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Report Prepared by: Christopher Jensen, Director, Parks & Community Services
Title
SUBJECT: Presentation on Parks & Community Services Proposal to First 5 Merced County in Response to the Safe Play Initiative
REPORT IN BRIEF
In response to the First 5 of Merced County’s Safe Play Initiative, Parks and Community Services proposed playground installations at either General Vang Pao Park or Community Park 42. The goal of the Safe Play Initiative is to increase access to parks and playgrounds within Merced County by eliminating barriers to park access for children and their caretakers. The theme of the proposal is to increase access to playgrounds by building playgrounds that are accommodating to youth of all abilities and caretakers of multiple generations.
RECOMMENDATION
Information only
Body
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced Section 200 & Chapter 17.380.60 of the MMC.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
2022/2023- Parks- Continue to explore opportunities for increased accessibility for all residents.
DISCUSSION
First 5 of Merced County has developed the Safe Play Initiative. The goal of the initiative is to address obesity rates of children in Merced County by expanding opportunities to play through the development of infrastructure such as playgrounds. There is no match required for this grant. However, the proposed projects at General Vang Pao Park and Community Park 42 would need to leverage additional funding streams which would support their development. Proposals for this funding are not required to address socioeconomic or geographic factors and allow for considering all park sites within the City of Merced. All accepted proposals must commence production by 2025.
To account for the growing population of the City, staff are requesting Council’s consideration of playground installations at General Vang Pao Park or Community Park 42. Both parks increase playground access in developing areas of the City that lack play structures. The proposal for General Vang Pao Park required City Council’s authorization to utilize up to $805,000 of the Park Reserve Fund to assist in the development of the playground. These funds were generated through building permits within the City, $727,606 is based on cash currently available and $77,394 is based on deferred fees that would be paid at notice of completion. General Vang Pao Park is considered a neighborhood park in zone 4 per the Parks Master Plan. Although now repelled by the current Public Facilities Financing Plan (PFFP), Chapter 17.380.60 of the City of Merced Municipal Code allows funds within the Park Reserve to be allocated towards the development of new parks in any location at the discretion of the City Council. A proposal for Community Park 42 would be supported by an existing allocation of $5,000,000 towards the development of the site from ARPA.
The Parks and Community Services Department was recently notified that both sites are up for consideration and staff will be presenting to the Merced County First 5 Commission on Monday, March 13th. Staff will report the outcome of the presentation in April to the Commission.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
If funded, either proposal would increase the Cities budget and be allocated to an appropriate project number.
The proposal for General Vang Pao Park would allocate funding currently budgeted in Fund 442-Park Reserve projects to be determined up to $805,000.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Presentation