City of Anaheim - capital improvements

The Community Services Department’s Capital Improvement Section

The Capital Improvement Section for recreational amenities of the Community Services Department is responsible for the acquisition, master planning, design and construction of Anaheim park and trails projects. These projects can consist of new facilities or improvements and upgrades to existing parks and trails. The Capital Improvement Section also oversees development of buildings within parks such as gymnasiums and community centers.

Capital improvements are funded by fees paid by private developers who construct new residential projects within the city of Anaheim per the Anaheim Municipal Code 17.34. In lieu of paying a fee to the City, Developers may dedicate and develop land for parks and recreational facilities. Capital improvement projects are also funded through a variety of federal, state, and local grants.

Below are some of the current major projects that are under design or construction. (last updated on 05/02/13)

Anaheim Tennis Center at Boysen Park
Miraloma Community Center and Park
Anaheim Outdoors
Ponderosa Park
Schweitzer Park 2-5 year old Play area
Schweitzer Park Restroom
Sage Park Restroom

Reciently completed projects which are open to the public is noted below. (last updated on 05/02/13)

Anaheim Coves at Burris Basin
Anaheim Wetlands
Colony Park
Edison Park
Palm Lane Park
Schweitzer Park 5-12 year old Play area
Founders’ Park
Twila Reid Park
Willow Park

Anaheim Coves

Anaheim Coves is located at 962 S. Rio Vista Street. Through a property lease agreement with the Orange County Water District, the City of Anaheim is currently developing a 14 acre passive recreation/nature park within an existing 125-acre ground water percolation basin/wildlife habitat area located at Burris Basin. The facility will be open to the public on a daily basis between the hours of 7 a.m. to dusk. Visitors will access the site via the Ball Road parking lot to the south, the Lincoln Avenue parking lot to the north or via South Rio Vista Street to the west. The project consists of various parkland improvements including: observation and seating areas, bicycle racks, drinking fountains, an equestrian rest area, interpretative signage, two small parking lots consisting of an 11-space lot accessed from Ball Road and a 14-space lot accessed from Lincoln Avenue, two small restrooms, hiking and bicycle trails, trailheads, and extensive native landscaping improvements within the park. Funds for this project were provided by the State of California and the Federal Recreational Trails Program.The proposed improvements will not impact the existing OCWD habitat areas or groundwater replenishment activities. Funds for this project were provided by the State of California and the Federal Recreational Trails Program. The dedication took place November 15, 2011.

Miraloma Community Center and Park

“Miraloma Park and Community Center” is a working title for the project which is located at 2600 E. Miraloma Way, Anaheim, CA 92806. The proposed project will include the renovation of existing 4,312 square foot warehouse building into a neighborhood community center and the development of the surrounding city owned property into a neighborhood park. Site amenities include a perimeter loop trail, a skate plaza, outdoor classroom area, picnic facilities, interactive water feature, drought tolerant landscape, and playground.

Anaheim Outdoors

A draft of the Anaheim Outdoors Connectivity Plan is now available for public review at http://www.anaheimoutdoors.net/

This project is funded by grants under the State of California’s Urban Greening Planning Grant Program and the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Compass Blueprint Demonstration Project Program.

The Anaheim Outdoors Connectivity Plan will increase green space throughout the City by identifying a system of green corridors which will connect residents, visitors and employees to both existing and planned high-density urban areas. The plan will identify projects that emphasize shade trees, pocket parks and open spaces, a river walk, multimodal and non-motorized trails and pathways, demonstration gardens, wildlife corridors, bioswales, and other storm water filtration and collection systems.

Municipal connectivity plans are often referred to as “necklaces” which are corridors of linear parks linked by trails, paths, parkways and waterways. These pathways are corridors of transportation that serve as a connection to nature and the community. There are several municipal connectivity plans referred to as “Emerald Necklace” projects throughout the United States and Canada including Boston, Massachusetts, that was completed by Frederick Law Olmsted in 1895; Cleveland, Ohio, and Los Angeles. Regional Golden Necklace projects are being kicked off in northern California and Los Angeles County. The City of Orange has a trail referred to as the” Pearl Necklace” along the Santiago Creek. Due to the emphasis of Anaheim’s future connectivity plan’s major link to the venues within the Platinum Triangle area, Anaheim’s connectivity plan will be referenced by the name “Platinum Necklace.”

A Council Workshop that is open to the public is scheduled for 3 p.m. on March 26, 2014. Please see http://www.anaheimoutdoors.net/ for more updates.

Ponderosa Park

Ponderosa Park is located at 2100 S. Haster Street, Anaheim, CA, 92802. As part of the development of Ponderosa Elementary School, the School District constructed the school library as a joint City/District library to be used by the District during school hours and by the public when school is not in session. The District also upgraded and enhanced Ponderosa Park, including but not limited to electrical facilities, fencing, new parking lot, new open space, and a new soccer field.

The Ponderosa Park Family Resource Center was originally built in the 1960s, and lacks the required space to serve thousands of residents each month who participate in classes and programs.

The City conducted a series of community meetings to determine the park amenities and recreational opportunities most needed by the surrounding neighborhood. Feedback from the community drove preliminary design of the facility, leading to the inclusion of a full-court basketball gymnasium, several meeting and counseling rooms, and an exercise/aerobics room. The community gave input concerning the location of the facility on the site and other park amenities, with great concern given to safety and crime prevention. Green building methods and materials as guided by LEED requirements will be incorporated in this project.

As funding becomes available this project will be implemented and additional input from the community will be solicited.

Olive Hills Park Dog Use Area - 700 Nohl Canyon Road

Draft Master Plan Presentation and Community Meeting Notes:

On April 13, 2012, the Parks Capital Projects Section met with the community to discuss a dog off leash area in the unused western portion of Olive Hills Park. The draft master plan includes a small dog area, a large dog area, low perimeter fence, double entrance gates, benches, 6 foot wide decomposed granite path for walking/running, expanded parking to about 26 spaces, restroom, and agility equipment areas in both dog sections. The items the attendees wanted were the walking path around the dog use area, the use of native plants to attract birds and butterflies, the agility areas, aesthetic fencing, and the restroom. The community requested even more parking, continued weed control, a dawn to dusk facility with no lights, increased policing/rangers, and more shade trees. A few community members had concerns regarding the presence of coyotes. The community noted that future improvements include a walking path throughout the park. The City revised the Draft Master Plan to reflect some of the desires expressed at the meeting. Elements changed on the plan were additional shade trees and the parking has been expanded to approximately 50 spaces. The revised plan is attached below.