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The San Ramon Parks and Community Services Commission unanimously approved the conceptual plan for the Bella Vista Elementary School park Wednesday evening.
The 2.6-acre multi-use facility, to be located at the site of the new elementary campus under construction in the Dougherty Valley, will feature a full-sized turf soccer field and a youth-level baseball/softball field as well as access to restrooms and a water fountain.
“We’ve been working with the school district and the city to develop the use for the park,” Steve Savage, assistant vice president for developer Toll Brothers, told the commission. “Everything we wanted to incorporate got incorporated.”
The nearly 20-minute public discussion Wednesday included brief debate about possibly including a cricket pitch at the park, but planners said there wouldn’t be enough space to accommodate a cricket field.
Commissioners also raised questions about other aspects of the project — such as there being only one water fountain, the fencing component and how to lock the restrooms. But ultimately in the opinion of the commission, the plans needed no further alterations to best serve the community and were approved as presented.
No citizens spoke during the Bella Vista park presentation Wednesday night at San Ramon City Hall.
The new park is set to be constructed by Toll Brothers, which is required to dedicate parkland as part of its development of the Dougherty Valley. The city will be responsible for park maintenance and scheduling of sports events there.
The commission did not discuss the construction timetable, but city public services director Karen McNamara said the park is expected to be completed in time for the new school’s opening, slated for fall 2016.
The park will feature a three-tiered fence lining and gate system designed to avert unwanted access while also isolating the park from the school itself. The system will include a 12-foot fence surrounding the entirety of the park.
Restroom access will be provided through the Bella Vista Elementary multipurpose room during the park’s public operational hours — non-school hours. Part of the park plan includes installation of a timed locking mechanism on the multipurpose room to prevent access during the park’s non-operational hours when school is not in session.
Bella Vista Elementary School will be located approximately a half-mile southwest of the Dougherty Station Community Center and Library in a yet-undeveloped area of the Dougherty Valley.
In other business
* A bid for the San Ramon Library renovation project has been accepted, with the winning bid “over the engineer’s estimated but within budget,” according to McNamara. The bid will be presented to the council Aug. 25.
The San Ramon Library, located at 100 Montgomery St., will be closed starting this Monday (Aug. 17), with the estimated 18-month renovation project set to begin Oct. 1. The original construction estimate was $4.45 million.
While the library is closed, a limited “pocket library” in the San Ramon Community Center will be made available and the Dougherty Station Library expanded hours will offer expanded hours.
* According to Jeff Gault, maintenance and operations division manager, Central Park will begin using recycled water for irrigation “sooner rather than later,” thus allowing the city to better maintain the park despite drought restrictions.
The current irrigation systems will be modified to avoid depositing recycled water on the walkways, water fountains or picnic tables, Gault said. Also, once the park’s recycled water irrigation plan is put into effect, city officials will revisit the renovation of the soccer fields, which were delayed due to the drought, he added.
A design-and-build contract for a skate park at Central Park has been approved by the council, and is being executed and within budget, Gault said. A total of $400,000 has been allocated for the plan that was quoted, by the contractor, at less than $300,000. Construction is scheduled to begin in the fall.
* The commission awarded its Temporary Employee of the Month for June and July.
The June recipient, Ryan Quinlan, has worked for the city since January as a senior recreational leader 1 in the teen center and sports programs. Quinlan was acknowledged for his summer-long work with a “challenging participant with special needs” along with assistance in the moving of the Gale Ranch Teen Center.
The July recipient, senior lifeguard Minh Nguyen, has worked for the city since 2009 as a lifeguard. Nguyen was recognized for his mentoring and supervising of lifeguards as well as his roll in helping city aquatics staff meet or exceed all needs and tasks.
Also, nine employees of the aquatics staff were recognized for their roll in handling of an undisclosed medical emergency, which required a 9-1-1 call.
* The commission elected its 2015-16 officers. On unanimous votes, commissioner John P. Mills was selected as commission chair and commissioner Heidi Kenniston-Lee was named vice chair.
Editor’s note: Kalama Hines is a freelance writer for DanvilleSanRamon.com.
Editor’s note: Kalama Hines is a freelance writer for DanvilleSanRamon.com.
Editor’s note: Kalama Hines is a freelance writer for DanvilleSanRamon.com.
I cannot wait to hear our councilmembers’ cries begin once the refurbished skate park opens outside the new Taj Mahal city hall. They certainly didn’t think that one through.
I don’t understand. Why would the council cry about the renovated skate park?
I take it you’ve never been there to see the behavior.
Their behavior will make the councilmembers cry? Really?
If you took that literally, it will probably make you cry too Steve.
I have been an avid police/fire scanner listener for many years. What should have been done is whomever should have looked into how many actual issues with the skate park and the basketball hoops! Anyone that is in the know will tell you that the skate park is a huge issue including drugs, alcohol, fights, etc., yes there have been some issues at the hoops, but for the most not too many! So, truly the skate park should go bye-bye, and the hoops should be put back! As far as the cost, I am sure fundraisers or some great group would be willing to fork out the money! BTW, neither myself or anyone that I know plays basketball, but I do have a friend that has a son that was beaten pretty badly for his wallet and cell phone!
One of the upgrades/changes to the skate park will be a fence around it that will be locked at night. That should cut down some on the problems.
LT Resident – if you didn’t mean cry, then what did you mean?
Steve, since you’re obviously well versed in the restoration and operation of the skate park, should we go through the list of city employees to figure out who you are? If you’re really so daft that you can’t understand what I’m saying, I’ll put it in simple terms for you: The city council members are not going to appreciate looking out their fancy windows during a council meeting to see the “children” smoking, drinking, littering, fighting and vandalizing the new and improved skate park. I hope that’s simple enough for you to understand.