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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.1 PARKS, RECREATION AND ARTS COMMISSION STAFF REPORT 5.1 TO: Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission February 14, 2024 SUBJECT: Shade Structure at Hap Magee Ranch Park BACKGROUND: Hap Magee Ranch Park is located on the border of Danville and Alamo and is jointly operated and maintained by the Town and Contra Costa County as part of a Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement. At the February 8, 2023, Danville Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission meeting, members of the Alamo Municipal Advisory Council (MAC), the advisory body to the County Board of Supervisors responsible for parks and recreation, addressed the Commission during For the Good of the Town, expressing an interest in installing a shade structure at the park. The Commission then directed staff to gather more information about the proposal. As part of the 2023/24 budget process, Capital Improvement Program CIP B-400 – Hap Magee Ranch Park Capital Maintenance was updated to include funding to have a consultant prepare a feasibility study for the proposed structure. The study was completed in October of 2023 by Callendar Associates Landscape Architecture, Inc. and evaluated potential locations for the structure and their pros and cons, size, the overall “fit” within the park, and preliminary budget estimates (Attachment A). The study was then provided to the Commission and MAC for review. DISCUSSION As part of the feasibility study, a site walk was performed to identify potential locations for a structure, with aspects like size, surrounding amenities, accessibility, visibility, safety, and estimated cost being considered. This results in four candidate sites that were evaluated: adjacent to the dog park, adjacent to the play area, near the labyrinth and near the Cottage. A summary of the four sites is included below: Site 1 – Adjacent to the Dog Park This generally refers to the area between the parking lot and the frontage of the dog park, between the entry gate and the Caltrans chain link fence. Being adjacent to the parking lot, this site offers good visibility and is not located near redundant amenities. The slope of the area would require considerable site work as well as tree removals. Additionally, the site is not located near supporting amenities like restrooms and there is an odor associated with the dog park. Estimated costs to build the structure in this location are $277,000. Site 2 – Adjacent to the Play Area This site is generally located between the small children’s (ages 2-5) play area and the creek. This relatively flat area would require less site work than Site 1, is near existing pathways, and is close to the restrooms and other park amenities. It is also located near a similar amenity in the shaded picnic area, has somewhat limited visibility from the parking lot (for safety purposes), and has noisy and/or heavily programmed areas in the vicinity. Estimated costs to build the structure in this location are $196,000. Site 3 – Near the Labyrinth This site is in the area of the labyrinth – though not directly adjacent to it – in the unplanted landscape area in between an existing grass area and the pathway that runs along the creek. The largest of the four candidate sites, this area is relatively flat but is adjacent to a moderately steep embankment. This is an area that is currently unprogrammed, relatively quiet and is sufficiently visible. It may be close enough to the gazebo to compete visually, is not near supporting amenities and would likely require the installation of an accessible pathway. Estimated costs to build the structure in this location are $235,000. Site 4 – Near the Cottage This site is located to the west of the Cottage, generally in between the existing wooden fencing and the restroom building. This area is relatively flat and offers abundant shade due to the nearby mature trees. It is also centrally located within the park near supporting amenities, offers sufficient visibility, and is close to the existing pathway. The nearby trees will likely require work to be done around roots and canopies to accommodate the structure and there may be design impacts to better match other structures at the park, due to their proximity compared to some of the other sites. Estimated costs to build the structure in this location are $208,000. Summary For the purposes of the feasibility study, structure dimensions of 30’ by 20’ were used because this was the largest all of the sites could accommodate – though Site 3 could potentially allow for closer to 40’ by 30’. The cost estimates range from $196,000 to $277,000 depending on the amount of demolition, site work and accessibility improvements required for each. The structures considered for the feasibility study were steel frames with metal roofs, open on all four sides and with concrete pads at their base to accommodate accessibility requirements and tables/seating. Next Steps The Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement for Hap Magee Ranch Park states that the cost of any capital improvements will be shared equally by the Town and County if/after the parties mutually agree on projects. As the Town is the lead agency on maintenance of the park and preparation of the annual operating and capital budget proposals, the Commission is more familiar with the Town identifying the needs of the park and incorporating them into the budget proposal for the County to review each year. In this case, the MAC has recommended a project to install a structure as described above and prefers Site 3 for the location. The MAC has also expressed a desire to incorporate salvaged wood from the barn that was demolished several years ago. Having received a recommendation for the proposed project, the Town’s Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission may now review and consider the proposal. If the Commission decides to recommend this as a priority project to the Town Council, it could be incorporated into a future draft Capital Improvement Program budget – whether the upcoming 2024/25 fiscal year or a later year – for Town Council review and approval. The CIP currently includes a total of 75 projects in various stages of advance planning, design or construction, including 32 Parks and Facilities projects. As with any potential project, consideration must be given to potential funding sources and availability, and how this project might be prioritized in light of other currently planned projects and/or needs. RECOMMENDATION Receive the report and provide staff with direction regarding the Alamo Municipal Advisory Council’s recommendation for a shade structure at Hap Magee Ranch Park. Prepared by: Dave Casteel Maintenance Services Director Attachments: A – Feasibility Study B – Alamo Municipal Advisory Council Recommendation C – Hap Magee Ranch Park Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement