Title
Capital Projects Update (Philip Vitale, Deputy Director of Capital Projects)
label
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
It is recommended that the Cultural Arts Commission receive an update on the New Park at Linden Avenue and Pine Avenue, the Karyl Matsumoto Plaza, and the Centennial Way Trail Park South projects.
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New Park at Linden and Pine
In November 2023, the City engaged with landscape architect MIG, Inc. to provide landscape architecture, design, and community facilitation services for the New Park at Linden Avenue and Pine Avenue project.
In February and March 2024, MIG, Inc. and the City of South San Francisco together conducted background interviews with Vice Mayor Eddie Flores and key community stakeholders (Comunidad Inmigrante - Olga Perez; Friends of Old Town - Hermes Monzon, Dana Abarca, Brittany Burgo; Amoura’s - Bassam Sam Shihadeh) to determine ways to engage the community through events, platforms, and engagement materials for feedback on the new park project.
In April 2024, two new bulletin board kiosks were installed at the project site for the City to share project information and engagement materials as well as advertise engagement events.
The Visioning Phase of community engagement kicked off in early April with an Open House & Listening Session on April 13 at 616 Linden Ave. with more than 75 participants attending. A Pop-Up Event on May 1, also held at 616 Linden Ave., had more than 50 participants attend. Information about these events were posted on the project webpage, mailed to nearby residents and published through eblasts. A Merchant Roundtable meeting was held on May 30 at Amoura Restaurant with attendance from a handful of local and long-standing merchants.
The Visioning Phase allowed participants to rank program preferences related to play, gathering, events, and art. Circulation options were explored as well as special considerations for local businesses. The top three art preferences were Interactive Art, Murals and Entry/Identity Art, with lesser interest in Performance and Memorial Art.
The Design Alternatives Phase of community engagement is scheduled to run August into October. Activities planned include tabling at National Night Out on August 6 and Movie Night at Martin Elementary School on August 16, the second Open House and Listening Session on August 24, the second Merchant Roundtable Meeting will be held on September 6. An online survey will be included in this phase of engagement.
Karyl Matsumoto Plaza
The construction contract was awarded to Raposo Engineering in November 2024. Work began early January 2024.
The project is in the final phases of construction having completed installation of underground utilities, poured pathways, begun installation of planting materials, and prepared pads for art elements and signage. On July 10 the “Inspire” sculpture designed and fabricated by Ride Art Studio was installed. The gear bench art elements are scheduled to be installed the week of July 22 followed by installation of lighting for the art pieces. The art pieces were selected in 2022 through a nation-wide call to artists by the ad hoc Caltrain Plaza Art Selection Committee composed of seven members appointed by the mayor. The committee included then Mayor Mark Addiego, then Vice Mayor Flor Nicolas, Cultural Arts Commissioner Peter Foley, and then Cultural Arts Commissioner Ryan Campagna, and community members Karyl Matsumoto, Katie Deleuw, and Madeline Banfield. Site furnishing and the Karyl Matsumoto Plaza signage will be installed later in the month. A dedication of the Plaza is planned for Saturday, September 21. The dedication date coincides with Caltrain’s roll-out of fully electric trains in San Mateo County, and a series of Station celebrations along the alignment.
Centennial Trail Park South
The contractor, A&B Construction, mobilized on January 22, 2024.
Construction of the bike pump track, skate area, bioretention areas, pathways, playground features has been progressing over the past several months. The Evohelix art sculpture, which had been located near So. Spruce Ave on San Francisco Public Utilities Property (SFPUC) was relocated at the request of the SFPUC. The sculpture was moved to within the park project site in June. Staff is exploring costs to have the sculpture cleaned.
The project is anticipated to open to the public late summer 2024.