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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 2023 0206 PR REG ITEM 07B Item: 7.B. CITY OF MOORPARK PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA REPORT TO: The Parks and Recreation Commission FROM: Jeremy Laurentowski, Parks and Recreation Director DATE: Meeting 02/06/2023 SUBJECT: Consider Relocation of Rocket Ship Play Structure from Tierra Rejada Park to Glenwood Park BACKGROUND On January 15, 2020, the City Council approved the design for an inclusive playground at Tierra Rejada Park and authorized staff to submit a Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant application to the California State Parks, Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS) for the project. In June of 2020 the City Council adopted the Operating and Capital Improvement Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020/21 which established a new Capital Improvement Project (CIP) for the Inclusive Playground at Tierra Rejada Park (CIP #C0063), noting that the project was contingent on receipt of the LWCF grant funding. In July 2021 the City was notified that the LWCF grant application was being recommended to the National Park Service (NPS) for funding in the amount of$775,750. Grant awards were delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, however in March of this year the LWCF grant for the inclusive playground was officially approved by NPS. The inclusive playground at Tierra Rejada Park will be a significant addition to the City's recreation facilities for a number of reasons. Unlike the City's other playgrounds, many of which contain individual accessible elements, the inclusive playground will be fully accessible, allowing individuals of all abilities, including those with mobility, cognitive, developmental, sight and hearing impairments to access the entire playground and its amenities. Site layout, design elements, and play features are carefully thought out and selected to create a safe, engaging space that is developmentally appropriate for all children. For example, a child in a wheelchair or with mobility issues will be able to get to the top platform of the play structure or be able to swing and ride the merry-go-round alongside their able-bodied peers. Sight impaired children will have appropriately designed play elements to explore. Hearing-impaired children with cochlear implants, who are not able to use plastic slides due to static electricity, will have a slide they can use with their peers that won't interfere with their implants. Site design also enables parents and caregivers with disabilities to access and engage with their children throughout the playground. 1 At a community level, the inclusive playground will provide an educational benefit by highlighting the importance of inclusion in everyday activities, regardless of ability level, and by showing that children of all abilities enjoy exploring, interacting, learning and having fun together. The inclusive playground will have regional significance as well. Currently, the nearest fully inclusive playgrounds are in Ventura and Calabasas. The inclusive playground at Tierra Rejada Park, therefore, will fill a recreational need in the east county, serving not only the Moorpark community, but the surrounding region as well. Additional information about the Inclusive Playground project is available on the City website at moorparkca.gov/playground4all. Tierra Rejada Park is not the only park scheduled for renovation in 2023. On June 15, 2022 the City Council approved the Operating and Capital Improvement Budget for FY 22/23, which included CIP #C0067 involving the renovation of Glenwood Park. Planned improvements at Glenwood Pak include replacement of the play structure and equipment in the age 5-12 play area, replacement of the existing sand with engineered wood fiber, sidewalk improvements to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, and the installation of a stand-alone sand play area with appropriate play equipment. This renovation project follows the 2020 renovation work at Glenwood Park that replaced the age 2-5 play equipment and installed engineered wood fiber in the age 2-5 play area. DISCUSSION Construction of the inclusive playground at Tierra Rejada Park will require a complete renovation of the existing play area and removal all play equipment, including the "Rocket Ship" themed play structure (Rocket Ship). This play structure was installed in 2007 and has become the park's unofficial namesake, with many residents referring to Tierra Rejada Park simply as "Rocket Park" or "Rocket Ship Park". Due to the popularity of the play structure staff is considering the possibility of restoring the Rocket Ship and relocating it as part of the Glenwood Park renovation project. A recent assessment by the Rocket Ship manufacturer(Miracle) indicates that the cost to restore the play structure would be comparable to the cost of a new similarly sized play structure. To better assess the community's attitude toward relocation of the Rocket Ship, staff developed and released an online survey. The short survey provided respondents a summary of the proposed relocation along with an image of the refurbished Rocket Ship structure and an illustrative map (see attachment). Respondents were asked to answer either"Yes, refurbish the rocket ship play structure and move it to Glenwood Park" or"No, give Glenwood Park a brand-new play structure." The survey also asked if they lived in Moorpark and on what street (for verification purposes). The survey launched October 1st and was promoted to the community at the City's County Days booth, on the City website and social media, by direct e-mail to Moorpark residents, and was included in a feature in the Moorpark Acorn. The Heather Glenn homeowners' association immediately adjacent to the park was also notified about the survey and posters were placed at Tierra Rejada Park and Glenwood Park promoting the survey with QR codes connecting directly 2 to the survey form. A total of 270 entries were submitted before the survey closed on November 18th. The survey results are presented in Table 1 below. Table 1: Overall Survey Responses Response Count "Yes, refurbish the rocket ship and move it to Glenwood Park" 188 70% "No, give Glenwood Park a brand-new play structure" 82 30% Total: 270 Overall, a majority of the responses (70%) were in favor of relocating the Rocket Ship to Glenwood Park. Eight of the total responses were from non-city residents, and all of those were in favor of relocating the Rocket Ship. Conversations with City residents at the Country Days booth on October 1st and comments on the City's social media revealed that some support for relocation is driven by a nostalgic attachment to the play structure, as a number of parents described how much their children enjoyed the Rocket Ship and therefore felt that it should be preserved for others However, when the survey responses are filtered to show responses from residents living in the neighborhoods adjacent to Glenwood Park (the Heather Glenn to the north, Maureen Lane to the east, and the Buttercreek/Talmadge Road neighborhood to the west) the responses are weighted in favor of installing a new play structure, as shown in Table 2 below. Table 2: Survey Responses from Adjacent Neighborhoods Response Count "Yes, refurbish the rocket ship and move it to Glenwood Park" 23 40% "No, give Glenwood Park a brand-new play structure" 34 60% Total: 57 Generally, the survey results suggest that while the Moorpark community as a whole may prefer to relocate the Rocket Ship to Glenwood Park, the communities adjacent to the park may prefer to have a new play structure installed for their enjoyment. Given the inconsistent feedback generated by the survey, staff is requesting direction from the Parks and Recreation Commission on whether or not to relocate the Rocket Ship to Glenwood Park. If the Rocket Ship is relocated, to ensure the safety of the play structure, the manufacturer would replace all weight-bearing supports and platforms, as well as all plastic components (slides, climbers, decorative panels, etc.). All relocated components would be carefully inspected, restored, and refinished prior to installation. If the Commission does not recommend relocating the Rocket Ship, staff will begin the process of soliciting and evaluating proposals from playground equipment manufacturers and return later in the 3 year with a recommendation for a new play structure at Glenwood Park for the Commission to consider. FISCAL IMPACT There is no anticipated fiscal impact related to the decision of whether or not to relocate the Rocket Ship play structure to Glenwood Park. The estimated cost to refurbish the structure is approximately $75,000, which is comparable to the cost of a similarly sized new play structure. Two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) is allocated in the FY 22/23 budget for the Glenwood Park renovation project (C0067). STAFF RECOMMENDATION Provide staff with direction regarding whether or not to relocate the Rocket Ship play structure from Tierra Rejada Park to Glenwood Park. Attachment: Sample Community Survey 4 .11 Relocate the "Rocket Ship" to Glenwood Park? ATTACHMENT Let us know what you think.* The playground at Tierra Rejada Park is going to be transformed into a new, fully inclusive whimsical-themed playground. This exciting t% i.`\ upgrade will welcome and delight children of all ages and abilities in a fun, safe. non-segregated setting. (Visit r ,,1�, moorparkca.gov/playground4all for details.) .14, , ,I, ' ,li; 1.But what about the rocket ship? .,1 II' �. I II Nearby Glenwood Park will soon be ready for a new play structure. "li• ' .�� 1"iij • For the same cost as a new structure, the City could refurbish the II,* 'i' ;li I:,lI� rocket ship and install it at Glenwood Park. Or should we give Glenwood something new? Let us know what you think below... I S I Yes, refurbish the rocket ship play structure and move it to Glenwood Park. No, give Glenwood Park a brand-new play structure. First Name* Last Name*I Are you a Moorpark resident?* What Street Do You Live On?* Yes I No Would you like to receive email updates about Email:* this project?* Yes No 3 - Park Ln �I. _ Harvestes Sl Al ycreek Rd IT GIRRwood Park s I ,i; ,,,;., .... ._ _--- - _ , ,fir , ''eoumaln - i � p apt aI F' 3 F Io y �N \ - 3 m J e'daw s., d �dB \ t wspra,gro, c� 3,''. , , ' o, �`x 1'{ "SAKI S, oystde IX_•I ._ , r,�� �� Tierra Rejada Park] `}/� ` I ' 1 \ �_ SZ '! J `_f 1i 1 ''''" 1�f i`P. �. .�:<N '\'\ //' \\ l 1 1-1-� �> I t —• •v Min` D. .... spnng Lteek Rd * indicates a required field