REPORT TO PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Presentation and Action on Central Park Master Plan Update and Draft Ordinance in accord with City Charter section 714.1
Report
BACKGROUND
The City of Santa Clara's fifty-two-acre Central Park was designed in the early 1960's. The community park was built over several phases with federal, state and local funding. Since 2000, there have been various projects proposed that would improve, enlarge, or replace different park and recreational assets and facilities in the park, including the Library, International Swim Center (ISC), Community Recreation Center (CRC), Lawn Bowls, Tennis Center, Parks Maintenance Yard, Arbor Center and Playground, and a Creek Spur Trail.
In October 2017 Gates & Associates was contracted to assist the City with a Central Park Master Plan Update ("Plan"). The focus of the plan is to create a coherent vision that will integrate and guide Central Park's future improvements by establishing a set of principles, community supported priorities, and appropriate professional design criteria. The plan helps to address issues such as how the City should maximize green space within the park, improve access, circulation and parking, and design or include new park facilities and recreation elements that serve all ages, abilities and interests.
Community input was solicited from October 2017 to March 2018 and included a review of existing studies and park data, hosting community input meetings and events, conducting an online survey, interviewing stakeholders and soliciting Commission input for Council recommendation. Through the community engagement process, the public had opportunities to identify how they use and interact with Central Park and its elements, what functions well or not, and which park amenities are priorities to keep, change, or add.
On March 20, 2018 the Parks & Recreation Commission recommended the Council approve the Central Park Guiding Principles. On August 28, 2018, Counc...
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