Half Moon Bay Community

HMB Requests Grant For Community Park...Last November?

Just received this, and have not yet had a chance to read the whole thing. But...a budget item of $1.5M for artificial turf? (See page 14 for the whole $4.4M budget.) What the...? And this was sent to the "Youth Soccer and Recreation Development Program?" If this was sent in and requested in November 2004, why are the surveys of the HMB citizenry just happening now, to "ask" for what ammenities would be desired at the park? Fait accompli and lip service?

From Page 1 of the application:

"The proposed public park will consist of three soccer fields, one baseball/softball field, two tennis courts, a basketball court, a skate park, turf areas for active and passive recreation, a paved loop trail around the park, bocce ball courts and horseshoe pits, picnic areas, youth and tot play areas, bicycle parking, two restroom buildings, a 50 car parking lot and a maintenance yard."

And from Page 8.

"Annual Visitation: The estimated annual visitation of the park is 100,000 people, or 500,000 hours of use. As the only community park and soccer field facility in the region, which is geographically isolated from the rest of the S. F. Peninsula, the park will see numerous annual visits by a large percentage of the Service Area's population of 21,837."

100,000 annual visitors.

With fifty parking spaces.

And Stone Pine Road as the only access.

With all traffic coming up through the stop sign at the corner of Stone Pine and Main, which already backs up from Hwy 92 any time there are more than a handful of cars on the road.

*shakes head*

Here's the whole thing (15MB download):
HMB Community Park Soccer Grant Proposal November 2004

What Do You Want At The New Park?

The Review also posted a questionnaire on what folks want the park to provide from an ammenities standpoint.  The whole thing:

The city of Half Moon Bay is asking Coastside residents what they would like to see and do at its new park site along Highway 92. The following questions and choices were crafted by city officials. Feel free to clip this coupon out and drop it off at City Hall, or mail it to Half Moon Bay Parks and Recreation Department, 535 Kelly Ave., Half Moon Bay, CA 94019.

1. What do you think are the top three park and recreation facilities that are most needed in the new community park? Please mark your top three on the following list with an X or add a new suggestion under "other."

_____   1. Baseball or softball fields

_____   2. Tennis courts

_____   3. Contemplative quiet space

_____   4. Bocce ball courts

_____   5. Barbecues

_____   6. Labyrinth

_____   7. In-line hockey rink

_____   8. Trails

_____   9. Basketball court

_____ 10. Performing arts spaces (band shell)

_____ 11. Playgrounds

_____ 12. Par course

_____ 13. Gardens

_____ 14. Sand volleyball court

_____ 15. Soccer fields

_____ 16. Picnic areas

_____ 17. Horseshoe pits

_____ 18. Shuffleboard courts

_____ 19. Community garden

_____ 20. Water feature

_____ 21. Restrooms

_____ 22. Large, open grassy areas

_____ 23. Skate park

_____ 24. Woodland area

_____ 25. Game and activity space (youth and teens)

_____ 26. Other:

2. What are the top three recreation or park activities you would like to see happening in the park? Please mark your top three on the following list with an X or add a new suggestion under "other."

_____ 1. Walking

_____ 2. Nature, interpretive programs

_____ 3. City events

_____ 4. Arts and crafts programs

_____ 5. Adult sports

_____ 6. Health and fitness programs

_____   7. Martial arts programs

_____   8. Youth sports

_____   9. Teen programs

_____ 10. Outdoor learning laboratory (support for school curriculum)

_____ 11. Music programs

_____ 12. Programs for persons with disabilities

_____ 13. Family activities

_____ 14. Health-Cardio activities

_____ 15. Cultural events

_____ 16. Other:

Print.  Clip.  Speak up.  Do it. 

Now.

No, not later.

Right up there.  The print button.  Use it.

On the other hand, if it's easier to speak out here in the comments, do it.  I'll collect all comments posted here by, say, April 2nd, and personally deliver them to both City Hall and the Parks and Rec Department.  That'll give a few days headway before the April 5th meeting.

Summary of 8Mar2005 Meeting Regarding The Community Park

From the HMB Review, 16Mar2005 (link)

"The Half Moon Bay Community Park Committee held a public meeting March 8 to discuss plans for the nearly 22 acres of parkland recently acquired adjacent to Highway 92."

Behind the link, many quotes from committee members:

• Mike Ferreira
• Ken King
• Jeff Centoni

Interesting pullquote from the article:

"Moore Iacofano Goltsman recently drafted a schedule that calls for a master-planning document to be completed by mid-October. The schedule then calls for public presentation and City Council adoption by November.

King isn't so sure that schedule can be met, however.

"I found it a little bothersome," he said. "There's been slippage already on the schedule."

King said one of his main objectives is to see the plan approved before the November election when three councilmember seats will be up for grabs."

The committee's next meeting is scheduled for April 5th.

Commentary On Park Coverage

Just found a nice piece by Barry Parr (dated 24Jan2005) with a number of questions regarding the HMB Review's coverage of the park process.  Includes commentary by committee members:

• Ken King
• Jessica Hopkins
• Steven Stauss

Worth a read.

Who Is "MIG," Anyway?

"MIG" is Moore Iacofano Goltsman, the selected architects for the community park.  From their website, "MIG provides customized, practical solutions for complex, multifaceted projects calling on a unique combination of planning, design, communications, management, and technology expertise." (ed. - huh?)

More on MIG here.

Council Signs Off On $250,000 Park Contract

From the HMB Review, 9Mar2005 (link to full article):

The Half Moon Bay City Council last week gave City Manager Debra Ryan the authority to spend up to $250,000 for master planning and design services for the parkland adjacent to Highway 92.

The council unanimously agreed at its March 1 meeting to reallocate $245,000 that was originally earmarked for the Oak Avenue Park project to fund the contract with the design firm of Moore Iacofano Goltsman.

The other salient bit:

MIG intends to have a series of draft plans and alternatives available beginning May 10. It plans to have a final master plan available Oct. 11.

Photos Of The Park Site

Coastsider.com has a bunch of great photos up showing different aspects of the proposed community park site at the end of Stone Pine Road.  Link

"City Chooses Park Design Firm"

From the Half Moon Bay Review, February 2, 2005 (link to full article)

The Half Moon Bay City Council last week selected the noted urban planning firm of Moore Iacofano Goltsman Inc. to design a park on 22 acres of recently purchased land along Highway 92.

The council couldn't have made the decision without an assist from the ad hoc committee it formed to pilot development of the park.

City Council members reluctantly offered their opinions on three firms that made a pitch for the work before agreeing to allow members of the park committee to vote. MIG was one of two clear favorites of committee members and the council agreed.

The process is scheduled to resume Tuesday. The park committee is set to meet at 7 p.m. in the Ted Adcock Community/Senior Center, 535 Kelly Ave.

"Parkland Plans Begin To Come To Light"

From the Half Moon Bay Review, October 27, 2004 (link to full article)

Over the past month, since the city of Half Moon Bay went public with its plan to purchase nearly 22 acres for a community park, one thing's become abundantly clear. When it comes to designing a new playland, just about everyone has a vision.

Now begins the process of formulating a wish list and fashioning those dreams into reality.

The city has scheduled a town hall meeting at noon Nov. 6 at the Ted Adcock Community/Senior Center to start discussing what the community wants out there.

"Closed Doors Becoming Commonplace"

From the Half Moon Bay Review, October 13, 2004 (link to full article)

On Oct. 4 [2004], the Review filed a California Public Records Request after the city refused to make public two very important documents concerning the city's purchase of 22 acres on the eastern edge of town. These two documents include the city's appraisals of the property and the full due diligence report.

The law requires an agency to reply to a request within 10 days, which would give the city until today to turn over the requested information or explain, in writing, the reason for its refusal. As of press time Tuesday evening, there has been no response from the city...