CC 2021-10-26_11a Prop 68 Grant Program Project at Elm Street Park_PP Presentation
10/26/2021
APPROVAL OF INCLUSIVE ELM STREET PARK PLAYGROUND REPLACEMENT PROJECT
- PROPOSITION 68 GRANT APPLICATION APPROVAL AND
- APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR PROJECT
Good evening Madam Mayor and members of the Council. My name is Sheridan Bohlken and I serve as your Recreation Services Director. The purpose of tonight’s presentation is to seek your
Council’s approval of the Inclusive Elm Street Park Playground Replacement Project. By approving this project, the City will be able to apply for the Prop 68 Per Capita Grant Program,
and with your approval to appropriate funds, the project will be fully funded.
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What is the Prop 68 “Per Capita Program”?
What are the options for the program?
Why Elm Street Park Playground?
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How did we get here?
Here are some questions to get us started in tonight’s discussion-how did we get here, what is the Prop 68 Per Capita program, and Why Elm Street Park Playground?
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Prop 68 “Per Capita Program”
Available for park rehabilitation, creation and improvement.
Encouraged to focus on existing infrastructure, and
Address deficiencies in neighborhoods lacking access to the outdoors.
Parks and Water Bond Act of 2018.
Administered by CA State Park’s Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS).
Allocations determined by population.
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On June 5, 2018, California voters approved Proposition 68, the “Parks and Water Bond Act of 2018” (Senate Bill 5). The “Per Capita Program”, administered by California State Park’s
Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS), was established through this proposition with the intent of supplementing existing capital outlay expenditures for recreation purposes.
Allocations for the Per Capita program are determined based on the population of cities, counties or other eligible districts. Under this program, grant recipients are encouraged to
utilize awards to rehabilitate existing infrastructure and to address deficiencies in neighborhoods lacking access to the outdoors.
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Community Partnerships encouraged.
Expansion of access for diverse populations.
Engage community in process.
20% total project funding match required.
Additional Program Criteria
Per the program criteria, recipients are also encouraged to develop community partnerships, to expand access for diverse populations, to conduct community engagement, and to be able
to provide a 20% match to the overall project total.
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Grant Opportunity Proposed
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October 22, 2019, Per Capita Program discussed and Resolution adopted by Council.
Potential of receiving $200,000 from State.
Qualifying projects identified from Capital Improvement Program Unfunded Parks Projects.
This grant opportunity was proposed before your Council and a resolution to qualify for the grant was adopted on October 22, 2019 (almost two years ago exactly!), with the potential
of receiving $200,000 in grant funds from the State. At that time, potential projects were identified from the Unfunded Parks list in the Capital Improvement Program.
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BBQ repairs at Strother Park
Fencing repairs at Soto Sports Complex (15k per year)
Field renovations at Soto Sports Complex (30k per year)
Turf leveling at Elm Street & Heritage Square Parks
Repairs to the Rotary Bandstand (Carpenter’s Union 805)
Strother Park sidewalk and concrete replacement
Playground structure replacements (Rancho Grande, Elm Street, Oro) (evaluated for priority each year)
Unfunded Parks Projects
The Unfunded Parks Projects has slightly decreased since staff identified potential projects, namely fencing repairs, field renovations, repairs to the Rotary Bandstand,
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Unfunded Parks Projects (cont’d)
Soto Sports Complex Court resurfacing (June 2022)
Soto Sports Complex Porter Field Lighting
Oro Park engineered wood chips surfacing
Strother Park fencing repairs
James Way Foot Bridge
Strother Park Basketball Court resurfacing (Winter 2021)
Kiwanis Park Maintenance Access
And Soto Sports Complex Court Resurfacing and Strother Park Basketball Court resurfacing projects having been funded and/or scheduled.
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Inclusive Elm Street Playground
Inclusive play equipment donation proposed in 2015 by AG Valley Kiwanis Club.
Funding raised by Club to date: $21,000.
Based on condition of playground, need for inclusive playground, and partnership potential with the AG Valley Kiwanis Club this project site was selected.
After evaluating the unfunded parks projects list, staff determined that a playground proposal would be most compatible with the intent of the grant. In addition, it was acknowledged
that your Council had previously approved a conceptual design for inclusive play equipment at Elm Street Park in 2015. With fundraising ongoing, the Arroyo Grande Valley Kiwanis Club
has raised over $21,000 to dedicate towards this project. Considering this, the need for inclusive opportunities for play in Arroyo Grande and the current condition of the playground
equipment, staff identified the Inclusive Elm Street Playground Replacement Project for the Per Capita Program Grant.
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Accessible path from parking lot to edge of play area
Accessible path from edge of play area to play equipment
Surfacing that complies with ASTM 1951 (engineered wood fiber product, shredded rubber, rubber mat or ‘poured in place’ surfaces (PIP)
Transfer station or direct play
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Accessible vs. Inclusive
Equitable use for people with diverse abilities/ages
Flexible play environment
Allows all to gain confidence through play
Sensory rich play environment
Promotes physical safety, emotional security & growth
Promotes sustained, healthy, physical activity
Appropriate size and space
Before moving on to the project site, you may be thinking what is the difference between playgrounds being Accessible versus Inclusive? While a playground must be accessible by a pathway
to the edge of a play area and to some play equipment, per ADA, the pathway may not lead to ALL equipment. In addition, accessible surfacing includes engineered wood fiber products
and shredded rubber which require a great bit of maintenance to keep surfaces level. Accessible play also requires that there is a transfer station or direct play available. Inclusive
Play includes all requirements for accessible play and goes beyond to incorporate play for all abilities (cognitive and physical), intergenerational opportunities, everyone’s right
to play by being more usable for more people, simple and intuitive design, provides physical and emotional security, allows independence through perceptible information, provides sustained,
healthy, physical activity with an emphasis on social participation and cooperation, and offers a play environment that is comfortable for individuals with diverse body needs, body
size, posture, mobility, environmental sensitivity, and motor control.
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Project Site: Elm Street Park
In consideration of an Inclusive playground at Elm Street Park, the proposed project is located adjacent to the Soto Sports Complex, at the corner of Ash and Elm Streets. As you can
see here, the playground and park are located in a densely populated neighborhood that is heavily used by neighbors who live in apartment complexes and homes with small outdoor spaces,
as well as serving visitors to the sports complex, day-use patrons, and folks who access the dog park, tennis courts/Pickleball courts. There is also a community garden located here
for local residents to grown their own food. The playground is accessible through the park and from Elm Street.
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Elm Street Park Playground
The current Elm Street Park Playground was installed in the year 2000. Generally speaking, the average lifespan for a playground is 15-20 years.
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Elm Street Park Playground (cont’d)
The Elm Street Playground has undergone some repairs over the years. This sweet car is priceless in its intent and design, though has seen better days when it had a steering wheel so
that it knew which direction to go! The floor of the Pirate ship is in decay and staff do their best to keep up with the repairs.
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Elm Street Park Playground (cont’d)
The playground is adjacent to the Elm Street Dog Park and often gets visited by furry friends. Sand finds it ways onto the sidewalks creating a slipping hazard and ongoing maintenance
for staff. The sand has also created a space where debris can be discovered by little ones.
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(3) virtual community meetings held in April, 2021
Signs at Elm Street Park
Social Media/Press Release/City Website
Flyer sent through Lucia Mar Unified School District
Community Engagement
With the Elm Street Playground Replacement project in mind, staff conducted three virtual community meetings in April, 2021 to solicit feedback from relevant user groups and the general
public related to the Per Capita Program grant opportunity. Staff installed signage in Elm Street Park, posted information to City social media accounts and website, and emailed flyers
out to over 3,000 parents through the Lucia Mar Unified School District providing notice of the virtual meetings and upcoming grant opportunity for park upgrades.
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Fitness options for adults requested
Native plants integrated into design
Emphasis on play for toddlers and babies
Bars for older children
Swings for all ages
Shade
Remove sand
Multi-generational access
Diversified colors/from other playgrounds
Inclusion of bike racks and benches for sitting
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Feedback Received
Valuable feedback was received from neighbors, park users and parents. The feedback ranged from requesting fitness options for parents while their children play to incorporating native
plants, to including play for younger and older children, swings, shade, sand removal, multigenerational access so that grandparents could also play, to diversification from other playgrounds
and inclusion of sitting spaces and bike racks.
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Current Status of “Per Capita”
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Deadline of grant application extended to December 31, 2021.
Allocation to City of Arroyo Grande confirmed: $177,952.
Application with approved project required.
Funding allocation needed prior to submitting application.
Since the adoption of the resolution in support of the Per Capita Program grant application in 2019, a whirlwind of pivoting occurred due to COVID-19 and deadlines were extended. The
new deadline for the grant application is December 31, 2021, and the City has received confirmation that the City of Arroyo Grande has been allocated $177,952 with an approved project
application.
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Pour in place surfacing (PIP)
Multi-generational and ability access throughout
Diverse play equipment
Colorful and easy to interact
Adult fitness equipment
Native plant display/interpretive education
Musical/sensory play
Interactive play
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Inclusive Elm Street Playground Proposal
With the feedback received, a final design was crafted and is presented to you tonight. The playground is colorful, inclusive of sensory play, all access for all abilities, adult fitness,
and native plant display areas. Staff have shared this most recent design with a Staff Advisory Committee and inquiries of maintenance and warranty for shade structures were confirmed
at 10 years, appropriate drainage confirmed for the permeable pour in place surfacing, and benches for sitting and viewing children were also confirmed and included in design. In addition,
the service organization, Arroyo Grande in Bloom, has agreed to assist with designing the native plant component of the playground, which consists of several pocket spaces within the
playground footprint featuring native plants and grasses in conjunction with interpretive education.
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Funding
Final project estimate: $369,484
Per Capita Program: $177,952
AG Kiwanis Club Donation: $21,000
Local Sales Tax: $136,426
Capital Improvement Program: $34,106
The estimated total project costs for the Inclusive Elm Street Playground Replacement Project is $369,484. Through the “Per Capita Grant Program”, the City is eligible for a grant award
of $177,952. The Arroyo Grande Valley Kiwanis Club has raised $21,000 in support of the inclusive playground at Elm Street Park. As the proposed playground replacement project is 80%
ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) inclusive and 100% ADA compliant, it is recommended that 80% of the balance for the project, $136,426, be allocated from the local sales tax fund
as it pertains to facility upgrades to meet ADA requirements, and the remaining 20%, $34,106, be sourced from the Park Improvement Fund as allocated in the Capital Improvement Program
fund.
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National Demonstration Site Accreditations
COVID-19
Safety
Equity, diversity, inclusion
AGTogether
Closing
In closing, Approval of the Elm Street Park Playground Replacement Project and associated funding is anticipated to result in an inclusive playground for the community. The inclusive
playground would incorporate and elements for NatureGrounds, Play-On Technology Promoting Physical Activity, the 7 Principles of Inclusive Playground Design and an Outdoor Adult Fitness
Zone, qualifying the playground for four National Demonstration Site accreditations, the first in the nation.
COVID-19 it has impacted the way we live and work in our community. While we have struggled to find ways to work and play safely, parks have continued to provide a place of reprieve,
peace and freedom to move and play. Parks provide space to learn and grow, to exercise and be healthy. Through the provision of opportunities to play that are equitable, diverse and
inclusive, together Arroyo Grande, will continue to provide for and assist our community to be strong. And as always, City of Arroyo Grande Parks Make Life Better.
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Questions?
Questions?
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