The Community Park Needs Assessment was adopted by City Council at the Jan. 18 City Council meeting. It serves as an action plan for prioritizing improvements and developing a long-term concept plan for the park, which is the heart of Poway with programs and opportunities ranging from the city’s youngest residents to its oldest.
During council discussion, council members voiced their eagerness to get started on park improvements as soon as possible. City Manager Chris Hazeltine assured them that while staff will be building a multi-year plan to address the top priorities, some of the projects will be included for consideration in the 2022-23 fiscal year budget.
The needs assessment was completed at the direction of the Poway City Council, as the park is home to new Mickey Cafagna Community Center, recently updated Poway Community Swim Center and is the centerpiece in a transformation happening along the town center area of Poway Road. Impact fees from the new development projects are one of the sources of funding for future improvements at Community Park.
Here is a look at the top priorities identified through the extensive needs assessment:
Shade (shade structures/sails and trees)
- Create more shaded areas around the park and trails as well as around amenities where people congregate.
Accessible Trails and Connectivity
- Connect pedestrian loops and make the trails more universally accessible. Provide bike access through the park with adequate bicycle parking.
Signage and Park Visibility
- Enhance visibility (e.g., reduce tennis court fencing, relocate operational yard) and increased signage throughout the park (for awareness, directional, and interpretive purposes).
Park Amenities and All-Abilities Playground
- Modernize play areas to include all-abilities playgrounds and introduce pickleball and adventure amenities to expand the park’s usability.
Additional Resources for Awareness and Maintenance (Staff and/or Contract Support)
- Invest additional resources to keep up with the park maintenance as additional amenities are added; also grow marketing and communication efforts to create greater awareness about the offerings particularly at the community recreation center (e.g., website app).