Parks and recreation
Maintaining parks, pools, and playgrounds
Parks and recreation
The Parks and Recreation CIP provides for a variety of projects and programs to meet the recreational needs of the community, and have been scaled in light of the COVID-19 pandemic to maintain infrastructure and assess critical safety or regulatory concerns. In October 2019, the City Council adopted a comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Based on public input, the Plan recommended improvements and initiatives to the City’s parks and recreation facilities to continue to meet the needs of the community and program users. This category of the CIP is primarily supported by the General Fund. However, voter approved Measure T General Obligation authority permits the City to issue a third tranche of debt that could help finance the Parks and Recreation Master Plan initiatives. Potential projects to be funded with Measure T bond funds are under consideration in parallel with adoption of this year's CIP. In addition, certain capital projects may qualify to use Recreation In-Lieu impact fees imposed on new development. Finally, due to the relationship of the Bedwell Bayfront Park and the former landfill, certain projects may have access to funds collected through refuse rates to maintain the landfill.
This ongoing project consists of the implementation of minor improvements under $100,000 intended to extend the useful life of systems, infrastructure and equipment at the Burgess and Belle Haven pools. This program does not provide for the replacement or significant renovation of the pools.
This project improves existing gas collection and leachate systems serving the former landfill at Bedwell Bayfront Park and includes several phases. Replacing gas extraction wells and installing a new leachate pumping system to comply with best management practices are included to increase methane capture and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This project is expected to be constructed in FY2022-23.
This project consists of the implementation of capital improvements recommended in the 2017 Bedwell Bayfront Park Master Plan. The improvements are necessary to improve services to the high number of park users and to address aging infrastructure and incorporate sea level rise protection.
This project involves the design and construction of improvements to the Civic Center such as additional outdoor seating, parking lot modifications, Ravenswood Avenue bike lane extension and sidewalk modification, Gatehouse landscaping, minor landscaping and irrigation in the library parking lot.
This ongoing project consists of the implementation of minor improvements under $100,000 intended to extend the useful life of systems, infrastructure and equipment in the City’s parks. This program does not provide for the replacement or significant renovation of the City’s park facilities. In FY2022-23, a portion of the funds requested are planned to be used to upgrade the City's central irrigation controller, which is at the end of its useful life. This upgrade will also contribute to water conservation ongoing drought conditions.
The project replaces damaged pathways at Sharon (completed 2021), Nealon (under construction 2022), and Stanford Hills Parks for safety and accessibility requirements. Future year repairs will be prioritized following completion of these first three high-priority repairs.
This project addresses playground improvements prioritized in a 2015 comprehensive Playground Safety Inspection Report, beginning with Nealon Park (completed in 2019-20), Burgess Park and Willow Oaks Park. In addition to meeting updated California Safety Standards, the new playgrounds may incorporate theme-based educational and interactive components as the budget allows. In 2022-23, the funds would allow for the design and construction of Burgess Park playgrounds. Willow Oaks Park playground work would be coordinated with other planned improvements to Willow Oaks Park and funded from CPP011.
This project considers future implementation of high priority parks and recreation improvements identified in the 2019 Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
The project includes turf replacement, drain cleaning and field leveling of the sport fields managed by the City. In summer 2023, the field at Hillview School will be renovated according to the cost sharing agreement between the City and Menlo Park City School District. Kelly Park turf is budgeted as an additional, separate project. In future years, this project also allows for the accumulation of funds in order to replace fields more often under the herbicide-free parks program.
This project replaces the turf field and track at Kelly Park, which is at the end of its useful life. Work is planned to coincide with Menlo Park Community Campus construction and facility opening in 2023-24.
This program is ongoing and focuses on the implementation of adequate maintenance practices to extend the useful life of the City’s fifteen tennis courts. The program follows a maintenance schedule that includes the full reconstruction of every court every twelve years. Interim maintenance work includes crack repair and court resurfacing.
This project involves the renovation of Willow Oaks Park as approved by the City Council in May 2022, including design and construction of a restroom facility and improvements to the dog park to address community needs. Construction would be coordinated with other improvements planned at Willow Oaks Park, including playground modification to meet safety requirements and the addition of a bicycle pathway connection to Elm Street.
