ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
PARKS, RECREATION AND ARTS COMMISSION
KIMBERLY MCCOY, CHAIR
JON DOHLIN, VICE CHAIR
DR. FRANCINE OPUTA
SCOTT MILLER
MONA NYANDORO CUMMINGS
HARMAN SINGH
JOSE LEON BARRAZA
KELLY KUCHARSKI
LAURA WARD
FORMER COMMISSIONERS
SARAH PARKES
CITY OF FRESNO STAFF
AARON AGUIRRE
EDWARD CHINEVERE
SHELBY MACNAB
ALDI RAMIREZ
DREW WILSON
SARAH GAYTAN
SUMMER ROOKS
CONSULTANT TEAM
WRT
URBAN DIVERSITY DESIGN
EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERSHIP
PAUL HALAJIAN ARCHITECTS
RUSSELL D. MITCHELL ASSOCIATES
NET POSITIVE CONSULTING ENGINEERS
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
HOW TO USE THIS REPORT
This report summarizes the engagement, assessment, and design process that Fresno Parks, After School, Recreation & Community Services (PARCS) conducted to determine how to allocate Measure P funds to improve four neighborhood parks in Highest-Need Neighborhoods in Fresno. This report can be used as a reference in the design of these four parks (Ball, Dickey, Holmes, and Romain), as well as a guide for how to facilitate engagement and design for other Measure P funded park improvements in the future.
The report begins by reviewing the Measure P ordinance and the HighestNeed Neighborhoods determination. It also summarizes a rigorous process that was used for prioritizing focus parks. To learn more about the HighestNeed Neighborhoods determination or the parks prioritization process please refer to previous reports on the subject.
The remainder of the report details the community engagement process, summarizes the assessment findings, and introduces prioritized improvements at Frank H. Ball, Dickey, Holmes and Romain.
WHAT IS MEASURE P?
Measure P (a.k.a. The Fresno Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Tax Ordinance) invests in our local parks and benefits our entire community by improving safety at Fresno parks, making essential repairs to bring parks and recreation centers up to current health and safety standards, invests in new parks, improves trails and street beautification, and creates programs for children and at-risk youth.
The goals of Measure P are in response to findings in the 2018 Parks Master Plan that approximately 80 percent of Fresno’s existing parks are in fair or poor condition. The Parks Master Plan also identified significant gaps in funding to maintain and improve existing parks, and to construct new parks and recreation facilities.
Measure P was placed on the November 2018 ballot after receiving more than 35,000 signatures of support and was voted into law thereafter. The Ordinance provides a guaranteed, local funding source for parks through a 3/8-cent sales tax in the City of Fresno for the next 30 years. While future revenue is subject to economic conditions, FY24 revenue is projected at $48 million. Measure P takes special care to ensure the revenue can only be spent on what’s specified in the Measure. The Ordinance also establishes the Parks, Recreation, and Arts Commission (PRAC) which guides the City in decisions involving Measure P funds.
FUNDING CATEGORIES
Measure P funds are distributed into five categories: Existing parks, new parks, youth and senior programming, access to arts and culture and trails and street beautification.*
1
46% of the funds are allocated to existing parks. This includes park rehabilitation and other capital improvements, facility upgrades to improve efficiency and safety, playgrounds and picnic areas, new restrooms and restroom improvements, park access for individuals with disabilities, sports facilities and swimming pools, and city-owned arts, cultural, and recreational facilities. Of the funds available for existing parks, no less than $5,000,000 must be used for maintenance and operations. Additionally, no less than half of the funds for existing parks must be made available for highest needs neighborhoods.
2
3
21.5% of the funds are allocated to new parks. This includes new neighborhood parks, pocket parks, and community gardens, public restrooms in new parks, new senior and community centers associated with the park systems, new regional parks located in the City of Fresno, playgrounds and picnic areas in new parks, and new public sport facilities and swimming pools. No less than half of the funds for new parks must be made available for neighborhoods of highest needs.
80.5% of the funds are allocated to programming for youth and seniors. This includes projects and programming that promotes recreation and accessibility to recreational facilities, sports, arts and active programs, community and senior recreation center programs, swimming and water-oriented programs, and other youth-oriented activities. No less than half of these funds must go to programs that provide job training, career development, to youth, young adults and veterans.
4
5
12% of the funds are allocated for expanded access to arts and culture. These funds are allocated through a partnership with the Fresno Arts Council and include organizational stability for arts and cultural organizations that reflect the cultural, geographic and demographic diversity of the City of Fresno. It prioritizes organizations and programs that support and expand diverse public or youth engagement and equity.
11.25% of the funds are allocated for safe walking and biking trails, street beautification, and the San Joaquin River Parkway. Of these funds, forty-seven percent are reserved for projects that include trail development, including bike, pedestrian and equestrian trials and urban greening and tree planting. Twenty percent are reserved for operations and maintenance of trails. Twenty five percent of the funds are prioritized for pedestrian and bicycle pathways. Eighteen percent are for operations and projects consistent with the San Joaquin River Parkway Master Plan. Lastly, thirty-five percent are for development, improvement, restoration, maintenance, or rehabilitation along major roads and streets in the City of Fresno.
* An additional .75% of the total funds are made available on an annual basis to invest in program implementation, planning and plan updates, program and project innovation, and audit and oversight support to ensure the investments made by the citizens of Fresno create a world class set of facilities and programs.
HIGHEST-NEED NEIGHBORHOODS
Measure P requires that no less than 50 percent of funds for existing and new parks must be allocated to “highest-need neighborhoods.” The Ordinance provides guidance on how these neighborhoods should be defined by the City, in conjunction with the PRAC.
The City and the PRAC led two public workshops, giving people the opportunity to provide input on (1) which factors are most important when considering park investments in high-need neighborhoods and (2) what proportion of Fresno neighborhoods should be considered “highest-need.”
Following this process, PRAC recommended a definition to City Council. After deliberation, City Council adopted the following definition of highestneed neighborhoods:
The following Equity Factors shall be prioritized by giving them two times the average weighting:
(A) Existing conditions of parks and facilities based on needs assessment data in the Plan;
(C) Park acreage per 1,000 residents;
(E) Neighborhood youth and senior population;
(G) Neighborhoods of concentrated poverty;
(H) Pollution burden, as defined by CalEnviroScreen 3.0, or subsequent updates;
(J) Years of potential life lost;
The following Equity Factors shall be given average weighting:
(B) The proportion of the population that lives within walking distance (1/2 mile) to a park;
(D) Population density;
(F) Neighborhood safety;
(K) Neighborhood composite mortality rate;
The following Equity Factor shall be de-emphasized by giving them half the average weighting:
(I) Pre-term birth rates.
The top 33 percent of Fresno census tracts, based on this weighting, shall be considered highest-need for the purposes of allocating funds under Measure P.
HIGHEST-NEED NEIGHBORHOODS IN FRESNO
PRIORITIZING EXISTING PARKS FOR MEASURE P FUNDING
The Measure P Ordinance states that 46% of Measure P funds must go to improving and maintaining existing neighborhood parks and playgrounds, 50% of which must be for parks in Highest-Need Neighborhoods. Following the highest-need neighborhoods determination the PRAC moved on to consider an approach to prioritizing which individual parks should receive Measure P funds. To aid the PRAC, the design team and City staff proposed an evaluation framework to ground the Commission’s recommendations. The framework considered a set of seven weighted “prioritization factors”. Each park was given an overall score based on the Prioritization Factors. The analysis then considered whether the park was in a Highest-Need Neighborhood or not. (See the Parks Prioritization Report for details on the process).
PRIORITIZATION FACTORS
EXISTING PRIORITY PARKS
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
On February 7, 2022, the Commission voted to recommend that the top 20 parks based on the weighted criteria be prioritized for Measure P funding, focusing on (1) the highest-scoring parks in Highest-Need Neighborhoods and (2) the highest-scoring parks in other neighborhoods. Below are the top-scoring parks overall and the top-scoring parks that are in highest need neighborhoods.
TOP SCORING PARKS OVERALL
1. Vinland
2. Einstein
3. Quigley
4. El Dorado
5. Logan
6. Ninth & Tulare
7. Roeding Regional
8. Riverbottom
* Bolded parks appear on both lists
TOP SCORING PARKS IN HIGHEST-NEED NEIGHBORHOODS
1. Ninth & Tulare
2. Roeding Regional
3. Basin XX
4. Romain
5. Frank H. Ball
6. Mary Ella Brown
7. Dickey
8. Holmes
PARK PRIORITIZATION
FOUR FOCUS PARKS
FRANK H BALL
DICKEY
FRESNO
SELECTING FOUR FOCUS PARKS
To select the four parks that are the focus of this report, PARCS staff and design consultants visited each top-scoring park in Fresno’s Highest-Need Neighborhoods. PARCS hoped to identify the top parks that would benefit from significant design interventions but not those parks that were better suited for a full-scale redesign. After visiting each park, the design team and PARCS staff determined that Roeding Regional and Mary Ella Brown were best suited for a larger master planning effort and will be addressed through a future planning process. The Ninth & Tulare site is very small, with limited recreational value, and the Basin XX site is owned by Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District. This leaves Frank H. Ball, Dickey, Holmes, and Romain as the focus of this engagement and design effort.
The following chapters summarize the engagement, assessment and design process that ultimately informs how improvements will be made at these four parks. Included in this process is a set of six climate, equity, health and maintenance focused themes to guide improvements at Fresno parks. These themes are presented on the following pages.
THEMES FOR PARK IMPROVEMENTS
1
CLIMATE RESILIENCE: HEAT
Climate change will create hotter conditions. Parks, pools, and recreation centers can help protect our community by offering shade, services, and cooling close to home. Examples of potential improvement projects could include:
• Shade structures over picnic areas and playgrounds
• Pool renovations & Splash pads
• Drinking fountain / Bottle fillers
• Cooling centers at existing facilities
2
CLIMATE RESILIENCE: DROUGHT
Climate change will increase drought. Park planting should become more water-wise. Water delivery systems should become more efficient. Examples of potential improvement projects could include:
• Drought tolerant tree planting for shade
• Lawn reduction through turf conversion
• Climate appropriate planting
• Irrigation system renovations and modernization
• Water-wise fixture replacement
3
WELCOMING AND SAFE PARKS
Parks should appear welcoming to all at the entry and perimeter and contribute positively to the surrounding neighborhood. Examples of potential improvement projects include:
• Entry beautification
• Park signage/branding/rules
• Perimeter beautification
• Painting buildings, adding murals
• Safety lighting
BASIC COMFORT AND USABILITY
Parks should be equipped with functional amenities that can be enjoyed by users. Examples of potential improvement projects include:
• Restroom upgrades and maintenance
• Furnishing upgrades such as benches, picnic tables, trash
• Field renovations
• Playground renovations
• Other amenity repair and replacement
INCLUSION AND ACCESSIBILITY
Parks are inclusive to all users and improvements are coordinated with the City’s ADA transition plan. Examples of potential improvement projects could include:
• Accessible routes
• Building ADA upgrades
• Inclusive/all-abilities play features
• Program support for health and wellness
• Multigeneration park amenities
TRAILS AND SAFE ACCESS TO PARKS
Parks should be safely accessed from surrounding neighborhoods by all ages. Trails are integral to a park system and can provide access to both urban parks and natural areas. Examples of potential improvement projects include:
• Sidewalk and safe street crossing enhancements at parks
• Facilities for bikes in parks
• New trail development
• Improvements to existing trails
COMMUNITY PRIORITIES
ENGAGEMENT PROCESS
The engagement process, which began in October 2022, included a robust set of activities. The design team, and PARCS staff met with stakeholders at each park. A youth-friendly survey was designed and distributed for each of the four parks. Every Neighborhood Partnership (ENP) and Southeast Fresno Community Economic Development Association (SEFCEDA), assisted the City of Fresno and the design team with engaging hard-toreach community members. In March 2023, four community workshops were held, one at each park. Feedback from the community helped prioritize which amenities are most desired at each park.
In October 2022, the design team and PARCS staff engaged with stakeholders around Frank H Ball, Dickey, Romain, and Holmes. Representatives from the park site staff, sports organizers, community leaders, and CBOs, who utilize park facilities for their services and activities, attended the meetings. Meetings were conducted virtually. Stakeholders reviewed a brief presentation about each park. A set of questions were presented to help stimulate discussions around the parks. Stakeholders’ feedback informed the project team of issues that park users encounter and their vision for future improvements.
Questions that were asked from the participants at each meeting:
• How does your community currently use the park?
• How would you like to use the park in the future?
• What is one improvement you would most like to see in the park?
Key themes from each of the four meetings were summarized in a report (see Appendix). These stakeholder meetings helped to inform the subsequent engagement effort and get the word out about the intended improvements.
STAKEHOLDER KICKOFF MEETINGS
From December 2022 to February 2023, 16 pop-up events occurred at the four parks, community events, and at ten local schools. At each pop-up, residents were able to learn about Measure P and provide feedback on surveys and on maps, indicating their priorities for park improvements.
All the materials used to engage with residents at the pop-ups were presented in four languages: English, Spanish, Hmong, and Punjabi.
Pop-up’s occurred at: Lowell Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, Jackson Elementary, Hidalgo Elementary, Gaston Middle, Tehipite Middle, McLane High, Edison High, and Roosevelt High.
DOOR TO DOOR CANVASING
Door to door canvasing was used in targeted areas to reach more community members. Three outreach workers visited almost 500 households near Romain and Holmes. They talked with almost 350 people and handed out surveys and collected contact information. PARK POP-UPS
YOUTH FRIENDLY PARK SURVEY
Frank H. Ball, Dickey, Holmes, and
Stakeholder input helped the design team to implement park-specific surveys for each of the four parks. The surveys were designed to be easily understood by kids as young as elementary school age. They were distributed in four languages: English, Spanish, Hmong, and Punjabi. Each survey included questions regarding how people access the parks and how often they visit. Residents could choose familiar elements in each park that attracted them to the parks, or that they thought needed improvements. Outreach partners, ENP and SECEDA, distributed the surveys at the parks, schools, and neighborhoods around the four parks. Stakeholders were asked to distribute the surveys on their websites and social media platforms, and postcards with Survey QR codes were distributed at the park sites.
PARK WORKSHOPS
The input gathered from the community members and stakeholders between October 2021 and February 2023 complemented the design teams’ park assessments. The cumulative results helped the team to develop conceptual design and improvement recommendations for Dickey, Frank H Ball, Romain, and Holmes that were shared with the community at a series of engagement events in March 2023. The design team, outreach partners and PARCS staff facilitated four community workshops at each of the four parks. Community members reviewed park concept plans and improvement recommendations, provided input on handouts, and shared their priorities for projects at each park.
These workshops were advertised through various online and social media platforms, notices were sent to the stakeholders, and postcards were mailed to all addresses in a 1-mile radius around each park. In addition, park site staff at each park handed out workshop flyers to park users.
DICKEY PLAYGROUD
ENGAGEMENT FRANK H BALL PARK
HOLMES PLAYGROUD
ROMAIN PLAYGROUD
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK ON FRANK H BALL PARK
The stakeholder meeting for Ball was held on October 19 2022. It was attended by local organizers and resident leaders including members of Every Neighborhood Partnership, Tree Fresno, Image Church, Black American Political Association of California, and City staff. At the heart of West Fresno, participants said that Ball is a cultural hub for the community. The community has a lot of connection to the park, especially the gym. The mural on the gym facade gives the part identify and makes it a landmark.
Today, the park is used for various sporting events, summer movie nights, tree planting events and dance performances. Stakeholders also report that the pool is very active and loved. According to stakeholders, priorities for improvement include the community center, basketball courts, picnic areas, shade, restrooms and wader pool.
The community center is outdated. The building is not ADA accessible and needs to be reconfigured to accommodate the community needs. Stakeholders see a need for the center to have a multipurpose room, weight room, indoor basketball courts and a better air conditioning system.
Stakeholders had a lot of recommendations for improvements outside as well. Comments shared reflected that the fields are not designed for multiple uses, the playground should accommodate different age groups, the bathroom needs to be updated and more trees are needed around the exterior edges. Some stakeholders also advocated for an outdoor performance space, a farmers market, more security, and parking inside the park.
At Frank H. Ball, there were 131 surveys received both at pop-up events and online. Most people said they go to the park to play at the playground, play sports, walk/exercise, watch a game and picnic.
The Ball workshop occurred on Saturday March 18, 2023. Participants were asked to rank potential improvements in the park from least important to most. The workshop was focused on feedback about updates to the pool
According to survey feedback, the top 5 elements that should be improved at Frank H Ball are:
Sports Courts
Seating
What Are Your Priorities? Rank these potential improvements from most important (1) to least (4) and tell us why! Pool and Splash Pad
Frank H Ball Park Improvements
and the creation of a new splash pad, changes to the picnic area and playground and the renovation of the community center and plaza.
The key findings from the workshop were that the community center, though clearly in need of updates, is an important neighborhood destination. Rebuilding or remodeling the community center is a high priority though the mural on the building should be preserved if possible. Additionally, basketball is very important at this park and both the indoor and outdoor courts are active throughout the week. It was expressed that the playground, picnic area and bathroom do not often feel safe for kids, and it is hard for parents to sit in a shady area and watch their children play. The pool is a beloved part of the park in the summer and updates could enhance it significantly. Lastly, the baseball field is not frequently used for baseball but is noted to offer value as an unprogrammed grass field for flexible use.
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK ON DICKEY PLAYGROUND (PARK)
The stakeholder meeting for Dickey was held on October 19, 2022. It was run by City staff and attended by local leaders including members of Lowell CDC, Every Neighborhood Partnership, Chicano Youth Center, Tree Fresno, Fresno Social Sports, the LEAP Institute and Image Church. Participants communicated the historical significance of Dickey Playground’s name and takeholders want the name to be celebrated.
Participants reported that the park is quite active. It is the only park that hosts an adult-exclusive kickball league every week. It is also home to cultural and neighborhood events: Day of the Dead march to Arte America, Thanksgiving dinner, festivals, etc. The sports facilities are used often at Dickey and are often used in alternative ways. The courts are used for events set up, while kids use the green space to play. Though, too many fences inside the park make it challenging to use courts for events.
A big priority for stakeholders was safety and cleanliness. There are lots of cigarette butts around, the bleaches need cleaning and trash cans are messy. Participants advocated for quick maintenance and repair to communicate to people that the park is cared for. Residents don’t like the wood chips in the playground because it is hard to clean and can be dangerous for kids if they step on something unsafe in the chips.
Stakeholders recommended improvements including multiuse courts, an airnasium for more shade, a social gathering space like a plaza or amphitheater, walking trails for exercise, tables and grills and a more welcoming entrance to the park.
There were 96 survey responses from both online and in person pop-ups. Most people visit the park to play at the playground or splash pad, play sports, walk/exercise, go to an event or attend an after school program. Dickey has a strong identity as a historic park in Fresno, but the community identified a variety of challenges at the park.
According to survey feedback, the top 5 elements that should be improved at Dickey are:
What Are Your Priorities? Rank these potential improvements from most
The Dickey workshop occurred on Saturday March 18, 2023. There was a great turnout at the event. There was a Martin Parks event occurring at the same time and many people attended both events. Participants were asked to help prioritize park improvements. The workshop focused on improvements to the restroom and plaza, the park entrance and connection to the community center, and renovations to the field and sports courts.
The workshop confirmed that the top concern at the park is the restroom and safety issues, especially for kids. Though some people do feel safe visiting the park, most people perceive the park to be unsafe and entering the park can feel uncomfortable. There is a need for safe access to the park from the surrounding neighborhood. The workshop also confirmed that the basketball and volleyball courts get a lot of use as a community gathering space in addition to sports. Lastly that there is a serious lack of shade at Dickey.
Dickey Playground (Park) Improvements
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK ON HOLMES PLAYGROUND (PARK)
The Holmes stakeholder meeting was on October 27, 2022. It was attended by members from ENP, Fresno Lawn Bowling Club, and Jackson CDC. Participants shared that Holmes is a highly visited multi-generational park. Religious groups use it on Saturday and Sunday, residents from multi-family housing to the north and east and many sports leagues and teams use it, especially in the evenings.
Holmes is the only park in the San Joaquin Valley with a lawn bowling field. People come from all over the Fresno area to use it. It is also the only Fresno park that has an outdoor performing stage which gets used for festivals, hip-hop dance and high school groups. The mural in the background of the stage was painted by staff and kids. The park has a lot of potential but there are some challenges.
Feedback identified similar concerns about safety at Holmes, although to a lesser degree compared to the other parks. Participants shared that they felt unsafe crossing adjacent streets to access the park. Moreover, once you are able to cross the street, the entrances to the park are not welcoming. The restroom feels unsafe for families and needs to be upgraded. However, in general stakeholders shared that small interventions would go a long way to making the park feel more inviting and safe.
There were 201 surveys received at Holmes. Most people visit the park to play sports, walk/exercise, play at the playground or watch a game.
The Holmes workshop occurred on Friday March 17, 2023. Participants were asked to help prioritize improvements to the park entry, a new group picnic area, a new splash pad and a mounded hangout area. There was positive feedback for the design concept overall. The splash pad, updates
According to survey feedback, the top 5 elements that should be improved at Holmes are:
What Are Your Priorities?
Rank these potential improvements from most important (1) to least (4) and tell us why!
to the restroom, multi-use fields and beautification of the stage and picnic area were all highly supported features.
Concerns voiced included issues around safety at night, safety at the restroom and a lack of sufficient shade and seating. Stakeholders advocated for more play areas, updated sports courts and turf. Multi-use fields are important to accommodate more soccer, volleyball and takraw. People are also interested in more passive recreation opportunities such as trails around the park and open green space.
Romain Playground (Park) Improvements
ROMAIN PLAYGROUND (PARK) ENGAGEMENT
The Romain stakeholder meting was attended by members from ENP, Councilmember Esparza’s office, Hidalgo CDC, Fresno Pal Boxing, Another Level Training Academy-Director of African American Museum, Fresno EOC Head Start, and Tree Fresno. The meeting occurred on October 27, 2022.
Romain is another beloved park in Fresno. It is home to the Police Activities League (PAL) Boxing program, Head Start and events such as Beat the Heat. The community center is used every day for after school programs and tutoring. The park runs very effectively and there are good relationships between the public and PARCS on site staff.
The stakeholders shared a vision for the future of Romain that includes better access to the park. First Street to the east is not safe to cross for residents and most families with children in the neighborhood have no car. For those who do drive, the parking lot presents a set of challenges. It is hard to navigate, often full, and there is no safe place for drop off and pick up.
There are also significant concerns about the unhoused population that lives at this park. It creates an unsafe feeling for families especially in the evenings when the park tends to be most active.
The building poses some challenges as well. The boxing program is very active but it is hard to safely use the space in the summer due to reported HVAC issues.
There were 177 surveys received at Romain. Post people visit the park to go to the playground, walk/exercise, play sports, watch a game and picnic.
According to survey feedback, the top 5 elements that should be improved at Romain are:
1. Playground
2. Restroom
4. Sports Courts
3. Seating
5. Shade
What Are Your Priorities?
Rank these potential improvements from most important (1) to least (4) and tell us why!
I feel this way because....
The workshop at Romain occurred on Thursday March 16, 2023. It was the busiest workshop. There was a large turnout due in part to the time of day but mostly because Romain is a very active park. Participants were asked to prioritize improvements to the community center, sports courts and field, a new plaza, or a splash pad and updated pool. The pool, though small, is a high priority for hot summer months. There is a strong focus on improving sports courts and fields at this park. People want to have more space for soccer, volleyball and Takraw. The PAL Boxing program also uses the fields for training throughout the week. The basketball courts are in poor condition but are highly used. As with all the parks, more shading and seating is crucial.
Romain Playground (Park) Improvements
CHAPTER 3
ASSESSMENT
A thorough park assessment was conducted at each of the four focus parks. Findings from the assessments informed the priorities for improvement at each park. Each assessment addressed paving, accessibility, furnishings, gates and fences, vegetation, irrigation and buildings. At each assessment evaluators asked the following questions:
Paving: What is the condition of the paving? How much of the paving is ADA accessible?
Accessible Routes: Could someone navigate between the different program areas in a wheelchair?
Ramps and Stairs: Are the ramps and stairs in good, fair or poor condition and are they ADA accessible?
Furnishings: Do the benches, tables, drinking fountains and other amenities function as they were intended? Are they in good, fair or poor condition?
Gates: Are the gates ADA accessible?
Trees, Shrubs and Turf : What is the condition of the trees and grass throughout the park?
Irrigation: Is there an irrigation system? If so, is it functioning correctly?
Building: Are the buildings functional and in ok condition? What is the condition of the electrical and mechanical systems? Do the program spaces perform well?
CONDITION
FRANK H BALL PARK ASSESSMENT
Frank H Ball is a 2.9-acre neighborhood park located in Southwest Fresno. The park has a full baseball field, two separate outdoor basketball courts, a playground, picnic area, restroom, wader pool, horseshoe area and a pool. The park also has a community center that has program space, offices, a stage and indoor basketball facility. A more detailed summary of building condition is provided as an appendix.
Paving: Most of the pavement throughout the park is accessible and in fair or good condition. However, the plaza area outside of the community center and the pavement around the playground are not compliant with ADA requirements and should be updated or replaced.
Accessible Routes: It is difficult to navigate between different program areas because the routes are not accessible. The gates, ramps, pavement and/or stairs have slopes that are too steep, cracks that create obsticles or are lacking sufficient hardware.
Ramps and Stairs: All the stairs on the site are not accessible and half of the ramps are not accessible. The ramps are generally in good condition and the stairs are in poor condition.
Furnishings: The furnishings in the park range from good to poor and should be considered for replacement on a case-bycase basis. Most of the furnishings are generally outdated and contribute to the park feeling unwelcoming aesthetically.
Gates: There are 18 gates in the park, and none are in good condition. Most of the gates are also not accessible and require replacement.
Trees, Shrubs and Turf : The planted areas, turf and trees in the park are generally in good health.
This diagram highlights the features that are in poor condition
Irrigation: The irrigation system is outdated resulting in wasted water, lower condition fields, and extra maintenance. There is no dedicated or sub meter to track water usage at the park. The booster pump is a fixed speed pump with no controls. The electrical service needs to be reviewed and possibly upgraded. There is a missing master valve and flow sensor which are both required by state ordinance. The irrigation controller is operational but is not weather based.
Currently, only four (4) existing remote control valves service the field. Each valve services 6-7 sprinklers. The maximum number of sprinklers per valves should be 4. Additionally, spacing is stretched (over 50’) and the rotors do not provide head to head coverage.
Building: The existing building are performing well structurally. However, the electrical and mechanical systems require upgrades to comply with Title 24 code standards. The Gym appears to hold significant value to the community. As for performance, the Gym promises longevity in current use, function, and character. The Social Hall will need significant modifications to continue serving the community which may not prove cost effective.
If the Social Hall is to remain, programming in the basement floor should be limited to storage or mechanical. The basement is inadequate in quality for community use and access.
Community programming intertwined with office and storage space. Based on activity witnessed during the site visit additional space is needed for programming. Also, access and circulation are sub par as the Gym entrance is provided in a non-descript corner. Also, a large switchback ramp provides an awkward entry sequence to the Gym and basement via outdoors. There are many site conditions challenging accessibility.
Access to the Social Hall building programming is compromised. Although the Social Hall is accessible on grade, internal circulation is via stairs only. A proposed lift would solve accessibility however would impede on the existing square footage and experience of individuals.
Many of the component parts of Frank H Ball are in good or fair condition and are functioning correctly. However, the main plaza area and the play area have a variety of issues that require further attention. There are accessibility issues at the main plaza and play area, the wading pool is no longer in use and the entry to the park is unwelcoming. Updating this central area with new paving, gates, furnishings and planting is recommended. The building is also in need of upgrades. The gym is a beloved space but the building is not accessible and programming is poorly organized.
DICKEY PLAYGROUND (PARK) ASSESSMENT
Dickey Playground is a 2-acre neighborhood park located in the Lowell neighborhood adjacent to downtown Fresno. The park has a baseball diamond, two basketball courts, two volleyball courts, a picnic area, playground, splash pad and another shaded picnic area. There is also a restroom and shade structure in the central plaza area.
Paving: The pavement throughout the park is generally accessible but is in poor or fair condition. The central plaza has several accessibility issues, and the pavement is in poor condition with cracks and tree roots. At the time of assessment significant ponding was found on the south end of the plaza near the field.
Accessible Routes: There are considerable accessibility issues when moving between program areas. Most of the issues revolve around the central plaza space.
Furnishings: Most of the furnishings are functional but are in poor or fair condition and generally contribute to the park feeling unwelcoming aesthetically. The restroom and shade structure area at the north end of the plaza are in very poor condition.
Gates: There are 8 gates throughout the park for pedestrians and maintenance vehicles. They are all in fair or poor condition. Half of them are not accessible as per ADA requirements.
Trees, Shrubs and Turf : There are three trees planted in tree wells in the plaza that are in poor condition and should be removed or rehabilitated. The turf at the baseball field and in the more passive areas of the park is in poor or fair condition.
This diagram highlights the features that are in poor condition
Irrigation: The irrigation system is outdated resulting in wasted water, lower condition fields, and extra maintenance. There is no dedicated or sub meter to track irrigation usage at the park. An irrigation backflow should come off the domestic line prior to site backflow. An additional 12 psi will be gained re-piping the source. The booster pump is a fixed speed pump with no controls. The electrical service needs to be reviewed and possibly upgraded.
There is also a missing master valve and flow sensor which is a state water ordinance requirement. Two irrigation controllers service the site and are operational, but they are not weather based. They should be combined into one controller.
Only 3 valves service the field and each valve services +-5 sprinklers. Additional valves are required to reduce the number of sprinklers per valve and to valve per prevailing wind. Spacing
in stretched (51-53’) and the rotors do not provide head to head coverage.
There are several issues at Dickey that contribute to its challenges. The placement and poor condition of the central program elements at Dickey contribute to a lack of functionality at the park. The most attention should be given to improving the restroom, central plaza area and shade structures.
HOLMES PLAYGROUND (PARK) ASSESSMENT
Holmes Playground is a 9-acre neighborhood park located in central Fresno. The park has two baseball diamonds, two basketball courts, a large picnic area and outdoor stage, two volleyball courts, a playground, restrooms and a wader pool. The park also has a lawn bowling center that is owned by PARCS but operated by an outside organization. The community center hosts a variety of weekly programming and has a large gymnasium.
Paving: The paved area directly outside the community center entrance is in good condition but is not accessible and requires updates. There were also significant ponding issues in the areas between the community center plaza and play area. Most of the other paving in the park is accessible and in good condition.
Accessible Routes: Many of the routes between program elements are not accessible because the gates between elements are not ADA compliant. Without this barrier, most routes are accessible and in good condition.
Ramps and Stairs: The only feature in the park that requires access by stairs is the stage. Those stairs are not accessible or in good condition.
Furnishings: All the furnishings on site are in good or fair condition. The play area is in good condition, but the adjacent restrooms are in poor condition and need to be updated.
Gates: All gates are in fair or poor condition, and most are not accessible.
Trees, Shrubs and Turf : Holmes has many mature, shadeproviding trees. While most are in good condition, there are a significant number of trees that are in poor health and should be rehabilitated or replaced. There were also turf areas throughout the site that are in poor health either due to drainage, overuse or patchy coverage.
This diagram highlights the features that are in poor condition
Irrigation: The irrigation system is outdated resulting in wasted water, lower condition fields, and extra maintenance. The park does have a dedicated water meter services site and a 4” existing backflow feeds the irrigation system. However, the booster pump is a fixed speed pump with no controls. The electrical service needs to be reviewed and possibly upgraded. There is no master valve and flow sensor which is a state water ordinance requirement.
There are only 17 valves in the park and each valve services +-6 sprinklers. Additional valves are required to reduce the number of sprinklers per valve. Spacing in stretched (54-66’) and the rotors do not provide head to head coverage.
The features and furnishings at Holmes are generally in good condition and are accessible. There are some specific issues that need to be addressed but there are no major upgrades needed. The main entrance to the building is not accessible and there are issues with ponding in the main plaza area. The restrooms are in poor condition and should be updated. The connection between the park and the lawn bowling area could be clarified and reinforced.
ROMAIN PLAYGROUND (PARK) ASSESSMENT
Romain Playground is an 8-acre neighborhood park in central Fresno. The park has a baseball diamond and two soccer fields. It also has a playground with an area for toddlers and older children. It has a learner pool, two and a half basketball courts, a futsal court, skate park and challenge course. The park also has a decomposed granite loop trail that circumvents all the other features. The community center runs a variety of programming and has an indoor basketball facility. There are also administrative offices and a Head Start program in an adjacent building.
Paving: The paving at Romain is generally accessible and in good condition in the areas that have been recently updated, including the play area, connection between the building and the skate park and the challenge course. The remaining areas, including the parking lot, and sports courts are in poor condition and have varying levels of accessibility.
Accessible Routes: Routes between program areas are generally not accessible due to gates that are not ADA compliant, uneven paving surfaces and paths that are not wide enough.
Furnishings: Furnishings in the play area and challenge course/ skate park area are accessible and in good condition. Other furnishings, such as waste receptacles, drinking fountains, fencing, benches and bleachers are in poor condition and are not accessible.
Gates: Most of the gates in the park are not accessible and in fair or poor condition.
Trees, Shrubs and Turf : The athletic turf is in poor condition as are the vegetated areas including the community garden that has not been up-kept. There are also a handful of trees in poor health, and they should be rehabilitated or replaced.
This diagram highlights the features that are in poor condition
Irrigation: The irrigation system is outdated resulting in wasted water, lower condition fields, and extra maintenance. Originally the site was serviced from a well but current source of water for the irrigation system could not be determined. There is no dedicated or sub meter to track irrigation usage. A 3” existing backflow feeds the irrigation system, but the backflow was shut off due to large break in the main line which is extremely old and has breaks frequently.
The booster pump is a fixed speed pump with no controls. A pressure reducing valve is located downstream of booster pump to regulate flow. Static pressure is 75 psi and 120 psi with pump running. Once a valve operates pressure drops to 100 psi.
There is a missing master valve and flow sensor which is a state water ordinance requirement. One controller services the site and is operational, but it is not weather based. It is estimated that each valve services +-6 sprinklers. Additional valves are required to reduce the number of sprinklers per valve and to valve per prevailing wind. Spacing in stretched (60-65’) and the rotors do not provide head to head coverage. The electrical service needs to be reviewed and possibly upgraded.
Buildings: The existing buildings are performing well structurally however the electrical and mechanical systems require upgrades to comply with Title 24 code standards. As for performance, the main gym, social hall and boxing gym promise longevity in their current use and function besides recommended upgrades to systems. The Head Start and PARCS offices show evidence of non-compliant restroom facilities, excess humidity, lack of adequate HVAC services and accessibility issues.
The recreation building appear to function and perform well enough to remain. The buildings can be modified to improve program needs. Upgrades to electrical and mechanical systems are needed and regular maintenance is required. To enhance connectivity between the recreation buildings and the park the service bar (restrooms, storage rooms) along the south can be removed or modified.
On the other hand, the Head Start and PARCs office building are no longer supportive of their intended functions and would require a complete renovation to continue to support existing program. Keeping these buildings would not be cost effective. These buildings have likely seen their end of intended purpose.
Romain Playground has a considerable need for updates or replacement of turf, trees, furnishings and paving. There are some newer furnishings that are in good condition but are in some cases placed in a way that limits routes of travel. Romain would benefit from updated accessible circulation and improved furnishings.
CONCEPTUAL DESIGN AND COST ESTIMATES
The conceptual design and cost estimate informs the City’s 5-year Capital Improvement Plan and helps guide the City on future Measure P park improvements.
The phasing approach aims to prioritize updates and improvements that are manageable in the short term given funding constraints but will have big impacts for the community.
Each design concept is unique and responds to the specific assessment and engagement findings at the park. There are some overall interventions that apply to all parks:
• Create more inviting and clear park entrances and place them where people already enter the park.
• Improve pedestrian circulation within the park.
• Enhance perimeter by planting trees, removing fences when possible and replacing tall fences with shorter ones that are more inviting.
• Improve restrooms with single stall units and outdoor sinks.
• Plant trees and vegetation to create a buffer between the street and the park, between program elements and for shade and cooling.
• Create multi-use fields and courts to give access to more park users.
• Advocate for safe routes to the park.
These design interventions all aim to address overall park improvement themes of climate, equity, health, comfort and maintenance. These themes should be integrated when improving all parks in Fresno.
INSPIRATION
FRANK H. BALL PARK
The design concept below prioritizes a refresh to the northeast side of the park including an updated pool, new picnic area, playground, splash pad and restroom. These updates would decrease the size of the field slightly and it would transition to a multi-use lawn with a smaller kickball backstop and opportunities for a wider variety of field sports and activities.
The engagement process at Frank H. Ball identified that more investigation is needed to determine what approach to take with the existing community center and gym. Some feel that the existing building should be restored and remodeled and others feel that a new building should be prioritized. As a key park in West Fresno, the City decided that Ball will be given more
attention through the West Fresno Community Rehabilitation Project, which will help to identify through more community engagement, what scale of intervention should be taken with the community center, whether it is remodeled or a complete redesign.
Following the conclusion of the engagement process, the City and consultant team developed an alternative design concept (below), which relocates the picnic, playground and basketball courts to the south corner of the park where there is more visibility, and shifts the multi-use field to the northeast corner of the park. This concept also locates the splash pad next to the existing pool, and suggests a new amphitheater feature connected to the new community center development. This concept, along with the original, will be shared and evaluated as part of the West Fresno Community Rehabilitation Project.
ALTERNATIVE DESIGN CONCEPT
DICKEY PLAYGROUND (PARK)
The primary goal at Dickey is to address issues around safety and make the park feel more inviting and open. By re-orienting the field, the field can become a more versatile space and the plaza space can become much more open. By creating more visibility though the park and a more vibrant plaza space, the park should feel safer to enter.
Relocating the volleyball court would allow for better circulation between the Dickey Community Center, which uses the park for after school programming, and the new plaza and circulation within the park.
Lastly a new plaza on Divisadero Street would create a grand entry to the park that would be visible from the street and will give the park a strong identity.
Reorient the field and install new irrigation system and new turf. $756,600
4 Relocate Volleyball and Plaza Shift volleyball court north up against E Voorman. Create new entry plaza along N Calaveras Street that connects to the plaza and park. $666,800
5 South Entry Plaza and Perimeter Enhancements
Create new entry plaza with signage and planting at Divisadero. Plant trees along the perimeter of the park and replace tall fences with shorter fences where appropriate. $109,600
$3,415,600
HOLMES PLAYGROUND (PARK)
Holmes is in good condition when compared to other parks studied here, but there are some upgrades that would have significant community impacts. The approach at Holmes is to implement relatively small interventions that highlight and elevate the great features that already exist at the park.
Each phase at Holmes is a discreet project that can be implemented regardless of the others. Near term improvements at Holmes can have a big community impact and demonstrate a dedication to park improvements in Fresno.
3 Entry Beautification
Remove fences at entry and beautify the plaza and entry to the building with lighting, shade, planting and signage. Address ADA issues at building entry.
4 Enhance Perimeter
Plant trees around perimeter and remove tall fences when possible.
5 Stage and Group Picnic Area
Beautify the stage with new paint and design features. Add string lights over the picnic area and create new group picnic area with shade structure. $725,400
6 Irrigation and Turf
Replace the irrigation system and turf. $3,576,100
7 Entry and Mounded Seating Area
Create new entry from E Huntington. Plant trees and design mounded seating area for picnics, resting and play. $1,029,500
ROMAIN PLAYGROUND (PARK)
The approach at Romain is to focus first on improvements to the outdoor spaces because these outdoor spaces are used extensively by the community. A second phase will address needed building upgrades and parking expansion as well as giving the park a stronger presence on the street front with a new PARCS admin building and Head Start facility.
Parking improvements at Romain will occur in both phases, first vacating E Harvey Ave and designing a new parking lot and then expanding the lot when the Head Start building is relocated.
PHASE ONE
COSTING AND PHASING: PHASE ONE
New shade structures over pool deck, bright paint job for the pool deck, new seating areas along pool deck and planting around pool. $725,400
$714,900 5 Picnic and Play Area Update playground and add expanded play area. Enhance picnic area. $1,595,500 6 Splash Pad
$987,400
$7,646,300
PHASE TWO
Phase 2 at Romain is a longer term plan to update and redesign the buildings including a new Head Start and office building, a plaza and renovated gym and social hall. The design also includes an expanded parking lot and relocates the basketball courts to the west side of the park.
COSTING AND PHASING: PHASE TWO
