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California Parks and Recreation Society Statewide Awards Update (Greg Mediati, Director, Parks and Recreation Department)
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
It is recommended that the Parks and Recreation Commission receive a presentation on the receipt of two awards from the California Parks and Recreation Society Statewide Award Program.
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BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
Each year, the California Parks and Recreation Society (CPRS) hosts an annual competitive awards program celebrating outstanding examples of quality facility and park design, programming accomplishments, effective communications, community leadership, and professional successes in the parks and recreation industry.
Parks and Recreation staff submitted two nomination applications in December and were recently notified of the receipt of among their most highly-competitive awards:
• Excellence in Design, Park Planning: Orange Memorial Park Sports Field
• Excellence in Design, Facility Design: Library | Parks and Recreation Center
Excellence in Design, Park Planning: Orange Memorial Park Stormwater Capture and Sports Field Project
Orange Memorial Park is the City of South San Francisco’s flagship park - the heart of the community, which promotes physical activity, community building, socialization, and safe, equitable and accessible recreational opportunities.
While staff historically has dealt with long-standing maintenance challenges due to aging infrastructure, the field has been used by the baseball and softball community for decades. Soccer has not been scheduled on the field due to wear and tear on the field and potential use conflicts. For many years, the sports community has made requests for improvements both small and large to the field. Coupled with stress from on-going droughts and water restrictions, staff knew a new approach was necessary, and conducted a master planning effort to re-envision the field.
In 2018, an opportunity for funding arose in the form of a storm water capture and treatment project. Thanks to two grants from Caltrans, a large water treatment facility was constructed beneath the park that captures, cleans and reuses water from Colma Creek. A condition of the grant is that funding from the grant be set aside for the replacement of a field above the cistern.
The large cistern was placed under the park, which will clean, treat, and re-use over 15 million gallons of water each year for irrigation, and millions more gallons are recharged into the groundwater aquifer.
The storm water capture project is one of the first of its kind in Northern California and a model for cleaning our waterways, and providing safe, clean water for irrigation and ground water replenishment. In light of consecutive years of low precipitation in California, imminent water supply shortages, and calls for immediate conservation measures, this was a very timely and significant project which will provide regional environmental benefits, drought mitigation, and enhanced quality of life for residents. Additionally, the project provides much-needed regional groundwater replenishment in the Westside Basin Aquifer, which provides safe and clean drinking water to over 350,000 residents.
Atop the stormwater cisterns is a world class athletic complex, funded by Measure W. The all-weather turf field has the ability to host baseball, softball, soccer and other sports activities, along with special events like the annual community wide concert. The field was completed October 18, 2023, with a grand opening event enjoyed by 2,000 community members. Since then, between 300 and 500 community members use the field each day.
Excellence in Design, Facility Design: Library | Parks and Recreation Center
The new Library | Parks and Recreation Center (LPR), opened on October 28, 2023, stands as a vibrant "Community Core" in South San Francisco, catering to people of all ages and abilities. Spanning 83,000 square feet over three stories, this modern facility consolidates various City functions and promotes exploration, education, and leisure. Its key elements comprise: Library Services covering 35,000 square feet; Parks and Recreation Services covering 35,000 square feet; a 5,000 square-foot Council Chambers; 8,000 square-foot underbuilding parking; and 1.3-acre community park.
The Library boasts advanced amenities, such as a digital discovery center, a designated teen zone, spaces tailored for literary programs, study rooms, and computer labs. Additionally, the Parks and Recreation Department offers gathering spaces, art studios, fitness areas, multi-use classrooms, a teaching kitchen, and banquet halls.
The Council Chambers serve as the focal point, hosting council meetings and doubling as a community theater for events like performances and movie screenings. Surrounding this space is a naturally ventilated pre-function gallery area.
The 1.3-acre park and playground take inspiration from the site's ambiance, providing an engaging experience for visitors. Key features include:
• The Parkside Promenade, linking interior and exterior spaces, acting as a connector across the site.
• Addressing a gap in the Centennial Way Trail, a critical infrastructure element in South San Francisco used for walking, biking, running and other forms of multi-modal transportation.
• An inclusive playground designed for varying mobility levels with distinct areas for different age groups and fitness stations catering to the senior population.
• A multi-use synthetic turf for diverse activities like casual play, fitness classes, and outdoor movies.
• Tranquil garden spaces equipped with seating and earth berms for relaxation, reading, and socializing.
• Thoughtfully curated flora such as wildflowers and native plants enhancing biodiversity and supporting local wildlife.
• This new establishment serves as a communal hub, fostering learning, recreation, and civic engagement while embracing the surrounding environment. Its diverse offerings cater to the needs and interests of South San Francisco residents, creating a space for community interaction and enjoyment.
CONCLUSION
As an awardee, the City will receive the following benefits:
• A mosaic plaque.
• Statewide recognition via a dedicated video presentation at CPRS Connections 2024 Conference and Expo during the general session on Thursday, February 29.
• Prominent acknowledgement at the CPRS Connections 2024 Conference and Expo through the Best of the Best area in the Expo Hall and on the 2023 Best of the Best Recognition Wall.
• Statewide recognition in the spring issue of California Parks & Recreation Magazine and on the CPRS website, https://www.cprs.org/resources/cprs-awards.
• Use of the Award of Excellence logo for agency promotional purposes.
A small contingent of Department staff will be in attendance to accept the awards at the CPRS Conference in Palm Springs from February 27 - March 1.
The Parks and Recreation Department appreciates feedback and contributions made by City staff, the Parks and Recreation Commission, community members and local organizations that helped make these projects so successful.