Our Neighborhood Parks

By David M. Furst

Two major issues concerning our neighborhood parks confront LARPD; the City's emphasis on infill and the need to upgrade the amenities at the parks.

The City of Livermore has decided to focus on higher density in-fill housing for the downtown area. While this may be one way to meet our housing needs and to revitalize the downtown area, it will also mean that the City and LARPD will need to build more Neighborhood parks in an area that has little open space and expensive land values. While no easy solution presents itself, developers fees, City subsidies, and other means must be explored to find the funding needed. Finding the space is another issue which can only be solved by building this need into the General Plan Update currently being discussed by a special committee.

Another major issue is the lack of facilities at the Neighborhood parks. The Park and Recreation Planning Survey showed that many residents want restrooms, lighting, drinking fountains, and shady structures in the parks. In confirmation, members of the Livermore Mom's Club have expressed the need for restrooms at the parks, as well as shade over the play structures so their children can enjoy the parks. Currently the LARPD General Plan does not include restrooms in Neighborhood parks but this should be reconsidered.

A significant challenge is to finally build the Community parks mandated by the LARPD General Plan. Community parks are larger than the Neighborhood parks and they are designed to allow group recreation and sports activities. However they are more costly to build and maintain. Lack of enough Community parks has put pressure on the Neighborhood parks, put sports teams in conflict with local residents, and put stress on the grass and other facilities. The Board must put more emphasis on finding land and funding, not for a special sports park, but for more Community parks to benefit all of the citizens of the LARPD service area.