How to resolve AdBlock issue? The seven-acre park, at 800 and 810 N. Main St., is located on the former Natural High School property.
It is being funded primarily by a $5.9 million grant from the state’s 2018 Parks and Water Bond, also known as Proposition 68, which the city received in April 2020.
In November 2020, the council approved an additional $1,006,906 in funding for the project, which included $201,336 in one-time funding to the city through the California Parks and Recreation Prop 68 Per Capita allocation and the use of $805,570 from the city’s general fund reserve.
Ingram said the funding covers amenities including the promenade lakefront path, basketball court, ninja gym, amphitheater, splash pad, skate park, multiuse lawn area, large sheltered picnic area, bathroom/concession building, public art, parking lot, landscaping and lighting throughout park and a dedicated area for a future boathouse.
“We are nearing the completion of a very large milestone in this project,” Ingram said.
That milestone is that the city and SSA Landscape Architects — the firm it hired for the planning, design, engineering and project management of the park project — are finishing the 100% engineering plans and putting together the construction bid package.
Ingram said the staff expects to put the project out for construction bids in March, with physical construction anticipated to begin in May.
If it follows that schedule, Ingram said the park could be open to the public in the fall.
He said city staff has been working on removal of trees, demolition of small structures and construction of a small footbridge, which will be part of a continuous walkway that covers a third of a mile along the shoreline, from Library Park to Lakefront Park.
Because many park amenities require a long lead time, Ingram said a restroom facility has been ordered, along with gym and other equipment. Some notable park amenities, including the splash pad and skate park, require specialty contractors.
Ingram said the project budget also includes a set aside for inclusion of public art, with an emphasis on interactive art.
He said the park remains consistent with the adopted community vision. “We’re very excited to keep moving this forward.”
Mayor Stacey Mattina said people have been asking her about the demolition of the old Natural High Building.
Ingram said that’s not part of the park plan. Early on, that was removed, as were park amenities on the waterfront, in order to comply with the project's very ambitious timeline.
In August, the council approved declaring the 0.51-acre property that includes a building that was the old Natural High School, and which sits next to the Dutch Harbor site, as surplus for the purpose of potentially selling it to a developer for a hotel project.
Ingram said they do need to remove the building and would like to find a developer who would do it for the city as part of a separate project.
Councilman Michael Froio asked about landscaping, lighting and security.
Ingram said the park will be compliant with new state landscaping rules, that lighting is in place and that they are holding off until the park is constructed to look at the city’s entire parklands when considering where to place security cameras.
Zachary Ray, a member of the Scotts Valley Pomo and executive director for the California Tribal TANF Partnership, asked if there was any consideration to honor the area’s tribal peoples.
Ingram said the city has been in close contact with Scotts Valley about a native plant garden, the incorporation of interpretive panels along the waterfront and the environmental document calls for a tribal monitor to be on site during the work.
Councilman Michael Green asked if Ray was requesting the park be named in honor of the local tribes. Ray said yes, and that he could talk to his tribal council about that.
Green said it would be appropriate to pursue that request through a government to government consultation, with Ray responding that the tribal consultation process would be appreciated.
In other business, the council received a brief update from the All Children Thrive Youth Governance Council, held public hearings on Community Development Block Grant funding and changes to municipal code regarding skating and skateboarding in any skate park, parklands and the downtown district, voted to adopt a resolution to oppose Initiative 21-0042A1, The Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act, and voted to approve resolutions naming the new playground structure to be located at Westside Park’s phase two the “Lakeport Lions Legacy Playground” and naming the futsal pitch in memory of the late political activist Marla Ruzicka.
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