GOAL 7: SUSTAINABLE PARKS

Policies

7A. Create Habitat Value

Tracy’s park system should be designed and managed to create habitat value. Opportunities include:

> Incorporating and protecting existing natural elements such as hillsides and drainages;

> Creating relationships between mature trees and open meadows that are conducive to nesting and foraging birds;

> Incorporating native plant species;

> Creating pollinator gardens;

> Creating green corridors that support wildlife movement

7B. Support Water Quality and Groundwater Recharge

Parks provide areas where water can infiltrate and recharge groundwater basins. Parks may conserve natural drainage conditions, or may manage stormwater to slow infiltration and filter out contaminants. Parks provide opportunities to link the City’s larger storm drainage and recreation systems, creating dual purpose environments. The City will seek to optimize this process by continuing the implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices and using stormwater best management practices.

7C. Water and Energy Conservation

The design, development, and construction of park and recreation facilities will be based on sustainable guidelines that support resource, water and energy conservation practices and help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They may include:

> Grouping plantings based on water need (hydrozones);

> Substituting or replacing turf with low-water-use plants;

> Achieving LEED silver or higher rating for new recreation buildings;

> Ensuring that any new water features are on a recirculating system and meet state requirements;

> Limiting the use of water features during drought periods;

> Including energy efficiency upgrades in building rehabilitation projects;

> Improving the fuel economy of the vehicle fleet.

All new landscape projects will comply with the City’s Water Ordinance and requirements of AB 1881.

7D. Support Walking and Biking

Tracy will emphasize accessibility of parks and trails for people on foot and using non-motorized transportation, by locating parks adjacent to bus stops, trails and bikeways; emphasizing park entrances from sidewalks; providing bike parking, maintenance stations, and (potentially) bike share docks; and incorporating biking into recreational programming. In this way, the parks system can help shift travel to non-automobile modes and help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Design guidelines and standards are used to ensure that parks and their individual elements support the goals of this Master Plan.

In the Park Design Guidelines included here, general planning and development guidelines for all parks are presented first, followed by guidelines for each park type.

For more detail, refer to the City's Parks and Streetscape Standards.