TO: Chair and Members of the Park Planning & Community Events Commission
THRU: Leslie Hardy, Community Services Director
FROM: Robert Ambriz Jr., Parks and Facilities Manager
1. Subject
title
Capital Improvement Project Planning for Fiscal Year 2025-26.
body
2. Summary
An update of the Community Services Capital Improvement Plan for the current Fiscal Year 2024-2025 and potential park capital improvement projects for consideration for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
3. Recommended Action
recommendation
Discuss the proposed Fiscal Year 2025-26 collective list of potential park capital improvement projects for recommendation to City Council.
end
4. Fiscal Impact
None.
5. Strategic Plan Goals
Goal 2: Be a fiscally healthy community
a: Expend fiscal resources responsibly.
Goal 3: Enhance and promote quality of life in the community
a: Renovate, maintain, develop, and/or expand public use places and spaces.
6. Discussion and Background
The Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) is a planning tool used by each Department to determine future project needs and identify necessary improvements within the community. At the June 25, 2024 City Council meeting, the City Council approved the Department’s Fiscal Year 2024-25 (FY25) capital improvement projects, which included 13 projects (10 of which are continuing projects and 3 are new projects). Unless otherwise noted, projects are funded through the Park Acquisition (510) account (Park Development fees) and not the General Fund. The following table provides a summary of these projects.
Fiscal Year 2024-25 Approved CIP Projects
|
Area Lighting Replacement at Grijalva Park |
In progress, construction is currently out to bid, anticipate installation will be completed in Spring 2025. This project will be partially funded through Prop 68, which requires the City to provide at least a 20% match of the total project amount. |
$614,400 ($262,686 of that funding is funded through Prop 68) |
|
Cerro Villa Open Space Improvements |
In progress, enhance the open space by grading the existing ¼ mile loop trail, installing a natural material entry path, new lodge pole fencing at entry, open space rules signage, and installation of a park bench, trash receptacle, and mile markers along the existing footpath. Project is anticipated to be complete by the end of FY25. |
$35,000 |
|
Park Signage Installation |
In progress, final phase includes replacement of missing and/or damaged regulatory signs throughout City parks and updating the entry adjacent to the Hart Park monument sign located at the Glassell Street entrance. |
$90,000 |
|
El Modena Park Area Renovation |
In progress, design plans of netting around the existing baseball field to address safety concerns related to rogue foul balls will be finalized in FY25; construction of netting to start in Fiscal Year 2025-26. |
$702,649 (Cell Tower Fees) |
|
Grijalva Park Masterplan Update |
As the Grijalva Park Masterplan has evolved since its inception in 2003, funding will be used to re-conceptualize the remaining undeveloped acres to understand what will feasibly fit within the allowable open space, including the new skate park, a community arts theatre, community/library/senior center, and parking. |
$100,000 |
|
Hart Park Diamond 1 Field Improvements (Design) |
In progress; design plans will be finalized in FY 25; construction is anticipated to begin in in FY26 but is contingent upon cost sharing with Chapman University and Orange Lutheran High School. Total construction cost to be determined. |
$250,000 |
|
Hart Park Pickleball and Fitness Circuit |
In progress, construction is currently out to bid, construction anticipated to start in early 2025 and be completed in Summer 2025 |
$750,000 & $2,000,000 Federal Grant |
|
New Park in West Orange |
In progress; environmental review and design will be completed in Summer 2025; construction will begin in FY 26 |
$3,000,000 (Redevelopment Agency Funding) & $850,000 (Federal Grant) |
|
Skate Park at Grijalva Park |
In progress; design plans will be finalized in FY 25; construction to be completed in FY 26 |
$1,750,000 |
|
Yorba Dog Park Improvements |
In progress, this project will make improvements to the Yorba Dog Park in phases. Phase 1 has started and will replace the decomposed granite (DG) in the entry way with new concrete walkways, install an ADA access gate for large dog park, replace DG with turf in small dog park, and provide related irrigation repairs. |
$ 125,000 |
|
Olive Park Netting Replacement (New) |
The existing ballfield netting in some areas of Olive Park is damaged or non-existent, creating safety concerns for fly and foul balls. This project will include the design and construction of new netting. |
$200,000 |
|
El Camino Real Park Exercise Equipment (New) |
Design and installation of a lighted, shaded exercise equipment station at El Camino Real Park. The project is pending grant funding. A project schedule will be determined based on grant award. |
Contingent upon secured grant funding |
|
Serrano Park Lodge Pole Fencing Installation (New) |
Install approximately 475 linear feet of new, 3’ high, single rail lodge pole fencing along two sections of the park to prevent unauthorized vehicle access to the park. |
$39,000 |
Fiscal Year 2025-26 CIP Planning
Potential Fiscal Year 2025-26 (FY26) projects listed below include previous recommendations from the Commission, deferred maintenance due to reductions in the Department’s operating budget, projects deferred from previous Capital Improvement Plans, and continuation projects. Funding for these projects will come from the projected Park Development Fund ending balance at the end of FY25, unless otherwise noted. Staff will continue to explore alternate funding sources such as grant and partnership opportunities as well.
• Tot Lot Shade Sails: As a long-standing City Council initiative, shade sails have been installed over tot lots (playgrounds) at various parks. Over the years, shade sails have been installed at Belmont, El Camino Real, Grijalva, Handy, La Veta, Olive, Shafter, Steve Ambriz, Serrano, Fred Barrera, and El Modena Parks. No shade sails were approved to be installed in FY25. The remaining playgrounds without shade sails include Eisenhower (2 playgrounds), Hart, Killefer, McPherson, and Santiago Hills Parks. Staff recommends installing the shade sails at Hart Park in FY26. Shade sails will be installed over the remaining playgrounds in future fiscal years, pending available funding (including possible cost sharing with Orange Unified School District for the shade sail at McPherson). After these shade sails are installed, the project will be complete.
Project budget: $190,000
• Parking Lot Pavement Rehabilitation: As part of a multi-year parking lot pavement rehabilitation initiative to address various stages of degradation of parking lots at parks, 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 project is ongoing, and based upon site inspections and evaluations, the last 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: $45,000 (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 attractive 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 depending on individual needs. Based upon site inspections and evaluations, the first restroom facility in need of rehabilitation is at Hart Park.
Project budget: $70,000 per restroom facility
• Sports Court Resurfacing: The City has 22 parks, of which, several 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 surfacing 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. The oldest courts were last resurfaced in 2010, 2012, and 2014. 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 two sports courts most in need of resurfacing currently are Grijalva Park basketball courts and Hart Park tennis courts.
Project budget: $60,000
• El Modena Basin Area Improvements: Through a 1973 use agreement with Orange County Flood Control District (OCFD), the City operates the El Modena Basin located north of the intersection of S. Hewes St. and E. Jordan Ave. as a public park. Currently, the El Modena Basin’s amenities include a decomposed granite walking path around the interior open space. This project would provide area lighting to portions of the walking path, improve the walking path for an enhanced experience, and will include grading improvements to provide regulated ADA access. The project budget includes the costs to design the project. The scope of services will include but not be limited to conceptual design, presentation exhibits, construction documents and engineering details and specifications. This project will require coordination and approval from OCFD at the conceptual phase. Funding for construction will need to be identified in future years.
Project budget: $230,000 for Design Services
• Hart Park Diamond 1 Field Improvements (Construction): Diamond 1 at Hart Park is used as a collegiate level baseball field. The City currently partners with Chapman University (Chapman) and Orange Lutheran High School (OLU) to maintain this premier field. This project includes the installation of protective netting and fencing along the first and third base foul lines, improvements to the existing baseball field backstop and spectator seating areas, new LED field lighting and poles, renovated concrete walkway, new gates, and a drinking fountain/bottle filler. The design of this project is almost complete. The City is working with Chapman and OLU to determine cost sharing for this project.
Project budget: T.B.D.
• El Camino Real Park Court and Lighting Renovations: In Summer 2022, pickleball court overlay lines were painted on two of the tennis courts at El Camino Real Park. Due to consistent use of the overlaid pickleball courts and numerous requests from court users, the two of the existing tennis courts will be converted to multiple pickleball courts. The project also includes resurfacing of all existing tennis court surfaces and new LED light fixtures for the courts.
Project budget: $592,450
• Parks Masterplan: The current Master Plan for Park Facilities, Recreation, and Community Services is from 1999. The Commission has expressed interest in updating the plan. This project would initiate and develop a parks and recreation masterplan to determine long-term strategies that will guide how the City’s community parks and recreation facilities are developed, maintained, and optimized. The comprehensive document would cover a range of topics, including Vision, Needs assessment, Priorities, Policies, and a financial plan. The masterplan will consider the City’s existing park system, facilities, and programs and will examine the community’s recreational, programming, environmental, and maintenance needs. Practices for creating the parks and recreation masterplan will include collecting qualitative and quantitative data, engaging the community, creating an action plan, and outlining a plan for funding.
Project budget: $270,000
• Hart Park Bandshell Roof Renovation: The Hart Park Bandshell is a historic structure within the historic Hart Park. Based on a recent evaluation of the bandshell roof, it was determined that the roof is in need of maintenance and rehabilitation. This project will be a tile lift and relay which involves carefully removing the existing tile layer and underlayment of the roof and then reinstalling the tiles after replacing the underlay and pipe flashings. New tiles will be installed to replace any broken tiles.
Project budget: $36,000
The Commission is being asked to vote to recommend the list of Capital Improvement projects to City Council as part of the Community Services FY26 submittal
7. ATTACHMENTS
• None