AUSTIN WATERFRONT PARK DRAFT RENOVATION PLAN

2016

DRAFT

MELTON DESIGN GROUP

AUSTIN WATERFRONT PARK DRAFT RENOVATION PLAN

AC K N O W L E D G M E N T S

CityofClearlake
GregFolsom,CityManager
DougHerren,DirectorofPublicWorks
MelissaSwanson,CityClerk
JulieBrown,AssistantPlanner

CityCouncil
RussellPerdock,Mayor
NickBenne ,CouncilMember
JoyceOverton,CouncilMember
BrunoSaba er,CouncilMember

PlanningCommission
NathalieV.Antus,Chair
DirkSlooten,ViceChair
CherylHutchinson,Commissioner
CarlWebb,Commissioner
RussCremer,Commissioner

MeltonDesignGroup
GregMelton,PrincipalLandscapeArchitect
ShawnRohrbacker,ProjectManager
SarahSundahl,GraphicDesigner
TristaBeitz,Dra ingTechnician

AUSTIN WATERFRONT PARK DRAFT RENOVATION PLAN

AC K N O W L E D G M E N T S

CityofClearlake
GregFolsom,CityManager
DougHerren,DirectorofPublicWorks
MelissaSwanson,CityClerk
JulieBrown,AssistantPlanner

CityCouncil
RussellPerdock,Mayor
NickBenne ,CouncilMember
JoyceOverton,CouncilMember
BrunoSaba er,CouncilMember

PlanningCommission
NathalieV.Antus,Chair
DirkSlooten,ViceChair
CherylHutchinson,Commissioner
CarlWebb,Commissioner
RussCremer,Commissioner

MeltonDesignGroup
GregMelton,PrincipalLandscapeArchitect
ShawnRohrbacker,ProjectManager
SarahSundahl,GraphicDesigner
TristaBeitz,Dra ingTechnician

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
Introduc on

Site Analysis

EXISTING TREE ANAYLSIS

Community Outreach

PUBLIC WORK SHOP #1

PUBLIC WORKSHOP #2
PUBLIC WORKSHOP #3

5
8
9

Implementation

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COST ESTIMATE

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I N T RO D U C T I O N

AustinParkisa20acrecommunityparkClearlake,California.Theparkisownedand
maintainedbytheCityofClearlake.Thesiteincludesabeachalongtheeasternshore
ofClearlakeandisatthecenterofdowntown,nexttoCityHall,afewrestaurantsand
retailshops,singlefamilyhomesandBurnsValleyElementarySchool.Itsanimportant
recreationalcenterforlocalresidentsandsurroundingcommunitieswithabeachonthe
easternshoreofClearlakeandlargeopenspacesthathostpopularannualevents.
TheCityalsoownsa2acreparcelontheLake,northoftheAustinParkbeach.Mostof
thepropertyisnativegrassesandintermittentmaturetrees.Afootpathfollowsthe
edge of the lake that continues onto a similar 5acre private property parcel. Both
properties are currently left open to the public. Lake County and Clear Lake
EnvironmentalResearchCenterhaveexpressedinterestinusingtheCitysparcelasa
WaterQualityandDemonstrationfacility
TheCityofClearlakehadthiscomprehensivemasterplandevelopedforimprovements
toAustinPark.Giventhesizeofthepark,muchoftheopenspaceisunderutilizedand
thereisaneedforsomefundamentalimprovementslikegrouppicnic areas,walking
paths and improvements to the existing restroom, parking lots and irrigation system.
Thisprocesshasengagedcommunitystakeholdersindevelopingablueprinttodevelop
the Park to positively impact the park neighborhood, provide use for gatherings and
leisurely activities, and improve the visual image and value in support of downtown
vitalityandeconomicdevelopment.

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S I T E A N A LY S I S
The review of the existing conditions of Austin Park, existing
park use and potential for improvements, the following site
analysisdividestheparkintofiveprimaryareasorusesofthe
park; an Active multiuse turf area, the Core of the Park that
connects the larger park area to the beach across Lakeshore
Drive, the View of the Lake, existing areas that need
Improvementsandopenspaceareasthatareunderutilizedand
presentandOpportunityfornewamenities.
ThecoreofAustinParkiswheretheparkmeetsLakeshoreDrive
andtheboardwalkareaoftheLake.ThisareaiswheretheCity
closesthestreetforlargeevents.
The site oers great view of the Lake and the surrounding
foothillscanbeseenfromtheLakesideoftheac vityareaand
goingtowardsthewaterfront.
Thesitehasacenterwalkandowofpedestriantracfrom
east to west through the center of the park which also goes
throughtheac vearea.Theac veareahasamul useopen
spacethatworkswellforlargeevents,avolleyballcourtthats
inneedofrepair,memorialbenches,trees(ingreen)thatarein
good health to be remain for park remodel, trees (noncolor)
aretoberemovedandadrainageswaleintheturfareatobe
consideredundergroundingorturningintona veplants.
Theareasthatarelabeledasimprovementsincludethegravel
parkinglots,tenniscourt,basketballcourtandskatepark.The
parking lot areas on both sides of the park are currently
gravel/dirt,theparkingareasarenotwelldened,andthereis
no ADA parking. The tennis court needs a new net and
resurfacing. Basketball is popular so the City is considering
addinganothercourt.Theskateandbikeparkisalsopopular
butismadeofmodularequipmentthatisexpensivetomaintain.TheCityisconsideringrenova ngtheskateandbikeparktoincludeanadvancedbowlareaandconcretestreetcourseelements.
Theopportunityareasincludethe2acreparcelnorthofthebeachthatiscurrentlyvacantopenspaceandanopenturfareainthenortheastcorneroftheparkthatisnotcurrentlyusedforanyparkprograms.Mostoftheparkis
alsocoveredinturf.TheCitymayconsideronlykeepingturfinac veuseareasandconver ngtherestofthelandscapeareastolowwateruseandna veplants.

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Exis ngTreeAnalysis
Mostoftheexis ngtreesatAus nPark
areamixofMulberryandLocust.There
isasmallgroveofheritageoaksinthe
southwestcornerofthesite.Therest
of the trees are a mix of accent trees,
including cypress, pines and a deodar
cedar. Small maples line recent street
improvementsalongAus nRoad.
It is unfortunate that most of the
exis ngtreesareMulberryandLocust.
Mulberrytreescano engrowinweak
branching pa erns, especially when
there is a history of severe pruning.
MostoftheMulberrytreesonsitehave
thisproblemandarerecommendedto
be removed when construc on
improvementsoccurnearthem.Allof
the Locust trees are recommended to
be removed. Many are also in poor
health and all of them have large
thorns.

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C O M M U N I T Y O U T R E AC H
CityStaff
Akickomee ngoccurredwithCitystainMarchof2016to
discussexis ngcondi onsandpoten alimprovementstothepark.
Thefollowingisalistofcommentsfromthemee ng:

Exis ngProblems
Vandalism
Irriga onWaterSourcecurrentlyfromLake
Irriga onPumpclogswithalgae
LightsDoNotWork
NewWellishighinBoronandwaterishot

Poten alImprovementsandEvents
ConcertsinthePark
DogPark(CurrentDogProblem)
MorePlaygrounds
FarmersMarket
4thofJulyParade
WineTas ng
RelocateMemorialPlaques
VeteransMemorial?
DonorBricks/Benches?
NewSkatePark/BMX
GroupPicnicArea
NeedMoreParkingatBeach
ChristmasTreeLigh ng
Bioswales
MaybeAddMoreBasketballCourts
WantHotelorResortatadjacentpropertytothenorth
CountyinterestedinWaterSampling/LearningCenter

PriorityImprovementsfor1stPhase
EventCenter/Bandshell/Stage
MorePlaygrounds
UpdateIrriga onSystem
DogPark

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PublicWorkshop#1
TheCityofClearlakehostedseveralcommunityoutreach
mee ngsthatincludedinputforimprovementstoAus n
ParkduringtheplanningprocessfortheLakeshoreDrive
DowntownCorridorPlan,nishedFebruaryof2014.This
publicinputwasconsideredindra ingpreliminaryconcepts
improvementstotheParkandpresentedasOp onAandB
attherstPublicWorkshopforthisMasterPlanonMay11,
2016.Seetheillustra onsonthispageandthenextfor
moreinforma on.
Examplesofpoten alimprovementsanddesignsofsimilar
parkswerealsopresentedtothepublic.Thegoalofthis
workshopwastosolicitpublicinputfromthecommunityto
renepreliminaryconceptsanddeveloptherstdra ofa
MasterPlanforthenextPublicWorkshop.
BothOp onAandBincludeboardwalkstyleimprovements
tothebeachareaandsimilartreatmentstotheparkacross
LakeshoreDrive.Theprimarygoalhereistojointhetwo
areasandcreateoneuniedspaceforannualeventslikethe
4thofJulyParadethatcloseLakeshoreDrivetovehicletrac.
Theboardwalkspaceswerealsodesignedtocreateroomfor
boothsduringFarmersMarketandCra Fairtypeevents.
Theprimarydierencebetweenthetwoop onsisthe
layoutandtheshingpierdisplayedinOp onB.

Schema cOp onA

Theonsitepor onofthemee ng.

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PublicWorkshop#2

InordertoexperienceoneofthemostprominentannualeventsatAus nPark,the
secondpublicworkshopwasheldintheformofaboothatthe4thofJulyCelebra on.
Inputfromtherstpublicworkshopwasu lizedtodra aPreliminarySitePlan.

PreliminarySitePlan

Publicinputboothatthe4 ofJulyCelebra on
atAus nPark.
th

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PublicWorkshop#3

The City of Clearlake State of the City

eventpresentedauniqueopportunityfor
a public workshop to meet with the
communityandlocalstakeholders.
A rened version of the Preliminary Site
Plan (Renova on Mater Plan) was
presentedwithrevisionsperpublicinput
from the 4th of July public workshop.
Vigne es of key park features were also
presentedtohelpbe erunderstandthe
concepts. The Renova on Master Plan
andvigne esareshownonthenextfew
pages.
A Final Public Workshop is planned to
occur at a combined session of the City
Council and Planning Commission on
November 11, 2016. The results of the
workshopwillbeincorporatedintheFinal
MasterPlan.

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I M P L E M E N TAT I O N

Improvementsfortherenova onofAus nParkare

plannedtobephasedaccordingtoanexis ngCity
budgetofapproximately$600,000forPhase1,
poten aldona onsbeingdiscussedwithlocal
stakeholders,upcominggrantapplica onsandthe
remainingfutureimprovements.

PHASE1CITYBUDGET
ParkingLotImprovements
Bandshell/Stage
NewIrriga onPumpandFilter
SiteLigh ng
Landscape

LAKESHOREDRAPPLYFOR2017ATPGRANT
StreetprintIntersec onsOverAsphalt
Curb,gu erandsidewalks
LightedCrosswalkSystem
StreetLights
BusParkingseparateCaltransinquiry

POTENTIALDONATIONS
Parcourse
Walkingpath
VeteransandDonormemorial

FUTUREPHASE
Playareas
Shadestructures
Concreteseatwalls,pathsandmonumentsign
BeachandBoardwalkImprovements
Siteameni es;benches,charcoalgrillBBQ,
picnictables,drinkingfountains,bicycleracks
Dogpark
Ac vesports;newbasketballandvolleyball
courts,upgradeskatepark
NewRestroomorRenovateExis ng
Landscape

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DRAFTEs matedCostofConstruc on

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