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The city is making headway with various parks projects
By Kara Chalmers
The Parks and Recreation Commission and the city staff have been busily working on plans for Saratoga's parks. Five projects, approved by the commission and the City Council this past October, will be financed by the park development fund, which is just under $2.2 million.
Architectural plans were finalized in January for new playground equipment at Kevin Moran and Gardiner parks, and the city hopes to award the construction contract in March, according to the city staff liaison to the commission, Cary Bloomquist. The equipment should be installed by June, when schools get out for the summer, he said.
On Feb. 4, city officials as well as representatives from the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) and Saratoga Little League, met with a turf consultant, Dave Moyer, with DBA Moyer Consulting Group, to discuss proposed improvements to Congress Springs Park's playfields. The commission has allocated $600,000 of the park fund to the improvements.
Some concerns raised at the meeting were how much downtime new playfields would need and which other fields groups could use during Congress Springs' renovation. No decisions have been made yet concerning where teams will play during the refurbishment. According to Bloomquist, AYSO and Little League made their needs clear at the meeting and the city is making a concerted effort to find interim sites for playfields.
"There's a bunch of ideas and possibilities, but nothing has been put down in writing yet," he said. "We're hoping to be able to utilize Saratoga High School's playfields."
The consultant discussed different options for grass and the possible layout of new playfields. The city plans to hire an architect in March to redesign Congress Springs Park, which is more than 10 acres. According to Public Works Director John Cherbone, the city has received requests for proposals from seven firms. During the spring, the commission, the user groups and the public will have a clean slate to work with in terms of redesigning the field. In September the city hopes to award a contract to a construction company, according to Bloomquist.
Construction at Congress Springs should begin in December and last through August, according to Cherbone, which would mean that AYSO's 2001 season would be impacted by the renovations. Saratoga Little League's 2001 season would be impacted as well.
The restrooms at three of the city's parks will be rehabilitated and improved by this June, depending on weather conditions, according to Bloomquist. In January, a San Carlos company, Jens Hansen Company Inc., was awarded the contract to renovate the Wildwood, Congress Springs and El Quito parks restrooms, for $158,661.
Construction has already begun, according to Cherbone. The interior and exterior of Wildwood Park's restrooms will be remodeled; Congress Springs Park's restroom's interior will be remodeled, and El Quito Park's restroom, which will also be remodeled on the inside, will be remodeled according to Americans With Disabilities Act standards. The Civic Theater will have a ramp installed. The cost of the ramp and ADA improvements at El Quito Park's restrooms will be funded 100 percent through the Housing and Community Development Act (HCDA), which gives grants related to improvements.
In addition, Wildwood Park will receive some of Kevin Moran Park's playground equipment since that park is getting all new equipment, Bloomquist said.
The water tank section of the Parker Ranch Trail which has been closed will remain closed indefinitely until the commission decides how to repair or reroute the trail section. Commissioners are looking into securing trail easements at different locations throughout the city, as well.
At their meeting Feb. 7, each commissioner "adopted" at least one park, so the public can contact the appropriate commissioner with questions or concerns. Sandra Dodge was appointed for Wildwood and Historical parks, Elaine Clabeaux was appointed for Kevin Moran Park, Judy Alberts for Beauchamps and Ravenwood parks, Norbert Fronczak was appointed for El Quito and Azule parks, Nick Seroff for Brookglen and Congress Springs parks, Barbara Olsen for Hakone Gardens and Central Park and Sheila Ioannou was appointed for Foothill and Gardiner parks.
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Saratoga, California Since 1955
