Parks and Recreation City of Richmond General Plan Element 10 Community Vision Richmond, California in 2030
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Parks and Recreation City of Richmond General Plan Element 10 Community Vision Richmond, California in 2030 Richmond’s parks, public plazas and open spaces create a strong sense of community identity, promote health and wellness, and protect historical and cultural amenities that are part of the City’s legacy. A variety of recreational programs and enrichment opportunities support the needs and interests of community members of all ages, incomes and abilities. Programs are acces- sible via public transit and pedestrian and bicycle routes that link schools and neighbor- hoods to program destinations. Richmond’s integrated system of parks provides public access to the San Pablo Peninsula, large-scale open spaces, neighborhoods, schools, urban parks, recreational facilities and other key destinations. Safe, park-like connections along restored creek channels, pedes- trian-friendly green streets and multi-use trails encourage walking and bicycling. Some parks, plazas and open spaces are located near civic and commercial areas. Each park in the City features distinctive components such as rich landscape elements and pub- lic art that respond to Richmond’s cultural values and history. Adults and children benefit from contact with nature in the urban context through unstructured natural play settings and walking paths. 10 Parks and Recreation Richmond residents recognize the importance spaces and community facilities linked together Legal Requirement of high-quality parks and recreation facilities. via green multimodal corridors; Although the Parks and Recreation Element is not Richmond’s parks, natural areas and recreational • Highlights key findings and recommendations a state-mandated element, the Parks and Recreation programs are integral to creating a community that based on an existing conditions analysis; Element provides a policy framework to guide future is socially and physically connected. Programs and decisions about important parkland resources and • Defines goals for improving existing parks, strate- services provide valuable opportunities to engage beneficial programs and services. The parks and gically expanding parklands and maximizing use and enrich residents and visitors alike. Parks, green- Recreation Element complies with Section 65303 of open space and community facilities; ways and trails provide a variety of opportunities for of the California Government Code which grants recreation, social interaction, community-building • Provides a summary table identifying lead respon- authority to local jurisdictions to include additional and visual respite. The City’s existing park system sibilities for each implementing action; and elements to those required by state law when they provides a solid foundation for creating a compre- • Reviews the existing regulatory framework that apply to the physical development of the jurisdic- hensive and integrated network that strengthens guides parks and recreation planning efforts. tion. neighborhoods, improves community image and supports a strong economy. A well-designed, qual- Purpose of the Element ity and accessible park system contributes to the Richmond is committed to maintaining excep- economic attractiveness of an area and helps to draw tional parks, plazas and recreational amenities for private sector investment into the community. its residents. The Parks and Recreation Element provides direction for developing and maintaining a The Parks and Recreation Element: comprehensive system of quality parks, recreational • Describes Richmond’s existing parks and recre- facilities, programs, support services and open space. ational resources; General Plan goals, policies and implementing • Defines the City’s park performance standards; actions are focused to preserve resources and enrich parks and recreational offerings. • Presents Richmond’s “system of parks” concept in developing an interconnected network of open SHAPING THE NEW 100 YEARS | 10.3 10 Parks and Recreation Richmond Today Richmond is one of the few Bay Area cities that boast over 6,500 acres of parks and open space including local, regional, state and national resources (see Table 10.1: Parks and Open Space in Richmond and Map 10.1: Parks, Trails and Open Space). Approximately 5,718.5 acres of the parkland are owned and operated by regional agencies and are located along the shoreline and in the East Bay hills. The City owns approximately 250 acres of compact, neighborhood and community parks, and 510 acres of open space clustered mostly in El Sobrante Valley, Parks and playgrounds enhance quality of life for all residents and Sports facilities allow youth to remain engaged in their community Point Richmond and Point Molate that provide are key to building economically an vital and healthy community. while improving their mental and physical health. valuable recreational linkages to regional trails. In City Parks and quality of parks and recreational facilities. Many addition to these parkland resources. Richmond also The City of Richmond is home to 74 parks includ- of the City’s parks and playgrounds are in need of enjoys a network of trails and greenways; joint-use, ing small pocket parks, play lots, neighborhood improved maintenance. private and community facilities; and a variety of parks, playing fields, and joint-use parks. recreational programs and services. Some open space and recreational resources in the Joint-Use Parks and Facilities Many residents rely on nearby schools to provide Table 10.1 Parks and Open Space City are difficult to access since they are physically isolated. For example, lack of connectivity due to recreational resources convenient to neighborhoods. Park Type Count Acres railroads and highways and poor transportation Joint-use agreements allow for shared public access options keeps residents living in Central Richmond to school grounds or privately owned recreational City-Owned Parks and 74 777 from routinely utilizing urban parks and the exten- spaces such as sports fields, playgrounds or commu- Open Space sive open spaces surrounding the City. nity centers. Joint-use parks and facilities benefit the Regional Parks and 7 5,718.5 entire community by further activating recreational Open Space Along with improved park access, Richmond’s core spaces throughout the day and providing conve- Joint-Use Parks 5 32 neighborhoods would benefit from safer, close- niently located venues for neighbors to gather. to-home resources that include flexible, multi-use Total: 86 6,527.5 spaces such as play lots and community greens. Richmond coordinates with the West Contra Costa Source: City of Richmond, East Bay Regional Park District Neighborhood parks and greenways can support Unified School District to allow public use of parks both passive and active recreation and perform an and recreation facilities on several school grounds. important role in community-building. Key priori- Currently, the City has a formal joint-use agreement ties revolve around elevating the safety, visual appeal with the District for the use of the Kennedy Swim 10.4 | RICHMOND GENERAL PLAN 2 0 3 0 10 Parks and Recreation Center, and has maintained playing fields at Olinda Table 10.2 Recreational Facilities and Valley View schools, as well as other joint-use Facility Name Location sites. Richmond continues to actively pursue joint- use opportunities to maximize use of existing rec- Annex Senior Center 5801 Huntington Avenue reational grounds and facilities in cooperation with Booker T. Anderson Community Center 960 South 47th Street schools and other public agencies. Boys and Girls Club 2801 Moran Avenue Disabled People’s Recreation Center 1900 Barrett Avenue Recreational Facilities The City owns and operates: eight community cen- Marina Bay Yacht Harbor 1340 Marina Way South ters; two senior centers; a swim center; an indoor Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center 360 Harbor Way South recreation complex; and a municipal natatorium. In May Valley Community Center 3530 Morningside Drive addition to publicly owned and operated recreation- Memorial Auditorium Convention Center 403 Civic Center Plaza al facilities, several private facilities are located in Richmond including the Richmond Country Club, Nevin Community Center 900 Williams Drive Marina Bay Yacht Harbor, Richmond Yacht Club Parchester Community Center 900 Williams Drive Harbor, YMCA, Police Activities League, the Boys Police Activities League (PAL) 2200 Macdonald Avenue and Girls Club and Red Rock Marina. Pt. Richmond Center 139 Washington Avenue Red Rock Marina No address Regional and State Parks Richmond has approximately 5,718 acres of regional Richmond Country Club 1 Markovich Lane and state parklands. These parklands provide active Richmond Municipal Natatorium (The “Plunge”) 1 E Richmond Avenue and passive recreational opportunities for residents Richmond Recreation Complex 3230 Macdonald Avenue and a rich plant and animal habitat. These parklands Richmond Senior Center 2525 Macdonald Avenue range in character from large-scale hillside open space areas to shoreline parks. They include vast trail Richmond Swim Center S. 45th and Fall Avenue systems and day use areas that are open to the public Shields-Reid Community Center 1410 Kelsey Street for a variety of activities such as hiking, mountain Washington Field House 110 East Richmond Avenue biking, horseback riding, bird-watching, fishing and YMCA Various Locations picnicking. Some shoreline and hillside open space resources are Source: City of Richmond separated from many residents by barriers such as