Title
Proposition 68 Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program Grant Application for San Lorenzo Park
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Parks Commission:
a. Receive a report on the Proposition 68 Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program (SPP) grant application for San Lorenzo Park; and
b. Support moving the grant application and required Resolution to the Board of Supervisor for consideration and approval.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
On June 5, 2018, California voters passed Proposition 68 (Prop 68), the California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018. The approval of Prop 68 authorized the issuance of bonds in an amount of $4 billion pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance drought, water, parks, climate, coastal protection, and outdoor access for all programs.
The California Department of Parks and Recreation Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS) is administering Prop 68 funds for the Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program (SPP) grant opportunity. The SPP is a competitive grant program with $395 million available to create a new park or expand or renovate an existing park in underserved communities across California. OGALS is accepting grant applications in the amount of $200,000 to $8,500,000 and the application deadline is March 12, 2021. Per the Grant Agreement, grant recipients are required to record a 30-year deed restriction on the title of the project site property to ensure that the project will remain open for public use and recreation for 30 years.
The San Lorenzo Park in King City meets the eligibility requirements for these funds. The Public Works, Facilities and Parks staff have evaluated the needs of the park and adjacent community to develop a project scope for the grant application. Staff have held community meetings to gather insight from the community about their vision for recreation features and safety and beautification needs of the park.
During the community meetings, community members expressed a strong desire for developed trails around the perimeter of the park for mixed use (pedestrian, bicycles), as well as the development of existing informal trails on the west side of the park. These requests from the community have been incorporated into the proposed project scope for the SPP grant application. Also included in the proposed project scope is a splashpad. The King City community does not have access to a public water recreation feature to enjoy and the addition of the splash pad will provide an additional recreation feature at the park and serve the community well especially during periods of warm weather.
The Monterey County Agricultural and Rural Life Museum (MCARLM) has expressed the need for an outdoor classroom area to provide environmental education to visiting students in an outdoor setting. As part of the ongoing partnership with MCARLM, staff is proposing to include an outdoor classroom in the scope of the application as well.
The proposed project scope will include the following:
New recreation features and additions: Splashpad, restroom building with showers, outdoor classroom (MCARLM), and recreation trail around the perimeter of the park.
Replacement of existing recreation features and support amenities: Replace play structure, develop and surface a portion of the existing exercise trails, replace bar-b-que pits, installation of native plants, interpretive signs, enhance park entrance, and add wifi within the park.
A final project cost estimate is being prepared at this time in preparation for the application submittal. It is anticipated that the funding request will be $6,500,000 for the proposed scope and will include cost contingency and associated staff time as allowable per the grant guidelines.
Staff is requesting the Parks Commission support in recommending to the Board of Supervisors approval of the grant application and required Resolution for the California Department of Parks and Recreation SPP funds to revitalize and improve San Lorenzo Park.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
OGALS has dictated the language and format of the Resolution for which the County is not permitted to change.
FINANCING:
Prior to the County filing the project application for the SPP, the Board must adopt a Resolution, as outlined by OGALS, for the SPP program and a cash match is not required, however an in-kind match of staff time to research and define the scope of the project, complete the application and upfront costs to fulfill CEQA requirements will be necessary.
It is anticipated that the on-going cost of materials and supplies to maintain the newly developed project features will be $32,000/year.
Prepared by: Janie Bettencourt, Management Analyst II (831) 755-5184
Reviewed by: Gustavo Flores, Operations Manager
Approved by: Shawne Ellerbee, Assistant Director of Public Works, Facilities & Parks
Approved by: Randell Ishii, MS, PE, TE, PTOE, Director of Public Works, Facilities, & Parks
The following Attachments are on file with the Clerk of the Board:
Attachment A- Draft Resolution
Attachment B-Application Guide for the Statewide Park Development & Community Revitalization Program