Oakley Invites Input on Proposed Civic Center Park Improvements

The City of Oakley will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, December 3, 2013, 7:00pm, at the City Council Chambers, to discuss potential improvements to the Downtown Civic Center Park.

The City has $405,000 received in grant monies through the East Bay Regional Park District Measure WW Regional Open Space, Wildlife, Shoreline and Parks Bond for the project.

At a work session in October, City parks and recreation staff presented to the City Council several potential eligible projects. After reviewing the project options and hearing some input from the community, City Council provided a general thumbs‐up for staff to develop a work plan for park improvements to the Civic Center Park. Potential new amenities to the Civic Center Park include the addition of a covered stage with amphitheater‐style seating, along with keeping some informal festival (lawn) seating, small restroom and concession area, additional picnic tables and trash receptacles, drinking fountain, and some small children’s play equipment.

Mayor Kevin Romick expressed his belief the additional improvements to the Park would be an outstanding addition to the Downtown area, the City, and good for local businesses too, by enhancing existing special event and movie night programming and by expanding opportunities for new programming, such as music concerts, performing arts events, special events, ceremonies, and other special uses. Before developing formal plans, City staff wishes to ask Oakley residents what they see as priorities for Civic Center Park improvements. Potential amenities and cost estimates will be presented at the meeting.

According to the Staff Report in October, here is what it stated about the project and funding:

The City of Oakley will host a work session on Tuesday night to discuss where to spend $405k in funds from East Bay Regional Park District where the city received $1.5 million for acquisition and development of parks and recreation and facilities.

The City has identified multiple options for the City Council discuss as the deadline for project applications will only be accepted until March 2016 and must be fully completed by December 2018 or funds will revert to the discretion of East Bay Regional Park District.

CIVIC CENTER PARK (New Park Improvements)

Project: Performance Stage/Amphitheater and amenities. Cost Estimate: $410,000 Construct a small facility: Permanent stage with amphitheater seating and limited amenities for programming and use of music concerts, performing arts events, speakers/rallies, movies, ceremonies, and other special uses.

Issues: Minimal. Site work is minimized due to existing grass slope, paths and lighting, existing utilities – electrical and irrigation infrastructure. Design and construction plans could be prepared in a short time. Any additional annual maintenance costs should be offset by user fee charges. It is possible that positive revenue generation would be an outcome from adding the facility. The added probable economic impact for Oakley Downtown businesses would also be a plus.