Report Prepared by: Mike Conway, Assistant to the City Manager
Title
SUBJECT: Consider Locating All Wheels/Skate Park in McNamara Community Park
REPORT IN BRIEF
Consider locating an All Wheels/Skate Park in McNamara Community Park.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion approving the selection of McNamara Community Park for an All Wheels/Skate Park.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to other than recommended by staff (identify specific findings and/or conditions amended to be addressed in the motion); or,
3. Deny; or,
4. Refer to staff for reconsideration of specific items (specific items to be addressed in the motion); or,
5. Continue to a future meeting (date and time to be specified in the motion).
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 200.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As it applies to Youth Programs
DISCUSSION
The California Endowment/Building Healthy Communities Merced is requesting permission to construct an All Wheels/Skate Park in McNamara Community Park. The facility would be used by skateboarders, skaters, bike riders and others on wheels, as has been successfully done in parks throughout the state. The location proposed is an underutilized basketball court along Canal Street near the McNamara Youth Center, not the court near the parking lot on K Street. The Endowment expects to spend approximately $300,000 on the park, and in exchange the City would maintain it.
The Endowment considered several sites in South Merced for the All Wheels Park, but the McNamara site had the most favorable criteria. There were two community meetings held and the location received favorable support. The Recreation and Parks Commission unanimously voted to recommend the City Council select the McNamara site for the All Wheels Park during its August 28, 2017 meeting.
Once the park site is selected staff will work with the Endowment to finish design of the park and construction details. The Endowment plans to solicit comments from youth and park users on design elements of the park. The Merced Police Department was consulted early in the process and they expressed a preference for a park that would be at or above ground so that officers would have easy visibility during patrols.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
No appropriation of funds is needed.
ATTACHMENTS
1. All Wheels Park MOU
2. McNamara Park Concept Plan