BOARD APPROVES PARK DESIGN #4
At their April 6th meeting the Southgate Board of Directors voted to select
Park Conceptual Design #4 for Wildhawk East Park. Half a dozen Wildhawk
residents attended the meeting and spoke to the Board about their desires
and concerns for the park amenities. Most of the residents who addressed
the Board urged them to approve Design #4. There was also discussion about
the benefits and detriments with constructing a tennis court and/or a half
basketball court. In the end the Board voted for Design #4, which will
include: a preschool aged playground, a school aged playground, swings, two
separate shade structures with picnic tables, drinking fountain, open grass
area, connecting sidewalks, trees and landscaping. The Board selected this
design after great discussion and having considered the information
presented from the two community meetings, the survey responses, letters
from the residents, a staff report, the Architect's recommendation and
public testimony.
The Architect will now finalize this design and provide an engineer's cost
estimate for approval. This will start the construction drawing process
prior to being submitted to the County of Sacramento for comment and
approval. The District Board of Directors extends it's appreciation to the
Wildhawk Residents for their time and involvement in this process. The
District's goal is to deliver a park the residents will enjoy and which will
truly be an asset to the community.
BOARD TO APPROVE PARK DESIGN on
APRIL 6, 2004:
At the first community park
design meeting, held January 21, 2004, twenty-two (22) residents were in
attendance. At the second community meeting over fifty (50) residents were in
attendance, 36 of which had not been to the first meeting. This was a GREAT
turnout!! The District appreciates the residents spreading the word to their
neighbors and encouraging people to attend. Additionally, the District received
at least another 10 interest surveys from people who did not attend either
meeting. All totaled there were at least 70 people who participated in this
design process, to let the District know their preferences for their local
park. This is a lot of participation and we thank you.
At the March 18th meeting the Architect took the comments from the first meeting and interest surveys and created four conceptual designs. Due to the input received from the first meeting and surveys, two of the four park designs included a tennis court. These designs were posted before the meeting and everyone had a chance to look at them and see what they liked and disliked. This was very beneficial since the level of detail and space requirements for certain amenities were not available at the first meeting or at the time the surveys were completed. The designs were explained by the Architect and shared with the residents. The designs included: Design One: playground, shade structure and picnic tables, landscaping, and 1/2 basketball court; Design Two: playground, shade structure and picnic tables, landscaping, 1/2 basketball court, and tennis court; Design Three: playground, shade structure and picnic tables, landscaping, and a multi-sport court that would accommodate ½ basketball court and tennis court; Design Four: two playgrounds, two shade structures and picnic tables, and landscaping.
There was a great deal of discussion about the designs, primarily the division between those who wanted a tennis court and those who did not. There was much discussion about: the appearance of the 10’ high fence around all or portions of the court, the desire to have two separate picnic areas so that more than one family could use it at a time, the desire to have a preschool aged playground with swings and a school aged playground, the request that there would be no organized sport leagues held in the park, the concern about bringing in people from outside the immediate community and the problems that this can create. As previously stated, there was much discussion. It came time to draw the meeting to a close and no group consensus had been reached. By a show of hands the District obtained preferences from the 47 residents who remained, as to what they wanted in the park. On the first poll: 7 people chose Design #1, 8 people chose Design #2, 0 people chose Design #3 and 26 people chose Design #4. There were more comments with another show of hands asking for who wanted tennis courts, 9 hands went up. There were additional comments regarding the preference for a ½ basketball court. Again by a show of hands 12 hands went up.
In determining the best design for a park this size (2 acres) District staff considered several factors including: limitations of space created by a park this small, visual attractiveness of a park where three streets converge on it and homes front on 2 of the 3 sides of the park, best utilization of space for the greatest numbers, other nearby park facilities (present and future) including the planned 46 acre community park that will be located on the west side of Vineyard Road which will include: 6 lighted tennis courts, basketball court(s), soccer and baseball fields, permanent restrooms, parking, etc.). In view of the above and as a result of the input received from the residents from the two meetings and surveys, District staff input, and the Architect’s recommendation; Design Four will be recommended by staff to the Board of Directors for approval. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 6th at 7:00pm. The meetings are held at the Florin History Center, 7245 Fletcher Farm Drive, Sacramento. Once the design is approved the Landscape Architect will start the Construction drawings, the environmental work will be done, and plans submitted to the County of Sacramento for their review and approval. Once approved the project will be put out to bid. If all goes well this could be done in August 2004. At this time construction is not planned to start before the Fall 2004. A special thank you to Joe and Stella Ayala for their generous hospitality in hosting these meetings at their home. Please continue to visit this page for updated information.
Questions about this project can be directed to the Planning and Facilities Manager, Judy Robinson, at (916) 428-1171, ext.14 or jrobinson@southgaterecandpark.net.
