REPORT TO PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Consideration of Potential Turf and Schematic Design Options for the Raymond G. Gamma Dog Park
Report
BACKGROUND
The Reed Street Dog Park located at 888 Reed Street (APN 224-02-001) was dedicated January 13, 2007 and renamed the Raymond G. Gamma Dog Park (Dog Park) by Council Resolution July 12, 2016. In September 2013, Council set a goal "to enhance community sports and recreational assets". In August 2018, the City began construction of the Reed & Grant Streets Sports Park Project which, in addition to the primary Project objectives to provide new sports fields, a recreation center and playground to serve the community, will provide Dog Park "Phase Two" improvements including a paved parking lot, a permanent restroom building, and facility night lighting (see Attachment 1).
The City is interested in addressing user concerns related to the Dog Park's natural turf, perimeter pathways, drainage, dust and maintenance issues, as well as consider the public request for synthetic turf and the potential Dog Park use of the un-programmed space adjacent to the railroad tracks. In summer 2018, the City contracted with Dillingham & Associates, the original Dog Park landscape architect (LA) to work with the Parks & Recreation Department to conduct community outreach through meetings and online survey, as well as to research and develop schematic design options that would improve the large and small dog off leash areas for the anticipated increased hours of use, address the health and safety considerations in the Park, and provide more efficient and effective operations and maintenance. The City also contracted subject matter expert Susyn Stecchi from Dog Parks USA with experience on over 1000 dog parks worldwide.
Due to the anticipated periodic and ongoing closure of the Dog Park for Project construction, the City met with the Dog Park stakeholder group in Summer 2018 to propose an interim solution. In December 201...
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