Recreation and Parks Master Plan Discussion at San Leandro Facilities & Transportation Committee - May 1, 2025
Recreation and Parks Master Plan Discussion at San Leandro Facilities & Transportation Committee - May 1, 2025
The San Leandro Facilities & Transportation Committee met on May 1, 2025, to review the draft Recreation and Parks Master Plan and the Washington Manor Site-Specific Master Plan. The presentation highlighted extensive community engagement, key priorities, and proposed improvements for parks citywide, with a focus on Washington Manor Park. The committee heard public comments and discussed implementation, equity, and specific amenities such as Tai Chi spaces, ping pong tables, and Wi-Fi in parks.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Benny Lee spoke on behalf of non-English speaking immigrant communities, thanking staff for including ping pong tables and requesting expansion of the Tai Chi area (currently 3,500 sq ft) and a memorial for Charlie Gilgress. He also advocated for public Wi-Fi in parks, noting past success with half a million users at a cost of $2 per user per year during the pandemic.
- Lisa Lau requested dedicated Tai Chi space with a flat, shaded, non-slip surface and the installation of four weather-resistant ping pong tables for seniors at Washington Manor Park, emphasizing physical and mental health benefits.
Discussion Items
- Recreation and Parks Master Plan Presentation: Recreation director and consultants presented the draft plan, developed over a process starting in fall 2023. Key statistics: over 1,100 survey responses, multiple public workshops averaging 50-60 attendees, and pop-up events at cultural festivals. The plan identifies seven goals, including expanding access (currently 1.5 acres parkland per 1,000 residents vs. a goal of 5 acres per 1,000), strategic partnerships (especially with schools), expanding programming, improving park experience, equity, climate resilience, and financing. Success metrics include having 100% of residents within a half-mile of a recreation opportunity by 2035. Parks were classified into three tiers: sustaining (Tier A), strategic (Tier B), and visionary (Tier C). Washington Manor Park is Tier C.
- Washington Manor Site-Specific Plan: The concept includes improved connectivity, a widened park loop, destination play area, upgraded sports facilities, shade gathering spaces, native planting, expanded parking, a dog area, community demonstration garden, and a potential recreation facility. Estimated costs: $13 million without the recreation building, $18 million with it. The plan also addresses staffing and cost recovery.
- Committee Member Comments: Council Member Azevedo raised concerns about dog park fence height (after a recent attack), inquired about Wi-Fi in parks (five parks currently have it), and supported partnerships with schools, community gardens, and Tai Chi/ping pong plans. Mayor Gonzalez emphasized the importance of parkland acquisition, measurable metrics, addressing e-bike and scooter safety in parks, improving access to school amenities, and the value of effective communication (e.g., redesigned activity guide, newsletters, calendar integration). He suggested repurposing the existing amphitheater at Washington Manor for Tai Chi instead of waiting for a new building.
Key Outcomes
- No formal vote was taken. The committee expressed overall support for the draft plans and directed staff to continue refining the plans, incorporating public feedback on Tai Chi spaces, ping pong tables, Wi-Fi, and communication strategies. The committee also noted the approval of an MTC grant for the MacArthur roundabout project.
- The meeting was adjourned at 5:28 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, it is 441. And we're calling to order the meeting of the San Leandro City Council. Facilities and Transportation Committee meeting. Madam Clerk, would you please call the role? Council Member Subeso. Council member boat is absent. Mayor Gonzalez. Present. Okay, would you please make your announcement? After each agenda item is presented. The mayor will ask for committee member comments and then take public comment. You will have two minutes to share your comments. A count the timer will display for the convenience of the speakers. So my apologies for that. At this point in time, we'll take any public comment on items that are not on our agenda. No public comments. We've got uh recreation and parks director. We sent this Unica here to introduce this item. Good evening, Mayor, Council, community members. I'm honored to present to you the San Leandro Recreation and Parks Master Plan. A blueprint that reflects not just where we are, but where we want to go together as a city. The plan is rooted in the voices of our community. In the very beginning, we prioritize robust, inclusive, and access accessible engagement. And the results speak for themselves. Over 1100 total survey responses were collected. We hosted multiple public workshops, each averaging an attendance of 50 to 60 residents. The team also participated in pop-up events at cultural festivals, like the Moon Festival, MLK Day, and the Cherry Festival, reaching hundreds more. We met directly with stakeholder groups, youth, seniors, educators, maintenance staff, and maintain open channels through our advisory committee and monthly recreation and parks commission updates. This is more than just a plan, it's a reflection of what our community told us they value. Access to nature, safe and welcoming parks, inclusive programming and investments that reflect equity and sustainability. Every major recommendation in this plan, whether it's trails, shade structures, upgraded play areas, or support for mental and physical wellness, was shaped by that feedback. This afternoon, we're excited to share how we began turning this community's vision into reality. This is the foundation for the next decade of investment in San Leandro Parks, programs, and people. And with that, to walk you through some of the highlights of this plan, I have Madison Merrill with WRT, and online. We have Mike Spetz with Pro Consulting. I'm going to pass it to Madison. Great. Thank you. So today I'm going to walk you through the draft recreation and parks master plan, followed by the Washington Manor Site Specific Plan. So next slide. All right, just starting with a little framing here. Why do a parks and recreation master plan? This is really an opportunity to step back and really assess your existing parks and recreation system and really understand community needs. Next slide, please. Lots of public engagement, pop-up events, workshops, advisory committees, and lots of analysis have gone into this with you know this process starting in fall of 2023. And here we are nearing the finish line, which is exciting. All right, so diving into the plan. The plan has five chapters. The first is an executive summary to really just summarize kind of the key elements from the plan. And then chapter two, our community today.
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