Redwood City New General Plan 4.13 Recreation, Parks, and Open Space 4.13 RECREATION, PARKS, AND OPEN SPACE This section describes existing public parks, recreation facilities, and open space areas in Redwood City and the sphere of influence area, including the regulations and policies affecting these facilities. Impacts to these facilities that could result with adoption of the New General Plan are evaluated and mitigations identified for any potentially significant impacts. Information in this section was obtained from City publications, including the Parks and Facilities Needs Assessment (2008). 4.13.1 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING Redwood City has approximately 226 acres of active developed parkland and approximately 700 acres of designated open space. Parks in the sphere of influence area contribute an additional 7 acres to the plan area, for a total of about 233 acres of developed parkland in the plan area (the City plus sphere of influence areas) as a whole.1 Approximately 19 percent (or about 43 acres) of the City’s active parkland is associated with school facilities (including athletic fields and playgrounds). Other public park and recreational facilities in the plan area include community centers, trails, and swimming pools, which may be within City parks. The open space areas provide passive recreational opportunities, but have other primary purposes, such as habitat protection, that preclude the areas from being considered as active developed parkland. Parks Parks in the plan area are classified in several subgroups: mini parks, neighborhood parks, community parks, special use parks, and active land on public school property. The City completed a Parks and Facilities Needs Assessment (PFNA) in 2008, which assessed the quality and quantity of parklands in the plan area. The PFNA noted that existing parklands are not evenly distributed throughout the City. Some portions of the City have a relative “excess” of parkland when compared to other portions. Table 4.13-1 provides the acreage for each park subgroup within the plan area, which includes school related parklands. As identified in the PFNA, because wider public use of school parks is not formalized through any usage agreement, there is no certainty that school parks could continue to be relied upon in the long-term to help fulfill park and recreation demands; however, the City has been actively pursuing longer term assurances. Figure 4.13-1 shows the location of these parks in the plan area. 1 Redwood City Parks and Facilities Need Assessment, October 2008. May 2010 Draft EIR 4.13-1 Redwood City New General Plan 4.13 Recreation, Parks, and Open Space Table 4.13-1 Public Park and Recreation Lands within the Plan Area Park Type Acres Within City Limits Mini parks 8.5 Neighborhood parks 26.7 Community parks 94.7 Special use parks 52.5 School-related parklands 43.0 Subtotal, City Limits 225.4 Parklands in Sphere of Influence (Outside City Limits) 7.5 Plan Area Total 232.9 Source: Redwood City Parks and Facilities Needs Assessment, 2008. Excluding the school-related facilities, the total amount of developed parkland provided by the City is 182.4 acres. When considered in the context of the City’s 2008 population of 77,071, the 182.4 acres of developed parkland equates to 2.37 acres of parkland per 1,000 persons. Should the City formalize a use agreement with the schools to ensure continued public use of their facilities, the additional 43 acres would increase the total assured acreage to 225.4, equating to 2.92 acres of parkland per 1,000 persons. Both figures are below the City’s park standard of 3.0 acres of developed parkland per 1,000 persons. Excluding the school-related facilities, the total amount of developed parkland provided in the plan area is 189.8 acres. When considered in the context of the plan area’s 2008 population of 99,913, the 189.8 acres of developed parkland equates to 1.9 acres of parkland per 1,000 persons. Including school-related parklands increases the plan area parkland total to 232.9 acres, equating to 2.33 acres of parkland per 1,000 persons. Both figures are below the City’s developed parkland standard. The City’s park standard of 3.0 acres of developed parkland per 1,000 persons was incorporated into Section 30.143 of the Redwood City Municipal Code. In the event that a proposed new development does not meet the park standard, a fee is calculated by subtracting the dedicated acreage from the parkland requirement and then multiplying the result by a per acre land and site improvement cost. This is consistent with the Quimby Act, which allows parkland acquisition and development fees to be assessed on new development at an amount proportionate to attaining the standard of 3 acres per 1,000 persons. The following describes the various types of parks within the City and the plan area. May 2010 Draft EIR 4.13-2 BUIL D I N G CO MMU N I T Y h g Bird Island u Beach Park Blvd lo S S A t n o N m 35 l e wate F B ar r 36 e P Sh k w R Foster y A City 21N8 N Sh 48 el C l N9 h N2 130 wy P 22 Pk kw g I y y59 u e w o S n k l i s P r re S C a 1 o r h e O M B 1 0 S rg Bair Island r d be id o in g o te e 26 w S B P d k e A 9 w R y Y 31 h g u 19N6 o Tw w l in D e S o 15N2 r Belmont lp c h s in rk o Dr C ve W n A San e sto k st al e poin R Carlos e t Slo r ug Airport C h d o o Greco w e d d Island v e v l A Sm R s ith B lo t r Slo r a ug o C h p n a a e S E l S C a r m lub D e C v in A o n a R tt e ri a B l San Carl 4 5 os N7 A 20 r g Bayfront 12 e u 44 v e Vet Park A l eran l M s B le o lvd p S 30 a p t i i E n h lw Br 6 S oa W o dwa N1 o e t 29 y 14 d 49 v S A 55 N2411 e t e v n 25 v A o 4 A 50 r rs F e e 3 a 52 h 2 t f ir t s K f O 5 w 43 e 7 a e in J ks r g Av B S e t H 51 58 d gewood Rd M R Ed 41 u i e d d v B s 37 54 33 d h ay o l A s e 53 r R e n f h d v ie t a 60 A S 9 27 t 8 ld M t57 d l R e R 5 v 39 16N3 d e 56 s 34 e Menlo Park o d 17N4 o i 46 R s M d i dd V o l a e A l o E fi l o n l el a t W C d Edgewood m a L a y m R 1 3 e R in d County Park 47 d 42 d lb o a e R S e d al 32 e 1N85 d l lv B a ill s 40 H 38 P m 2 8 u r lg Fa a e s v e A v n A o t e r g e d i h r t b A Atherton k c o t S Woodside Legend Source: Redwood City Draft General Plan, 2009 Park Facilities Community Facilities Base Features # Mini Park # Community Centers City Boundary Sphere of Influence # Neighborhood Park ORTH Freeway/Highway N # Community Park Major Roads Special Park # Railroad 1 inch equals 5,000 feet # School Parks Waterways Feet 0 2,500 5,000 Redwood City G I General Plan EIR Public Parks in the Plan Area F 4-13.1 Geografika Consulting 03.03.10 Redwood City New General Plan 4.13 Recreation, Parks, and Open Space This page intentionally left blank. May 2010 Draft EIR 4.13-4 Redwood City New General Plan 4.13 Recreation, Parks, and Open Space Mini Parks Mini parks are generally intended for use by small children, typically including play structures and picnic tables. These types of parks are usually less than one acre. Redwood City has 13 mini parks within City limits totaling 8.5 acres.2 Table 4.13-2 identifies each park and its acreage. Table 4.13-2 Redwood City Mini Parks Map Reference Number Recreational Facility Name Total Acres 1 Davit Lane 1.2 2 Dove Beeger Park 0.7 3 Jardin de Niños Park 0.3 4 John S. Roselli Memorial 0.6 5 Linden Park 0.4 6 Little River Park 0.1 7 Main Street Park 0.1 8 Palm Park 1.0 9 Portside Park 0.8 10 Sandpiper Point Park 0.9 11 Starboard Park 0.6 12 Wellesley Crescent 1.4 13 Westwood Park 0.4 Total 8.5 Source: Redwood City Parks and Facilities Needs Assessment, October 2008.