TO: Chair and Members of the Park Planning and Community Events Commission
THRU: Leslie Hardy, Community and Library Services Director
FROM: Robert Ambriz, Jr., Parks and Facilities Manager
1. Subject
title
Capital Improvement Project Planning for Fiscal Year 2026-27
body
2. Summary
Fiscal Year 2026-27 Capital Improvement Plan submission.
3. Recommended Action
recommendation
Recommend the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Capital Improvement Plan project(s) for approval by the City Council.
end
4. Fiscal Impact
None.
5. Strategic Plan Goals
Goal 3: Enhance Public Communication Strategy and Quality of Life
3.7: Continue to offer high quality and efficient, city led recreation programs.
6. Discussion and Background
At the September 2025 Park Planning and Community Events Commission (Commission) meeting, the Commission recommended the following Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) projects be submitted for consideration for Fiscal Year 2026-27 (FY27):
• Parking Lot Pavement Rehabilitation: As part of a multi-year parking lot pavement rehabilitation initiative to address various stages of degradation of park parking lots, successful pavement maintenance & renovation treatments have been completed at the following parking lots: Killefer, Eisenhower, El Camino, Olive, Grijalva, Shaffer, Handy, Fred Barrera, McPherson, Serrano, and Santiago Hills Park. The next parking lot location in need of rehabilitation is Steve Ambriz Memorial Park. After this parking lot is rehabilitated, the project will be complete.
Project budget: $60,000 (Slurry Seal and Stripe)
• Park Restroom Interior Renovations: Nineteen of the City’s parks have restroom buildings. Many of these restrooms were last renovated 15 to 20 years ago and are in need of renovation to ensure the restrooms are functional and an inviting space for public use. This project will involve initial evaluation, design, and renovation of facilities that are past their useful life or are in need of an update in subsequent years. A specific scope will be developed for each restroom building depending on individual needs. This program looks to renovate restrooms at one park per fiscal year. The restrooms at Hart Park were included in the Fiscal Year 2025-26(FY26) CIP. Based upon site inspections and evaluations, the next restroom facility in need of rehabilitation is at Santiago Hills Park.
Project budget: $70,000
• Sports Court Resurfacing: The City has 22 parks, several of which have sports courts. Parks with either tennis/pickleball, basketball, volleyball, and/or handball courts include Steve Ambriz, El Camino Real, Grijalva, Hart, Santiago Hills, and Serrano Parks. Court resurfacing is specialized and requires maintenance on a regular schedule in order to maintain a safe playing surface. A typical maintenance schedule includes court resurfacing every five years. With a total of 10 sports courts, the proposed court resurfacing program will resurface two courts annually based on priority of current conditions for the next 5 years. Estimates to resurface each sports court varies, so project budget will vary every fiscal year. The next two sports courts most in need of resurfacing are the volleyball courts and tennis courts at El Camino Real Park.
As part of the tennis court resurfacing, Commission considered permanently converting one tennis court at El Camino, which currently has a pickleball overlay, into four pickleball courts. The other tennis court with a pickleball court overlay would return to a permanent tennis court, resulting in five permanent tennis courts (see attachment). The conversion will include the installation of four sets of pickleball posts, sleeves and nets, color coating and striping, 3’ tall chain link fence to provide a barrier between pickleball courts, and two 3’ tall swing gates to close off the fencing between tennis and pickleball courts.
Project budget: $155,000 (Courts resurfacing and permanent court conversion)
• Veterans Park Memorial Fountain Restoration: Due to ground settling, the foundation of the Veterans Memorial fountain at Depot Park is lifting and is no longer level. This has caused fountain water to pass over the weir unevenly, causing tile discoloration and cracking due to mineral buildup. This project includes restoration of the existing fountain to correct waterflow issues, tile removal, and replacement of current tiles at the fountain.
Project budget: $50,000
• Santiago Creek Trail - Lodge Pole Fencing Replacement: Along the north side of the Santiago Creek trail, in the section between S. Cambridge Street heading east to S. Tustin Street, the split-rail fencing is rotted and broken in several places. The splintering wood and fence openings create potential safety hazards for trail users that are currently being addressed with temporary remedies on an as needed basis. Complete replacement is needed for the approximate 2,600 linear feet of fencing and can be completed in one phase.
Project budget: $60,000
• Playground Equipment Replacement: The typical lifespan of park playground equipment is 8-12 years and the existing playground equipment in several of our City parks is reaching the end of their useful life. While they are inspected regularly for safety standard compliance, many are exhibiting signs of wear and tear. Over the years, staff have made numerous repairs and installed replacement pieces, but the equipment will soon need to be replaced altogether. The goal of this project is to replace playground equipment that has reached the end of its life with new, safe, and accessible structures to enhance community well-being and provide a vibrant, engaging play space.
Staff will evaluate all City park playgrounds and will create a list of each playground’s current features and conditions. Commission can then prioritize one playground to be replaced annually, based on the community’s needs/interests and budget. The cost to replace each park playground will vary, so project budget will vary each fiscal year. The remaining park playgrounds without shade sails installed (one at Hart, Killefer, McPherson, Santiago Hills, and two at Eisenhower), could have shade sails installed along with the installation of new playground equipment.
The FY27 project budget takes into consideration the current average cost of public park playground equipment, the potential need for accessibility upgrades, and possible installation of shade sails still needed at various park locations.
Project budget: $800,000
In addition to the CIP projects to be submitted for consideration for FY27, the following is a list of previously approved in Fiscal Years 2024-25 and 2025-26 projects, most of which are already in progress, that will carryover into FY27.
• Skate Park at Grijalva Park
• Grijalva Park Master Plan Update
• Hart Park Diamond 1 Field Improvements
• Olive Park Netting Replacement
• El Modena Basin Area Improvements Design
• New Park in West Orange
• Rampart Street Park*
• Parks Master Plan
• Hart Park Bandshell Roof Renovation
• El Modena Park Area Renovation
*Rampart Street Park: The City is working to secure an operating agreement with OC Public Works for two parcels managed by Orange County Flood Control along the Santa River. The smaller of the two is a narrow parcel, measuring roughly 1 acre, and located next to N. Rampart St., just north of W. Chapman Ave., adjacent to the bike trail, and parallel to the 57 FWY. The parcel has been identified as a location for a new passive park in District 2 that could feature a proposed walking path, dog amenity/park, and water bottle filling station, along with existing mature shade trees. A preliminary conceptual design and cost estimate for design and construction is currently in development. While this project is already approved in the FY26 CIP, the City is awaiting execution of an operating agreement with the County. Once finalized, the conceptual design will be presented to the Commission for review and public input.
Project Budget: $1,250,000
7. ATTACHMENTS
• El Camino Real Park Court Resurfacing and Conversion Project Layout