Can the city meet residents’ expectations for a new park? That
was a main concern of the 30 or so residents who attended a
neighborhood meeting on for the design and content of a new
southeast neighborhood park Wednesday.
Landscape architect firm Bellinger, Foster, Steinmetz helped
coordinate the meeting, along with Hollister city officials.
Can the city meet residents’ expectations for a new park? That was a main concern of the 30 or so residents who attended a neighborhood meeting on for the design and content of a new southeast neighborhood park Wednesday.
Landscape architect firm Bellinger, Foster, Steinmetz helped coordinate the meeting, along with Hollister city officials.
Project Principle Michael Bellinger and Project Manager Elke Lucking, architects for the park, used diagrams, drawings and pictures to show those in attendance what they have to work with in coming up with their “dream park.”
In the past, the city has hosted similar meetings for projects, but the turn-out for this meeting was the best Clay Lee, director of management services, has seen in his 17-year tenure with the city, he said.
“This way the city doesn’t build a park and jam it down their throats,” Lee said. “This gives (residents) a clean palette to work from in doing this park.”
During the meeting many residents voiced concerns about parking, the city’s ability to fund park maintenance, project timetables and budgets.
The park’s budget was a big issue of the night, with residents concerned that they will put time and energy into designing the park only to be disappointed when the budget falls out from under them.
Meeting facilitators tried to focus residents on aesthetic issues, rather than the budgetary ones.
“We don’t want them thinking about money tonight, we’ll narrow that down as the project evolves,” Lee said. “We understand that they don’t want to reach big and be disappointed, but even if it means doing it in two to three phases, it will still get done.”
Residents were able to rank program elements such as walking paths, shade structures and a basketball court in order of importance.
“I’m hearing some pretty good things tonight,” said Associate Civil Engineer David Rubcic. “When the community comes up with their own ideas, needs and wants, then the city can try to patch in those needs (to the final plan).”
This is a more proactive approach to planning, which is a trend occurring in more and more communities, Rubcic said.
The next neighborhood meeting will be Oct. 22, at 6:30 p.m. at the Veterans Building. Officials hope to see lots of residents attend with the same level of enthusiasm this group displayed, said Vice-Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Commissioner Don Kelley.
“It looks like they’re on their way,” Kelley said. “This is a good group.”
