New!
7/09/08
Subject: Park Stuff
From: Peggy O.
To: Park People
Kristine Gillespie, our new City contact, called me today with an update on a couple of things. First, she said she'd received the structural engineer's report on the picnic area and asked me to pass along the news that it is, indeed, unsafe: not only did the report say it can't it bear any extra weight, it could also topple on its own at any time. Kristine asked that we please not use the structure at all. I asked her to post the report in the park so we could read and evaluate it for ourselves. She said she would.
Meanwhile, she promised the City would beautify the temporary picnic area, making it slightly less totally pathetic.
As to the master plan: the request for bids will go out on July 17 and close a month later. Then there are various beauraucratic Berkeley-esque hoops to jump through before they can get going on a design. Kristine and whomever she hires will use the notes from all our meetings--they're on the Terrace View Web Site--as a guide, then meet with us to present several alternatives for further discussion. She expects the process will take until late fall or early winter--but hopefully we'll meet some time before the end of the year. At any rate, she will stay in touch as it continues.
6/20/08
Subject: one more thing
From: Peggy O.
To: Park People
I invited Susan Wengraf, who is running (currently) unopposed for Betty Olds' City Council seat (Betty is retiring) to the neighborhood gathering. Unfortunately, she'll be in LA that weekend, but will try to catch an earlier flight up to make it.
Susan said that she is on the case re: the Park. She has already spoken with Deborah Chernin and says, "I am totally committed to making this park safe and inviting for our children" (and I'd add everyone else, too!). I hope Susan will be a great ally for us: she would certainly like our votes, and sprucing up the park would be a concrete achievement for her as councilperson.
6/19/08
Subject: more info
From: Peggy O.
To: Park People
FROM BRAD:
Please be informed that the Parks Recreation and Waterfront Department is in the process of evaluating and developing recommendations for upgrading the picnic overlook deck.
An inspection of the structure is scheduled for Monday, June 23, 2008. Following this inspection and analysis by the Structural Engineer, we will have a better idea of the type of repairs and upgrades required for re-opening this deck. At this time, preliminary recommendations are expected to be received by July 17, 2008.
Please consider scheduling a meeting sometime after July 17, 2008, so that this information could be shared with you and Terrace View Park users.
6/18/08
Subject: Park Progress
From: Peggy O.
To: Park People
Hi Park People,
So, here is the latest on the serpentine progress of park renovation.
After the Brad Ricards fiasco in December, our own Anna Rabkin called Mayor Bates, who called William Rogers (head of parks) who called me and was VERY apologetic. He assured me that Brad had been wrong about the money and that his suggestions were inappropriate. He then brought Deborah Chernin up to walk through the park along with city landscape architect Kristine Gillespie, who is now our official contact.
This was all a few months ago. Kristine wrote me today to say that the city has now completed something called a Request for Qualification (RFQ) which allows them to solicit competitive bids on a master plan from landscape architecture firms. They have to do that by law. The City Council will review the RFQ in mid-July (apparently, that should be just a rubber stamp approval). The RFQ will ask designers to prepare a plan that can be implemented in phases, since there won't be enough money to do everything at once. The phases will allegedly be completed based on financial and technical feasibility and what we have (repeatedly) told them are our priorities as neighbors. Meanwhile, to speed things along, the city is completing a survey of the park, which is why there is orange paint everywhere.
The process of soliciting bids, making a decision, preparing a contract, is going to take time. Hopefully by late fall Kristine and whomever they hire will be ready to meet with us (again) to talk about the design (again).
Anyway, the pace may be glacial, but things do seem to be moving along.....
Warmly,
Peggy O.
12/12/07
From: Peggy O.
To: Terrace View Neighbors
Dear Neighbors,
The report from Monday night's meeting with the City regarding Terrace View Park is disheartening. Somehow the $40,000 seed money and $200,000 implementation money we were promised in 2006 by former Park Department head Marc Seleznow--which was reduced to something closer to $150,000 total when the new head, William Rogers, spoke with us in August--has become a mere $20,000, a total that includes $7,000 to pay the Parks Dept. staff for their time. In other words, we've gone from $240,000 (which isn't really very much to begin with!) to $13,000.
What's more, landscape architect Brad Ricards recommendation for our park were, essentially, to remove beloved structures for liability reasons without replacing them. You may have noticed the City has already closed the picnic deck. Apparently, their civil engineer declared it unsafe after finding extensive dry rot beneath it. Brad also suggested removing the swings on the middle level and replacing them with...what's the word I'm looking for?....LAME saucer-like things. He would remove the play structure in the tot lot and replace it with something even less fun (if that's possible). And he'd close the paths on the North and South sides of the park, declaring them unsafe, because there are no funds to fix them. A danger sign may also be posted at the top of the concrete slide.
It seems the City's priority is to reduce its liability in case of an accident rather than making the park more functional, fun or central to our community.
In the end, what will probably happen is that the deck will remain closed for now and a interim picnic area will be created near the current lawn. The middle level swingset will be removed but a new one will be installed with a deeper sand bed beneath it. Deeper sand beds will also be installed under the tot lot play structure and baby swings. The area around the manhole cover on the basketball court wlil be levelled but otherwise left as is. Elyse Gabriel suggested at least putting a gate on the access path to Queens to keep balls from rolling down and kids and dogs dashing into that street after them. Maybe they'll do that. And warning signs will be placed at the paths and top of the slide.
I'm sorry.
Brad still seemed to theink that eventually the park would get redone. He encouraged us to put pressure on the City, but was profoundly unhelpful regarding towards whom, exactly, we should direct those efforts. Some of our politically-connected neighbors have volunteered to talk to sources in the city government to see what can be done on our behalf and, hopefully, to arrange a meeting with Mayor Bates to find out what happened to our park's money (and when we'll get it back!). We'll also keep you posted about any City Council or Parks Department meetings that we could attend as a group, offering a show of force and commitment.
Finally, we now have an official Terrace View Park account through Partners for the Parks, allowing us to accept donations. So stay tuned for fundraisers. And in the meantime, if you're interested in making a donation (in general or towards something specific) I can email you a donation form.
I know that one way or another, we'll restore our park. It just may not be the quick, easy path we'd hoped for.
Thanks for your support and we'll keep you posted.
--Peggy O.
11/21/07
From: Peggy O.
To: Terrace View Neighbors
Dear Neighbors,
This is an email from Brad Ricards, city planner, regarding Terrace View Park. He'd like to schedule a meeting with our neighborhood on either Monday, Dec. 10 or Tuesday Dec. 11. If you're interested in attending, please email me re: which day is better for you. I'll pick the day that works for the most people. Let me know, too, if either day is okay--I'd like a basic sense of how many folks we can get to the meeting.
Oh, one more thing--Brad asked how we felt about that fence that is falling down in the UPPER part of the toddler area (in the ivy, not the front gate). Do we want it replaced? Is that fence necessary or would that be a place to economize? I'm not sure what the purpose it serves myself, so am inclined to say, just get rid of it. It makes me feel like I'm in jail, anyway. They would not make it more attractive if they rebuild it. They would use the cheapest possible materials. But if someone wants to make a case for that, please do.
Happy Thanksgiving!
--Peggy O.
******** email below ********
11/21/07From: "Ricards, Brad" BRicards@ci.berkeley.ca.us.
To: Peggy O.
Hi Peggy,
The City has outlined some preliminary scope of work proposals and is interested in meeting and hearing comments from yourself and other park users, regarding the improvements needed in Terrace View Park. There are many improvements needed in Terrace View Park, and the City does not have funds to address all of them.
A meeting is important to help us understand what is most needed, and why, and what is/is not expected to be addressed in the near future.
Some possible evening meeting dates/times are listed below. Please let me know (981-6437) which of the meeting dates/times is preferred, and we'll follow-up and make a posting at the site.
Monday, Dec. 10, 2007 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Live Oak Recreation Center
or
Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2007 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. North Berkeley Sr. Center
I would appreciate it if you could check with others, and help confirm the preferred meeting time.
I look forward to hearing from you, and in the meantime,
Happy Thanksgiving.
Sincerely,
Brad Ricards
Landscape Architect
10/10/07
From: Peggy O.
To: Terrace View Neighbors
Dear Neighbors,
This is Brad Ricards' latest communique about renovating the park. Here is the contact info where you can send any historical information or memories.
Brad Ricards:
E-mail: bricards@ci.berkeley.ca.us or,
Mail: Parks Design Section, 1947 Center Street, 4th floor, Berkeley, Ca 94704
Phone: (510) 981-6437
Meanwhile, I'd appreciate any thoughts about patterns of use at the park. I'm most conscious of the toddlers and preschoolers who use it somewhat during the day but mostly late afternoon and weekends. Also the dog owners on their late afternoon perambulations. But, email me more so I can pass it along. It's inevitably a bit deceptive of course. The park is used by those for whom it's useful, but more of us would use it (say, for basketball) if it were more functional.
Finally, I reminded Brad to have the City check the structure under the picnic area for dry rot etc. He had expressed some concerns at our meeting about its safety.
--Peggy O.
******** email below ********
10/10/07From: "Ricards, Brad" BRicards@ci.berkeley.ca.us
To: Peggy O.
Dear Peggy,
I wanted to check in and inform you, and our Terrace View Park neighbors that Parks Recreation and Waterfront Dept. staff are preparing the outline of the process for developing a final recommended plan for the park. We are interested in sharing that with you at an upcoming meeting, perhaps early December.
At this point, we are collecting historical and special features information. This helps build the identity and meaningfulness of the park. It is a unique site, and you know it best!
For example, some of the long-time residents clippings, stories, or any other factual information about how the park was used, or was developed over time. Others may have observations of birds, wildlife or vegetation that may be useful. Park users are encouraged to make a mental note of temperature, sunlight, and other physical changes that occur over the next few months. And what they enjoy most about the park. Of course, tallies of who uses the park, how, and when is also important information to have when comparing "before" and "after" conditions.
Meanwhile, the topographic survey for the park.work and is expected to be completed by the end of the 2007. This will be very useful in further developing ideas for the recommended plan.
I will keep you in mind whenever important opportunities for community input arise, as we begin to move along.
Sincerely,
Brad Ricards
Landscape Architect
From: Peggy O.
Date: Aug.17, 2007 11:07 AM PDT
Subject: Park Update of Meeting
Dear Terrace View Park Neighbors,
Please accept thanks from the City of Berkeley, for the opportunity to gather and meet you all. Terrace View Park is a lovely park, and staff in the Parks Recreation and Waterfront Department is very much concerned that the park's conditions are safe and well-maintained.
From our meeting on August 12, 2007, we have begun to understand who is using the park, how the park is used, and which of the park's facilities are most important. It is wonderful to see the park actively being used, and it is apparent that the needs list is huge and diverse.
In the year ahead, staff will lead a planning and preliminary design effort which will more- fully review and evaluate the park's use and conditions. Park users will called upon to discuss and comment on proposals throughout the process. We propose examining the park's overall conditions and facilities, first, which will be helpful in the prioritization process, which comes later. Your participation throughout this process will matter tremendously.
In the next few months, staff will prepare a preliminary task list and timeline and will order a topographic survey to be performed.
Accurate drawings will be very useful as we study conditions and develop alternative ideas for the park. Staff looks forward to a future meeting, and then meeting periodically, to review progress and build support around different proposals that are expected to be developed.
Again, staff looks forward to working with you and all Terrace View Park users during this unique opportunity. Now is the time to think imaginatively and comprehensively, as we begin the process to upgrade Terrace View Park.
Thank you, again, for the time together and let's stay in touch.
Sincerely,
Brad Ricards
Landscape Architect
From: Peggy O.
Date: Aug.8, 2007 9:50 AM PDT
Subject: Park Meeting
Dear Neighbors,
Great news: The City of Berkeley has allocated initial planning funds to improve Terrace View Park.
On Sunday, August 12 at 6:30 we are meeting in the park with Parks Director William Rogers and City Landscape Architect Brad Ricards to discuss both our thoughts and theirs regarding what needs to be done. I'll post the results of that meeting.
Meanwhile the park committee (Friends of Terrace View Park) has been developing a list of priorities. Here, briefly, is some of what we've discussed that we think will make our park shine again, make it a useful, fun center for everyone in our community - old, young, animal, human, etc. Please feel free to contact me with further thoughts or your questions for the city representatives.
1) The basketball court is buckled and cracked and the manhole cover in the middle protrudes. Not only is it unusable, but it's hazardous. Repaving is expensive and, really, who needs four basketball courts? We would like to see a less expensive, more aesthetic, useful solution. One idea would be to repave half the space and make the rest of the area into a lawn, perhaps with a walkway/track on which kids could ride bikes or skate. In a hilly neighborhood, the court is an essential playground's where kids learn to ride bikes, skate, play ball, tag etc..
2) The middle level play area is obsolete and absolutely no fun. The swings are outdated, the bars are hazardous. The whole set-up is boring. The kids need functional, fun age-appropriate play equipment. There has been a baby boom in the Terrace View neighborhood, and by the time this project is completed all those kids will be ready to swarm that middle level!
3) The sandbox on the upper level is redundant and the children become quickly bored with the small (and bent) play structure there. Other parks in Berkeley have multi-faceted toddler play structures with such things as chimes, steering wheels, crawling areas. As things progress, we will observe at city parks to see which structures are most enjoyed by the kids.
4) The sand surface on both playgrounds erodes, gets weedy and is full of cat crap. We need better, safer more hygienic surfacing. In changing these things, however, as with all improvements, we want to be sure to preserve the rustic feel of the park.
5) The paths that cut through the park are dangerously buckled and the steps unsafe. This is of particular concern to senior citizens in the neighborhood who are losing access to the park.
6) Parents would like to have benches on every level. We're tired. We're watching our kids. 'Nuff said.
7) Something needs to be done about the plywood on the wall under the picnic area. Maybe it could be made into a backboard for tennis etc.
8) The fence around the picnic area is unsafe. It like a ladder, and one of these days some kid is going to climb up, tumble over and ... well, let just say it got to be dealt with. The picnic area itself, where many neighbors hold bbqs and b-day parties (not to mention our annual gathering), needs updating as well.
9) Some parents have expressed interest in a bathroom. Based on the experience of other communities, however, the committee is concerned that a bathroom will encourage people to take up permanent residence in the park. Therefore we are reluctantly are against it.
Finally, we hope to learn from Brad and William how much money will be allotted to our park, get a sense of the city priorities, and their projected timeline.
We'll keep you posted....
--Peggy
From: Peggy O.
Date: July 29, 2007 9:50 AM PDT
Subject: Park Update
Great news! I've been emailing with Brad Ricards, the city's chief landscape architect, and as of this month, funds have been officially set aside for planning improvements to our park. Brad and the new Parks Recreation and Waterfront Director, William Rogers, would like to meet with us in August to begin discussion of our preferences. They hope we'll be actively involved throughout the process.
From: Peggy O.
Date: July 18, 2006 1:40:32 PM PDT
Subject: Thrilling news!!!!
Well, I checked in with Marc Seleznow who is head of the Parks Dept. to tell him about our meeting and push him about the hazardous fence (and also about the poison oak that is running rampant by the basketball court....) and got a very heartening reply. WE'RE GETTING MONEY!!!!!!!!!! More on this in a moment.
He also said that the City may be able to help us with our clean-up day. Sylvaine and Jessie, he suggested you contact Senior. Park Supervisor Doug McDonald to discuss and arrange. Doug has a copy of our correspondence, so he'll know what you're talking about. Pruning our trees has apparently been on their to-do list for a while. He's also the guy to ask about the poison oak, if you don't mind doing that as well. It would be nice to have a professional maintenance person pull that stuff out rather than a brave neighbor. It's primarily growing along the path on the North side of the park starting down near the basketball court (near David's house), but there are other spots as well.
Regarding the fence: Marc said that they recently looked at it and said it was structurally sound. He did not, however, consider the issue of kids scaling it like a ladder and splattering themselves on the basketball court. When I put it to him like that, he promised to ask Maintenance Supervisor Bill Todoroff to figure out how to make it unclimbable. I'll follow up on this and report back at our next meeting.
Now, T*H*E* M*O*N*E*Y*
Remember that Marc promised two years ago to shuffle some money our way in two years? Well, he meant it! The preliminary Capital Improvement budget for fiscal year 2008 (which starts next July) allots approximately $40,000 seed money to fund planning renovations to our park. Additionally, there is $200,000 (yes TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND) allotted the following year, 2009, to actually do the work. These figures are preliminary and will become more solid this winter. I'm not sure what $240,000 buys, but it dang sure better get us a new basketball court/grassy knoll and some fun playground structures.
Amazing, yes? It really seems possible, with the City's help, that we'll get the park we've hoped for within the next five years!
I'll talk further with Marc and by our next meeting will be prepared to discuss how our committee fundraising can enhance and abet the City's efforts.
Finally, FYI, here are the people in charge of various aspects of park maintenance and improvement:
Landscape Maintenance - Park Supervisor is Robert Harris. He reports to Doug McD.
Building, Pavement and Structures Maintenance - Bill Todoroff
Forestry Maintenance - Sr. Forestry Supervisor, Jerry Koch
Long Term Capital Needs - Brad Ricards
Cheers!
--Peggy