Archived News Release from 2007

For Immediate Release

Planning Commission to Consider Park Standard Acreage

Redwood City, CA - March 28 , 2007 - The Redwood City Planning Commission will consider recommending the establishment of a three acres per 1,000 residents park standard at its meeting of Tuesday, April 3 rd, 2007, beginning at 7 pm in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 1017 Middlefield Road. The community is invited and encouraged to attend and participate in this important discussion, which addresses this key contributor to the quality of life for all Redwood City residents.

Many cities on the peninsula have a “park standard” which establishes a specified acreage of “active community parkland” (as opposed to open space) per 1,000 inhabitants. Redwood City is one of the few municipalities that does not yet have such a standard. In 2005, the Redwood City Parks and Recreation Commission initiated a recommendation that the City establish a park standard at three acres per 1,000 residents. The recommendation is based on the existing level of active community parkland, in comparison with our current population.

Redwood City ’s existing active parklands, including a number of school fields that are heavily utilized for scheduled sports activities, are certainly well-used, and sometimes over-used. As our population continues to grow, it is critical that we have a standard that will help ensure that the community continues to enjoy a suitable level of available parklands, and that our existing and future parklands are adequately protected and sustained. Growth estimates show Redwood City’s population increasing by well over 10% in just the next 10 - 13 years. Without the guidance of a park standard, our existing parks run the risk of simply becoming more crowded and more overused, and degraded by that high level of use.

On the other hand, a park standard will provide the City with a clear goal and direction, and will set a community expectation that a reasonable ratio of parks-to-population will be maintained for the generations to come, as future development occurs within our community.

After the Planning Commission makes a recommendation on the park standard, the City Council will later consider the issue, along with a “development in-lieu fee” ordinance. This ordinance would provide the opportunity to require developers to actually create new park space as part of a development or, if that option is determined not to be viable, to pay a fee that would help to fund the creation of suitable park land by the City. That issue will come before Council in May, 2007. More information on the park standard proposal is available by calling 780-7250.

###

Contact:
Corinne Centeno
Director, Parks, Recreation and Community Services
(650) 780-7250