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Parks and Public Landscape Planning and Development
Current Park Renovation Projects
The Community Services Department is hard at work improving your parks and public landscape. Below is a list of current and tentative future Capital Improvement Projects planned for the Community. Projects and estimated completion dates are subject to change.
Handy Park Renovation. Phase 1 of this project includes the award of design work for preliminary plans and is expected to be completed by spring 2020. Phase 2 is the development of biddable construction documents and is expected to begin in May 2020. Renovation elements include the replacement of the existing modular building, parking lot rehabilitation including lighting upgrades, renovation and addition of walkways, replacement of existing overhead picnic shelter structure, installation of hardscape in courtyard area with a new shade structure, and landscape and irrigation improvements
Shade Structures in Grijalva Park. As part of the City’s initiative to install shade covers at all fourteen park tot lots throughout our park system, Grijalva Park will be the fifth tot lot to have shade covers installed. Shade covers protect users, especially children, from the sun, and allow the equipment to be used year-round. Shade covers are currently installed at Belmont, Handy, Shaffer, and Steve Ambriz Parks. The project scope includes installation of three individual covers that will provide shade to the existing play equipment located on the east side of the park. The size of each cover is 30’x 30’, 25’x 40’ and 25’x 30’ and will have steel post framing and fabric cover sails. Work includes plan and engineering preparation and submittals, excavation and soil removal, and installation. The project is expected to be completed by early 2020.
Santiago Creek Clean Up. The City completed significant tree, brush, and trash clearing along the Santiago Creek over the last year to create better visibility and access for safety, security, and maintenance personnel. With a recent increase in trespassing and unlawful encampments along the creek, it has become necessary to complete additional tree and brush clearing to eliminate concealed spaces.
Parking Lot Resurfacing. The City, in its continuing efforts to maintain its parks at a high level will be resurfacing parking lots. Portions of parking lots at Grijalva Park and Olive Park are scheduled to be done and expected to be completed in the summer of 2020.
Recent Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) Accomplishments
Shaffer Park Renovation
Re-opened April 13, 2019
After an extensive, top-to-bottom, refurbishment, Shaffer Park re-opened on April 13 with a grand ribbon cutting and community celebration. Nearly all of the park’s old infrastructure was replaced and upgraded. The old community building was demolished and rebuilt with a brand new community building with a kitchen and adjacent patios, which is now available for rental. A walking path now meanders around the park, adorned with water wise landscaping that is served by an updated irrigation system. We’ve installed a shaded, outdoor exercise circuit, complete with gym equipment that you don’t need a membership to use, and also added shade structures the tot lot. The sports field was also reconfigured and new, energy efficient lighting added.
We hope that our community enjoys the renovated Shaffer Park, and that our residents continue to enjoy it for generations to come.
Yorba Park Renovation
Yorba Park and the Yorba Dog Park re-opened on April 7, 2018.
Yorba Park is built on the site of a closed landfill that operated between 1960 and 1963. A Vapor Extraction System (VES) was installed to capture the landfill gases that had been detected at the site so they don’t vent to the surface. The City has continued operation of the Park, and until recently, monitored and managed the VES.
In 2015, a Settlement Agreement was reached between the City of Orange and the County of Orange that identified necessary rehabilitation improvements to the Yorba Park site, and the party responsible for implementing the improvements. There were four project phases.
- Phase I - Grading Project: this includes clear and grub, grading and associated work, and rehabilitation of the parking lot. Completed July 2017.
- Phase II - Vapor Extraction System (VES) replacement (County of Orange Project). Completed January 2018
- Phase III - Park Re-Establishment: this includes a new irrigation system, turf/shrub establishment, replacement of the dog park fence and amenities, and the addition of picnic tables, benches and trees as funding is available. Completed on April 2018
- Phase IV - Restroom Replacement: The existing building has been shuttered for over a decade. This new building will bring back a needed restroom facility. Completed January 2018
Calsense Irrigation Installation: Belmont Park, Santiago Hills Park, Serrano Park, and Fred Barrera Park
Over the last several years the City has continued the transition to a centralized, weather based irrigation control system in our parks and Assessment Districts. Calsense irrigation control systems have been installed at Belmont Park, Santiago Hills Park, Serrano Park, and Fred Barrera Park this past year. McPherson Park, Depot Park, Plaza Park, Killefer Park, and the El Modena Basin are also slated to have Calsense systems installed.
These systems allow us to deliver water to our public landscapes much more efficiently, saving as much as 30% above what has traditionally been used in the past. We will also be able to program the irrigation to automatically shut off when it rains, when pipes breaks, or a leak is detected in the system, saving water that would normally be wasted. Best of all, we will be able to manage our irrigation remotely, which will let us program changes from any computer or mobile device.
Hart Park and Grijalva Park Camera Installation
Completed March 2018
Hart Park Bandshell
When we renovated the Hart Park Bandshell Dance Floor in 2016, we also included an opportunity for the community to "Leave a Legacy" in the form of a customized, engraved brick. The proceeds from the bricks helped offset the cost of construction of the dance floor. The renovated dance floor was completed in time for the 2016 Concerts in the Park summer series.