No impact on the General Fund - 100% Park Dedication Trust Account.
The City of Lafayette (City) is requesting $51,000 in County Park Dedication funds to help finance improvements to Leigh Creekside Park located at the corner of Moraga Blvd. and 4th Street in Lafayette. The park contains a heritage oak, three picnic tables, a drinking fountain and a flat grassy area. The City has developed a Master Plan for the Park that incorporates a number of new elements including constructing a permanent pathway that will meander around the perimeter of the park and installing a new entrance gate. The new gate and path will be designed and constructed in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act..
Leigh Creekside Park is near two public schools, two senior housing facilities, a group home that serves adults with disabilities, and the Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail. The objectives of the planned improvements include: focusing on the existing heritage valley oak tree as the park's centerpiece and ensuring its continued health; promoting passive use of specific areas of the park; increasing use of the central meadow area of the park by adding low climbing boulders and incorporating a dry creek bed element that can be used by persons of all ages; and providing an open area for active play and community gatherings. The total cost to improve the park is estimated at $200,000. The City plans on improving the park in phases - the first phase includes installing the new ADA compliant path and entrance gate. This first phase of the project is expected to be completed by Winter 2015.
The proposed improvements to Leigh Creekside Park are consistent with the 2002 Lafayette General Plan. If this request for funding is approved, there will be a zero balance balance in the Lafayette area park dedication accounts. It is the policy of the County to utilize park dedication funds to meet local and regional park needs. As a public park, Leigh Creekside Park is open and accessible to all residents, including residents of the unincorporated County.
Without the allocation park dedication funds, the City would not have the resources to fully implement the proposed improvements to Leigh Creekside Park in a timely manner.
The proposed park improvement project supports the following community outcome established in the Children's Report Card: Communities that are safe and provide a high quality of life for children and their families.