Agenda Item Wording:
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Conceptual Park Approval - Approve conceptual designs for the new 5.5-acre neighborhood park located at the Pearl Wood property.
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Agenda Date: 06/15/2026
Prepared by: Jason Glick, Parks and Recreation Director 713-4042, jason.glick@visalia.gov
Department Recommendation: Staff recommends that the Visalia City Council approve to adopt conceptual design number two (2) for the proposed Pearl Wood property neighborhood park located one-quarter mile east of McAuliff Street, north of Cameron Creek.
Parks should include amenities that encourage regular use, recreation, and community interaction, as active and well-utilized parks help create safe, welcoming public spaces. The most successful neighborhood parks are those that provide a variety of opportunities for residents of all ages to gather, play, exercise, and connect with one another.
Staff recommends Concept number (2) because it offers a well-rounded mix of amenities that will serve the daily recreational needs of the surrounding neighborhood while creating a vibrant and inviting community space. The combination of play areas, open space, gathering opportunities, and recreational features provides something for a wide range of users-from young children and families to teens, adults, and seniors. This balanced amenity mix encourages repeat visitation, supports healthy and active lifestyles, and fosters opportunities for social interaction and community building.
Concept number (2) also thoughtfully aligns with the scale and character of a neighborhood park. It delivers meaningful recreational opportunities without overwhelming the site, ensuring that the park remains a comfortable and accessible destination for nearby residents. By creating a space that is active, welcoming, and responsive to community needs, Concept number (2) best fulfills the vision of a neighborhood park that residents can enjoy for years to come.
Summary:
On September 9, 2025, the Visalia Parks and Recreation Commission reviewed the conceptual designs for the Pearl Wood property neighborhood park (park to be formally named at a later date) and recommended conceptual design number three to the Visalia City Council.
On January 20, 2026, City staff presented three conceptual designs for the Pearl Wood property to the City Council. While the Council did not move forward with conceptual design number three, it did approve the removal of several amenities from the Pearl Wood neighborhood park project, including Musco field lighting ($600,000), restrooms ($250,000), and parking improvements ($47,000). These reductions generated an estimated cost savings of $897,000, lowering the overall project cost to approximately $6,670,600. Additionally, the City Council directed staff to return with updated conceptual designs that eliminate the botanical garden, incorporate a mini pitch, and provide alternatives featuring either two or four pickleball courts.
In response to this direction, staff will present three revised conceptual designs for the Pearl Wood property that reflect the Council’s guidance provided during the January 20, 2026 meeting.
Background Discussion:
The Pearl Wood property consists of a 5.5-acre neighborhood park site associated with the development of 273 single-family residential homes. During the planning process, City staff coordinated closely with developers to determine the location, size, and construction approach for the new neighborhood park. The Pearl Wood neighborhood park project will be constructed in partnership with D.R. Horton Homes. Under this agreement, the developer will construct the park improvements, and the City will reimburse eligible construction costs. This approach helps expedite park development while allowing the City to maintain oversight and input on the final design.
To assist with the development of conceptual park designs for the Pearl Wood property, the developer retained Quad Knopf. The consultant team worked closely with City staff and the community through a series of public outreach meetings held during Spring 2025. A total of three public meetings were conducted for the Pearl Wood property, including meetings held on May 3, May 8, and May 13, 2025. Two meetings were hosted at Kiwanis Park, and one meeting was conducted at City Hall West during the regular Parks and Recreation Commission meeting.
These meetings focused on gathering community input regarding desired park amenities for the Pearl Wood property, located near Road 148 and Cameron Creek. Community members were provided the opportunity to review amenity options, provide feedback, and vote on preferred recreational features to help guide the conceptual design process.
The public was asked to consider amenities within the following categories:
Traditional Sports Amenities:
Multi-Purpose Lighted Athletic Field (soccer, baseball, flag football, and softball), lighted pickleball courts, lighted tennis courts, and lighted basketball courts.
Community Amenities:
Amphitheater, demonstration garden, botanical garden, butterfly garden, interpretive signage, and public art.
Active Amenities:
Traditional playgrounds (ages 2-5 and 5-12) with shade sail structures, adventure/nature playgrounds with shade sail structures, obstacle course/parcourse equipment, disc golf, a ½-acre BMX pump track, cornhole, a lighted walking path, mini pitch court, and outdoor handball court.
Site Amenities:
Solar pedestrian lighting, restrooms, seating areas, parking lot improvements, and drinking fountains.
The voting results for the Pearl Wood property identified the following top six preferred amenities:
The voting results for the Pearl Wood property are as follows:
Pearl Wood property top six amenities are as follows:
Amenity Votes
Walking Path w/ Lights 49
BMX Pump Track 45
Pickleball Courts 42
Restrooms 36
Adventure Themed Playground 27
Amphitheatre 22
The top ten voting amenity totals for both the Elliott property and the Pearl Wood properties combined are as follows:
Amenity Votes
Walking Path w/ Lights 121
Restrooms 101
Pickleball Courts 98
Pump Track 87
Parking Lot 57
Botanical Garden 47
Athletic Field Space 47
Amphitheater 37
Traditional Playground 45
Adventure Playground 43
Basketball Courts 16
Mini Pitch (Pearl Wood Only) 8
The design teams used the feedback gathered during the three community input meetings to create three conceptual designs for the Pearl Wood property. In addition to the valuable input provided by the public, the design teams, working in collaboration with City staff, carefully considered several other key factors. These included park size, fit, available space, compatibility of amenities with the surrounding neighborhood, overall functionality, initial construction costs relative to the available budget, and the long-term cost and complexity of ongoing maintenance.
Fiscal Impact including annual maintenance and operating costs: The estimated project budget for the Pearl Wood property neighborhood park is approximately $6,670,600, with annual operations and maintenance costs estimated at $33,000. Funding for the construction of the Pearl Wood property neighborhood park will be provided through the City’s park impact fee program, which is specifically designated to support the development of new recreational facilities and park improvements.
Prior Council Action: At the January 20, 2026 meeting, the Visalia City Council approved the removal of several amenities from the Pearl Wood park project, including Musco field lighting ($600,000), restrooms ($250,000), and parking improvements ($47,000). These reductions generated an estimated cost savings of $897,000, reducing the overall project cost to approximately $6,670,600.
Alternatives: That the Visalia City Council make a different recommendation on the proposed conceptual designs for Pearl Wood property neighborhood park other than conceptual design number two (2).
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to approve conceptual design number two (2) for the Pearl Wood property neighborhood park.
Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Deadline for Action: 06/15/2026
Attachments: Presentation and exhibits.
Strategic Goal: Indicates which City Strategic Goal(s) this item supports. Check all that apply.
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