spring and Summer of 2007.
During the first meeting staff reported on the results of the survey, the consultant
presented an initial analysis of potential improvements, and community members
articulated their ideas. A second community meeting allowed the consultant to present
conceptual designs and the community to provide feedback. Overall community
members asked for. additional lighting near Miles Playhouse, swings in the new
playground, gates between the basketball courts and playground area, seating for older
park users away from the play areas, and planting rather than turf to discourage
unintended uses. Additional suggestions were beyond the scope of this project. A
summary of community input is attached (Attachment B).
Next Steps
The consultant will incorporate Council comments and direction into the final design and
construction documents. Construction documents will be completed and ready for
bidding in November 2008 and construction of the project is anticipated to be completed
in Fall 2009.
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Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
Funds for increased design services in the amount of $16,764 are available in account
0010599.589000, "Reed Park Improvements". Funds for project construction,
estimated at $750,000., are available in accounts 0010599.589000 and
0020598.589000,
Prepared by: Miriam Mulder, Principal Architect
Approved: Forwarded
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Lee E. Swain, Director P. mont Ewell
Department of Public Works Ci Manager
Attachment A: Proposed Design Concept
Attachment B: Reed Park Improvements Community Input and Participation Summary
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Attachment 1 (Page 1 of 5)
REED PARK Landscape and Park Improvement
REED PARK
September 2008
Project Team:
• Katherine Spitz Associates /Project
Architects
• City of Santa Monica -Community
and Cultural Services Department
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Attachment 1 (Page 2 of 5)
REED PARK Landscape and Park Improvement
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REED PARK Landscape and Park Improvement
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REED PARK Landscape and Park Improvement
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REED PARK Landscape and Park Improvement
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Attachment B
Reed Park Improvements
Community Participation and Input Summary
Partici ation .Summa of In ut
Survey Survey respondents:
4,600 residents, businesses Use the park more than 3 times per week.
and property owners in the Visit most frequently in mornings and afternoons.
community • Walk to the park (80%).
• Accompany children ages 2-7 (56%).
236 individuals
completed surveys or were Regarding Improvements:
interviewed Playground equipment for ages 2-5 received the highest
response (78%).
• Rubber safety surfacing was preferred two to one over other
options (sand or wood chips), yet 43% liked the idea of some
sand.
• When offered a choice of play equipment, respondents gave
top priority to swings, followed by climbers with slides being
the least important.
• Improvements that focus on more shade (57%), seating (57%)
and low fencing (56%) were also a popular choice.
Many respondents-added comments about the presence of homeless
individuals in the ark. Some wanted additional li hti n in the ark.
Community Meeting Comments during meeting:
March 31, 2007 Strong support for swings.
• Want gates on playground to make children safe.
Discussion of survey results, Concern that sand was hard to maintain and keep clear of
consultant presented analysis "stuff'.
of potential improvements, Prefer benches with backs.
additional input sought Want to protect children in playground from inappropriate
language on nearby basketball court.
• Seniors have difficult time navigating the park; need seating.
• Interested in universally accessible when possible
• Would like a water element.
• Reduce incidents of camping, publiddrinking of alcohol and
dan Brous behavior.
Community Meeting Strong support for concept design with these added comments:
June 23, 2007 Approved of the edible garden idea
• Like windmills and soundmakers
PowerPoint of initial concept Toddler basketball is a good idea
design shown by consultant . The sandbox is a good idea
• Want further study of universally accessible play equipment
Reference Amendment to
Contract No. 8674 (CCS).