Agenda Item Wording:
title
Riverway Sports Park Fencing Project - Request approval on the proposed location and design of the new fencing to be constructed at Riverway Sports Park
body
Deadline for Action: 2/3/2025
Submitting Department: Community Services
Contact Name and Phone Number: Alvin Dias, Parks and Facilities Manager 713-4564; alvin.dias@visalia.city <mailto:alvin.dias@visalia.city> Laurissa Roggenkamp, Recreation Manager 713-4336; laurissa.roggenkamp@visalia.city <mailto:laurissa.roggenkamp@visalia.city> Jason Glick, Parks and Recreation Director 713-4042; jason.glick@visalia.city <mailto:jason.glick@visalia.city>
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends the City Council approve the proposed fencing location and fencing materials as presented and instruct staff to begin the design process in preparation for a future Request for Bids for the construction of new fencing at Riverway Sports Park.
Background Discussion:
Summary:
The original 83 acres of Riverway Sports Park began construction in 2006 and has been completed over five (5) phases of construction ending in 2020. The City has begun the design of phase VI which is located north of the old Riverway Drive that includes the design of a Community Dog Park and permanent overflow parking lot. During phase I of the project, the ten (10) soccer fields, with three (3) of the fields being lighted, was completed. This area was developed with no fencing to control access to the soccer fields. As construction continued of Riverway Sports Park, several amenities were added, including playgrounds, picnic arbors, additional soccer field lighting, and baseball and softball facilities. The CR Shannon Baseball Facility and Phase V Softball Facility have perimeter fencing installed to protect the playing fields, and it has worked very well.
Over the years, as the community and user groups have continued to grow, the demand for field space has grown exponentially. Staff identified the need for maintenance and rest periods for the soccer fields to keep the turf in a safe and usable condition. With no fencing to control access to fields, this has made it difficult to limit access. Staff, over the years, have had to spend several days posting signs, installing temporary fencing, and maintaining the fencing that was cut in the evenings by individuals to play on the fields. The combination of the high usage for approved user groups and the inability to keep foot traffic off the turf during maintenance/rest periods has led to the deterioration of the soccer fields.
Staff have also seen an influx of the unhoused population in the park, staying in the arbors, and restrooms. This has made it difficult to keep the park clean and the restrooms sanitary for users. There have also been increases in drug use and illegal activity in the late evenings at the park. This has brought forth major concerns by residents, park staff, Visalia Police Department, and the City Council, all wanting to find ways to remove these issues from one of the City’s most popular and heavily used parks.
During the City’s budget process for Fiscal Year 24-25, staff presented a fencing project within the Parks and Recreation Department’s Capital Improvement Project (CIP) budget request. The project proposed fencing around the perimeter of the soccer fields at Riverway Sports Park in year two (2) of the six-year plan. Upon Council’s review of the proposed budget, a recommendation was made by Council to move the project to year one (1) of the six-year plan and to fund the project to not only fence the soccer fields, but to fence off the entire perimeter of Riverway Sports Park. The intention of the fencing is to maintain the fields in good condition for active play, resolve the illegal activity at the park and provide a safe environment for families and user groups at Riverway Sports Park.
With direction from Council on the fencing project, staff began meeting internally to discuss the location, materials, and process on how to make the project happen. Once staff were able to meet with public safety on requirements for emergency exits, security, and access for calls for services, staff determined that a wrought iron heavy gauge fencing would be best for the perimeter of the park to detour vandalism automated vehicle gates would be needed to meet the needs of public safety, and black vinyl coated chain-link fencing would be used for the interior soccer fields. The chain-link fencing will help to reduce cost to the project and match the other chain-link fencing that is currently within the park, at the CR Shannon Baseball, Phase V Softball, and Saputo Fields. The project was then placed on the Site Plan Review agenda for review.
During the December 11, 2024, Site Plan Committee review, the proposed plan was evaluated, and comments provided on the fencing location to remain compliant with City and building codes. The committee also made recommendations regarding the proposed design to keep access to the park compliant with ADA requirements. Some of these recommendations were the addition of sidewalks to the field pedestrian gates, reduced gate sizes from eight feet to two four-foot gates and moving the vehicle gate on Shannon Parkway back into the park to meet the minimum requirement of twenty feet from the City street.
The fencing project was then presented to the user groups that use Riverway Sports Park each year for youth and adult sports on December 17, 2024. Staff answered questions from the user groups and explained how access would be made for groups during their reservation times. One of the ways staff have tested access to locked facilities was by using combination locks at both the CR Shannon facility and Phase V facility. The lock combination is easily provided to league board members and changed at the end of the league’s reservation/season. This eliminates the need to hand out and collect keys with each group. The combination is changed at the end of each maintenance period and reservation period. The system has been working well at these two facilities and staff believe it will also work for the rest of the facilities at Riverway Sports Park. At the conclusion of the meeting, the user groups were accepting of the fencing project and understood the benefits of securing the park.
Staff took all the requirements and recommendations from public safety, the Site Plan Review Committee, and user groups, and created the fencing overview which was presented to the Parks and Recreation Commission at the January 14, 2025, regular meeting. During the presentation staff received a few questions from the public. The first question was how soccer groups would be able to retrieve soccer balls that could be kicked over the fence along Shannon Parkway. To address this, staff will install maintenance gates so that users will have access for ingress and egress to the facility but will remain locked and only be used for retrieving equipment. The second question was with the fencing of the soccer fields, how could residents or user groups access facilities during maintenance periods? Staff identified areas that would be available for use and removed these areas from the winter maintenance period. Staff also staggered summer maintenance closure periods throughout the parks to allow users to have facilities available for use. The final question for the public comment was whether user groups would have the ability to move their soccer goals between fields. Staff responded with, yes, user groups will be provided access to the service gates to allow them to move soccer goals to their reserved field space. Once staff completed the fencing presentation and addressed the above questions, the Parks and Recreation Commission motioned unanimously 4-0 to recommend to council the fencing location and materials as presented.
Staff believe this fencing design will improve field conditions of the soccer fields, increase safety, and reduce vandalism within the park while allowing user groups and residents to still enjoy the use of Riverway Sport Park. Staff also tried to reduce the impact of the fencing on large community events that are held at the park each year by working with public safety to make sure procedures are in place to allow large volumes of people to safely use the park during these events.
Background
Riverway Sports Park was constructed over several years and in five phases. Phase I started construction in 2006 and was completed in 2007. The project included the development of approximately 48 of the 80 acres of park area. Included in this phase are ten regulation soccer fields (3 lighted), two concession restrooms buildings, three covered group picnic areas, 30 additional individual picnic tables, a playground, a fenced area for bicycle motocross, over a mile of sidewalks, an interactive water playground, over 1,000 trees, space for spaces for special events, 380 space parking lot, additional temporary parking, and a maintenance yard. Also electrical, water, storm water infrastructure was built for future phases, and underground conduit is included for the lighting of all the soccer fields.
Phase II of the project started construction in 2009 and was completed in 2010. The project developed 12.2 acres of the park area as Phase II, bringing the total amount of acreage developed in the park to 60 acres. The project included construction of four lighted youth baseball fields with a concession-restroom building, additional paved parking for an additional 200 vehicles, the lighting of two soccer fields and the BMX track and perimeter landscaping.
Phases III was started in early 2013, with phase IV being added to the project in July of 2013 and both phases competed in 2014. The Phase Ill Improvement project developed 6.0 new acres of parkland at Riverway Sports Park, bringing the total amount of developed park acreage to 65 acres. The project included construction of a new restroom building, landscaping, a promenade area, a new playground, group picnic shelter, barbeques, and tables. Phase IV included an irrigation system, a decomposed granite path, and turf in the former BMX area ---now known as the Saputo Sports Field.
Phase V was started in early 2019 and was completed in 2020. The project developed 23 acres of the remaining park area, which included the completion of four 300’ radius softball fields with sports lighting, a concessions/restroom facility, associated parking lot, irrigation pumping station, electric service connection, site furnishings, sidewalks, landscaping and irrigation. Included in phase V were several add alternates that completed new Musco sports lighting for soccer fields 1 thru 5, Musco lighting control for the entire facility, a new central parking lot, and improvements to the phase IV picnic area completing phase of the master plan of the Riverway Sports Park.
Phase IV is currently in development for Riverway Sports Park which will include a comprehensive design to tie elements north of the old Riverway Drive together, which include the design of a Community Dog Park, and the design of a permanent overflow parking lot.
Fiscal Impact:
CP0695 Riverway Sports Park Fencing Project has $1,500,000.00 budget for the installation of new perimeter fencing.
Prior Council Action: 4/15/2024, Work Session, Council reviewed the proposed Parks and Recreation Department 6-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and recommended the Riverway Sports Park Fencing Project be moved from year 2 to year 1 of the plan and to include fencing the entire perimeter of the park. 6/17/2024, Public Hearing, City Council approved the FY24/25 and FY25/26 multi-year budget.
Other: None
Alternatives: Instruct staff to propose a new design for the perimeter fencing.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to accept the proposed location and materials for the fencing project at Riverway Sports Park and instruct staff to complete a Request for Bids (RFB) for the construction of the perimeter fencing.
end
Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Attachments: Riverway Fencing Power Point Presentation