IMPROVING EXISTING PARKS

Three Tiers

Park and facility improvements can be understood in three “tiers”. The first tier is focused on maintenance, the second on strategic enhancements, and the third on new or transformed parks.

Tier A: Sustaining Park Improvements – Maintaining What We Have

Tier A includes park improvements critical to keep the park system functioning. They include routine maintenance, repairs, repainting, replanting, "lifecycle replacement" (including infrastructure replacement such as irrigation systems as well as replacement of park amenities as they reach the end of their useful life), and replacement of inaccessible amenities with accessible amenities to remove barriers to access for people with disabilities. The intention of this category is to make the most of existing resources with the primary goal being for the City to maintain services.

The actions associated with this category are expected to be funded through tax dollars and/or special assessments where applicable. Lifecycle replacement is considered an annual value to be included in Tracy’s budget and the budgets for Landscape Maintenance Districts (LMDs) and Community Facility Districts (CFDs). Total replacement value is amortized over the life of the facility.

Tier B: Strategic Park Improvements – Improving What We Have

Strategic park improvements may include site, amenity, and facility upgrades. This includes strategically enhancing existing programs, beginning new alternative programs, adding new positions, or making other strategic changes that would require additional operational or capital funding.

The City would evaluate and analyze potential sources of additional revenue for these improvements, including but not limited to Measure V funds, capital bond funding, partnerships, program income, grants, and existing or new taxes and/or special assessments.

Tier C: “Visionary” Park Improvements – Developing New Opportunities

Visionary park improvements include comprehensive park renovations, acquisitions, and the creation of new parks. This category represents the complete set of services and facilities desired by the community. It is fiscally unconstrained but can help provide policy guidance by illustrating the ultimate goals of the community, and by providing a long- range look to address future needs and deficiencies. Typically, Tier 3 improvements start with a park or facility-specific master plan to analyze conditions, explore the needs of the community, and design a new park.

Funding for visionary projects would be derived from partnerships, grants, private investments and new tax dollars, and/or special assessments.