Click photo to enlarge
The Sunnyvale City Council unanimously approved the conceptual designs for the expansion of Orchard Gardens Park on Nov. 26, which will initiate the development of the detailed design and eventual bid process for construction of the park.
The addition will bring 15,000 square feet of new park space adjacent to Orchard Gardens Park at 238 Garner Drive.
The expansion is part of a 30-year-old plan that saw the city purchase three residential lots on Garner Drive adjacent to Orchard Gardens Park. The city started acquiring the properties in 1980 with the intent of demolishing the homes and expanding the park by approximately a third of an acre.
The city has notified each of the Garner Drive tenants twice about the expansion plans, once in September 2012 and again in April 2013.
“The most recent notice explained that the leases would not be renewed beyond the end of 2013,” Sunnyvale communications officer Jennifer Garnett said. “Our current schedule would be spring 2014 for the demolition of the homes.”
The demolition and disposal of a city-owned building at 775 Dona Ave.–which is outside the Orchard Gardens Park expansion project boundaries–was combined with this project because of the similar nature of work involved. According to city staff, the building was deemed uninhabitable in 2000, was recently been broken into and is considered an “attractive nuisance.”
Once demolished, construction of the new park features will begin.
Park features will include new trees, plants and exercise equipment, landscaping, a small turf area, picnic tables, benches and six off-street parking spaces. The addition will also create a gateway for the John W. Christian Greenbelt, with clear signage inviting cyclists and pedestrians to explore the trail.
At least 41 people attended public input meetings during the summer and shared concerns regarding neighborhood issues such as parking, noise and safety. They also identified possible features such as landscaping, quiet areas, lighting and fitness equipment that they would like to see included in the new park space, according to city staff.
Harris Design, a landscape architecture firm, was awarded a design contract for the project on June 11 in the amount of $156,960.
Orchard Gardens Park opened in 1966 and is known for its tennis courts.
Speak Your Mind