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Capital Projects Update (Philip Vitale, Deputy Director of Capital Projects)
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
It is recommended that the Parks and Recreation Commission receive an update on the Oyster Point IIC, Orange Memorial Park Aquatics Center, Orange Memorial Park Veteran’s Memorial and the New Park at Linden and Pine projects.
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BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
Oyster Point IIC
The notice to proceed for construction was issued to GECMS, Inc. in January 2024. Construction is advancing as the contractor continues installation of site furnishings, signage, plantings and drainage areas. The dog area has been mulched and the walking pathway installed. Trees, shrubs, groundcover and irrigation installation is nearly complete and the resurfaced parking lot is open. The north-south connector spur of the Bay Trail is anticipated to open the week of November 18. Construction of Phase 1 is scheduled to be complete by late November with a Ribbon Cutting ceremony planned to coincide with the annual South San Francisco Fun Run event on Saturday, November 23. Construction of Phase 2, which includes plantings at the westernmost portion of the project will start late November.
Orange Memorial Park Aquatics Center
The notice to proceed for construction was issued to Wickman Development and Construction in April 2024. Excavation was completed early November. Installation of grade beams and other foundation pieces will be formed and poured over the coming weeks. Steel structures are scheduled to begin arriving on site in December. Material delivery will occur through the vehicular gate on Orange Ave. The Tennis Drive parking lot remains open for Orange Pool users. A live camera feed of construction activities is available on the project webpage.
Orange Memorial Park Veteran’s Memorial
A new Veteran’s Memorial will be constructed as part of the new Orange Memorial Park Aquatics Center project. The memorial will honor and respect the service of Veterans, with a fresh design that includes the restoration of the Eternal Flame sculpture, updated recognition plaques, and a new illuminated flagpole for greater visibility. The redesign will also feature an accessible surface, providing a space for reflection and remembrance.
The City is seeking to honor and recognize all Veterans who lived in South San Francisco and died in the line of duty or from service-connected exposure. Residents are encouraged to submit the names of any such Veterans through an online survey or by visiting the Roberta Cerri Teglia Center at 601 Grand Ave or the Library | Parks and Recreation Center at 901 Civic Campus Way, where a paper form can be completed. All submissions will be vetted by Veterans Affairs, and eligible names may be included on new plaques at the redesigned memorial.
This initiative provides an important opportunity to honor those who have served our country and ensure their legacy is remembered in the heart of our community. We invite all South San Francisco residents to participate in this meaningful tribute.
Additional information about the Veteran’s Memorial is available on the project webpage at <https://www.ssf.net/veterans-memorial>. The call for submission of Veteran names and information was shared via email and flyers.
Linden Park Project
The Design Alternatives Phase for design of the New Park at Linden and Pine wrapped up in October. Community input during the Design Alternatives Phase was gathered through interactive methods including phone and tablet in-person surveys, paper surveys and feedback gathered at open houses, pop-ups and community events.
Two concepts for the park design were presented to the community which drew inspiration from traditional plazas around the world where plazas are the heart of the community. Based on the community priorities, the two concepts sought to create a contemporary new plaza and active park with gathering spaces, recreation, play and art features.
Concept A
Description: Park setting with larger play and lawn spaces.
Traffic Circulation: One-way alley connecting Pine to 7th/Linden.
Concept B
Description: Plaza setting with fitness and interactive sculptures.
Traffic Circulation: Hammerhead turnaround at Pine Ave.
As part of the survey, participants were asked to rate each concept independently on a scale of 1-5 (1=Low, 5=High). Both concepts received a relatively high score with Concept A at 3.89 and Concept B at 3.88 based on more than 116 responses.
Participants were then asked to compare each concept against the other and to select which concept they preferred overall. The result was just about tied. Respondents selected Concept A 44% of the time, Concept B 47% of the time, and a combination of the two concepts based on specific features 9% of the time.
Participants were also asked to rank what features they especially like about each concept.
Concept A
1. Flex Lawn: Large for events overflow, picnic, daily play space.
2. Play Area: Medium size with room for 3-4 features.
3. Gathering: With a shade canopy.
4. Trees and Planting Areas: Larger amount than in Concept B.
Concept B
5. Plaza: Large for live music/dance/community events and possible overflow space on Linden Ave.
6. Plaza Area: Smaller size with room for 1-2 features.
7. Flex Lawn: Smaller picnic and play areas.
8. Fitness: 4-6 stations on a circuit and a flexible class space.
Two traffic circulation options were developed that joined the two lots into a safe, connected park. An alley option would allow for car, truck and emergency vehicles to travel one way along a new alley connection. A hammerhead/cul-de-sac option would allow for cars, trucks and emergency vehicles to turn around without through access to Linden Ave. The earlier traffic study confirmed both ideas were feasible, and that traffic levels on nearby roads were under capacity and could support the change. The South San Francisco Fire Department and South San Franisco Scavengers (trash/recycling hauler) reviewed the options and confirmed that emergency response and trash pickup would not be adversely impacted.
Survey participants were asked which circulation option they preferred. Results were nearly tied with 50.4% selecting the alley option and 49.6% selecting the hammerhead/cul-de-sac option. Synthesis of key circulation comments were to ensure an appropriate number of parking spaces for visitors, reduce impact on existing traffic circulation, exploration of parking enforcement strategies, maximize park space and prioritize accessibility during large community events.
Overall takeaways from the survey and community engagement were to balance the plaza size with other key elements in the park and utilize Linden Avenue for occasional extra-large events, create flexible lawn space to host a variety of activities, provide a variety of types of seating, tables, and shade throughout the park, design the play area to be inclusive and visible from other areas of the park, ensure artwork reflects the community’s identity and heritage and provide restrooms for park visitors.
A project update was presented to the City Council on October 23. Staff, project designers, environmental scientist, traffic and civil engineers and representative for San Mateo County Health Department were available to answer project related questions. Councilmembers inquired about traffic studies, environmental clean-up and the process for developing a preferred concept design. A link to the video recording of the City Council meeting, with an option for translation into various languages, is available on the project webpage or directly accessed here: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP_YyUsyK4U>. Commissioners are encouraged to watch the Council Meeting presentation if not already viewed as it provides a great amount of detail that addresses community concerns.
Summaries of outreach events and feedback gathered during the Design Alternatives Phase have been posted on the project webpage along with updates to the Frequently Asked Questions which includes links to environmental reports connected to the 616 Linden/Volonte Automotive Underground Storage Tank (UST) case. Additionally, additional communications clarifying the environmental safety of the site have been circulated electronically and printed.
Over the coming months staff will work closely with the design team to develop a single concept that takes into account community feedback balanced with input from city departments and informed by cost estimates and further studies. The concept design will be presented to the community in the early part of 2025. Information about upcoming engagement opportunities will be posted on the project webpage, park kiosks, distributed through mailers, door to door flyers, email and through community partners.