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Title:
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Recommendation to the City Council Regarding City Participation in the Culver City Park/Overlook Gateway Portion of the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority’s “Ballona Creek to Parks Connection Loop Project.”
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City of Culver City, California
Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission Agenda Item Report
Meeting Date: _08/04/09__ Item Number: _A-1
AGENDA ITEM: Recommendation to the City Council Regarding City Participation in
the Culver City Park/Overlook Gateway Portion of the Mountains Recreation and
Conservation Authority’s “Ballona Creek to Parks Connection Loop Project.”
Contact Person/Dept.: Bill La Pointe,
Director of Parks Recreation and
Community Services
Phone Number: (310) 253-6655
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Public Notification: PRCS Master Notification List (07/30/2009).
Department Approval: Bill La Pointe,
Director of Parks Recreation and
Community Services (07/28/09).
City Attorney Approval: N/A
Chief Financial Officer Approval: N/A City Manager Approval: N/A
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission
consider a recommendation to the City Council regarding City participation in the
Culver City Park/Overlook Gateway portion (Element #3) of the Mountains
Recreation and Conservation Authority’s “Ballona Creek to Parks Connection Loop
Project.”
BACKGROUND:
In April 2009, construction of the new Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook (Overlook),
visitors center and trails system was completed. Located in the 58-acre Baldwin
Hills Scenic Overlook State Park, the Overlook is an educational urban park that
features restored native habitat and outstanding views of the Los Angeles Basin.
The Overlook neighbors Culver City Park; although no formal connection exists
between the two, the public is able to hike from one park to the other using existing
undeveloped trails.
Planning efforts to formally connect the Overlook, Culver City Park and the Ballona
Creek Trail and Bike Path were initiated by stakeholder agencies a few years ago.
In February 2008, the PRCS Commission took action to recommend that the City
Council support a project to formally connect these three recreational amenities
through a partnership between Culver City and the Mountains Recreation and
Conservation Authority (MRCA). Subsequently, MRCA was unsuccessful in
securing funding for the project, thus eliminating the need for the Commission’s
recommendation to go before the City Council.
City of Culver City, California
Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission Agenda Item Report
Since that time City staff from both the PRCS and Public Works Departments has
continued to collaborate with the MRCA and the California Department of Parks and
Recreation towards establishing a connection between the Overlook, Culver City
Park and the Ballona Creek Trail and Bike Path. Linking these three amenities will
significantly enhance the value of the existing open space and trails, ultimately
resulting in increased awareness of area recreational and natural resources. MRCA
has now received (alternative) grant funding to support a project similar to the one
that previously came before the PRCS Commission.
DISCUSSION:
The goal of the “Ballona Creek to Parks Connection Loop Project” (Project) is to link
the Baldwin Hills parklands to Ballona Creek by connecting open spaces through
trails and gateways. The Project is an important component of two larger efforts that
incorporate additional state, county and local agencies; the “One Big Park,” a
concept developed in the Baldwin Hills Master Plan and “Park to Playa,” a regional
effort to connect the Baldwin Hills parklands to the Pacific Ocean. The Project is
also consistent with the Planning Principles adopted in 2004 as a result of the Culver
City Ballona Creek Focused Special Study, feedback collected in the Public Works
Department Bike-Pedestrian Master Plan process currently underway and the
recommendations of the recently completed Culver City Parks and Recreation
Master Plan.
The Ballona Creek to Parks Connection Loop Project includes three major elements
consisting of connection gateways (1) at Higuera Street; (2) at Duquesne Avenue;
and (3) between Culver City Park and the Overlook. The Project Map is included as
Attachment A. The Culver City Public Works Department will be involved in the
multi-agency coordination of Elements #1 and #2 of the Project. Element #3, the
connection gateway between Culver City Park and the Overlook, exists almost
exclusively within Culver City Park. Therefore, the PRCS Department has the
primary responsibility for providing oversight and coordination with MRCA and the
contractor for this element of the Project.
The Culver City Park/Overlook gateway portion of the Project incorporates the
existing park infrastructure. This element will:
• Create a pedestrian route from the Jefferson Boulevard entrance of Culver
City Park to the connection point at the terminus of Lotts Lane by:
o Evaluating and improving the existing sidewalks and trails to be used
for the pedestrian route through Culver City Park; and
o Enhancing and extending the existing trail that borders the outfield of
the Culver City Little League Ball Field to the connection point at the
terminus of Lotts Lane;
• Create and install directional and interpretive signage relevant to the
connection gateway and native plantings within Culver City Park; and
• Create and install a decorative gate on State parkland that highlights the
connection gateway (a draft drawing is included as Attachment B). City of Culver City, California
Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission Agenda Item Report
Given the existing paths, sidewalks and City ordinances, the proposed trail
enhancements and extensions within Culver City Park are intended for hikers and
walkers. The Culver City Park connection trail is not proposed to be used by
cyclists, skateboarders, etc.
All signage that is installed as part of the Project will be designed by the MRCA with
the input and approval of Culver City. Staff will work with MRCA to ensure the
signage produced is consistent with the City’s anti-graffiti standards.
The grant funding MRCA will use to implement this element of the Project (see
Fiscal Analysis below) must be expended by February 2010. The MRCA seeks to
commence work immediately upon approval from Culver City. To ensure that the
Project can continue to move forward expeditiously MRCA has already begun
parallel work on signage and trail evaluation.
The Culver City Park/Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook gateway connection will benefit
park users in various ways. It will decrease the erosion and degradation of parkland
caused by perimeter fencing intrusions and unofficial trail usage between the two
parks while increasing regional connectivity of parks and natural resources. The
Project will also encourage greater physical fitness and wellness by increasing
public accessibility and exploration of area recreational amenities.
Staff will work with the City Attorney’s Office to review and prepare any documents
necessary to formalize the multi-agency coordination of the Project.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
The Culver City Park/Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook gateway portion (Element #3) of
the Project will be funded by MRCA through an Environmental Enhancement and
Mitigation grant and Los Angeles County Proposition A funding. The estimated
value of the work proposed to be completed including the trail enhancements and
extension, signage, native plantings and gate, is estimated at $100,000.
Culver City’s contribution to the project will be in the form of providing maintenance
for the trail improvements within the Culver City Park areas that the PRCS
Department currently services. Staff estimates the maintenance related to these
improvements will equal approximately $2,000 per year (staff time and materials) but
does not expect it will have a significant impact on the departmental budget.
ATTACHMENTS:
A. Ballona Creek to Parks Connection Project map
B. Draft drawing of decorative gate to be installed on State parkland City of Culver City, California
Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission Agenda Item Report
MOTION:
That the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission:
1. Recommend that the City Council approve City participation in the Culver City
Park/Overlook Gateway portion (Element #3) of the Mountains Recreation and
Conservation Authority’s “Ballona Creek to Parks Connection Loop Project;”
OR
2. Recommend that the City Council not approve City participation in the Culver
City Park/Overlook Gateway portion (Element #3) of the Mountains Recreation
and Conservation Authority’s “Ballona Creek to Parks Connection Loop Project;”
OR
3. Provide staff with alternate recommendation(s).
MEETING DATE: August 4, 2009
AGENDA ITEM: Recommendation to the City Council Regarding City
Participation in the Culver City Park/Overlook Gateway
Portion of the Mountains Recreation and Conservation
Authority’s “Ballona Creek to Parks Connection Loop
Project.”
ATTACHMENTS
Page
A. Ballona Creek to Parks Connection Project map
1
B. Draft drawing of decorative gate to be installed on State
parkland
2
ATTACHMENT A
1Draft drawing of decorative gate to be installed on State parkland as part of the Mountains Recreation and
Conservation Authority’s “Ballona Creek to Parks Connection Loop Project”
ATTACHMENT B
2