Presented at the February 1, 2006 Parks & Recreation Commission meeting.

The majority recommendation is short to mid term solutions to increase our athletic field capacity to accommodate the substantial unmet request for additional athletic field use by the San Carlos Community.Several long-term solutions are included at the end of the report for consideration.The items are listed in order of priority for completion.The recommendations are associated with funding sources.

Recommendations

1. Highlands Park - Renovate the athletic playing surface at the lower field.The new surface will be all weather synthetic turf.Financial impact:$1,693,886 for the initial capital improvement.
2. Heather School Field - Renovate the athletic playing surface.The new surface will be all weather synthetic turf.Financial impact:$1,308,840 for the initial capital improvement.
3. Tierra Linda School Field - Renovate the athletic playing surface at the lower field.The new surface will be all weather synthetic turf.Financial impact:$1,375,848 for the initial capital improvement.

Overview

Community based and City provided programs have realized significant growth over the past 10+ years creating demand for field space that cannot be accommodated at the existing facilities in San Carlos.Burton Park, Laureola Park, Highland’s Stadium Field, and currently Arguello Park have undergone renovations to improve the facilities.While the renovations provided improvements in the condition of the facilities and provision for some additional time, the improvements did not provide significant additional time for practice or games.No new facilities have been developed to accommodate the increased demand of the programs that serve the San Carlos citizens.The requirement to close natural grass fields due to rain and routine maintenance impacts the available play time, further adding to the shortage of available field time and space.While it is highly desirable to develop a new facility which would provide additional time and space, the reality is it will take a long term process before this can be accomplished.In the mean time, the demand for field time and space continues to overwhelm the available resources.San Carlos cannot afford to continue the underutilization of the current facilities due to their deteriorated condition.

Synthetic versus Natural turf selection

A high quality, level, safe, natural grass field is very desirable, but it does require down time for maintenance to keep it in good condition.As a result of maintenance and inclement weather, each natural grass field is closed to the public an average of 80 days per year or 22% of the time.Natural turf incurs significantly higher maintenance costs tha synthetic surfaces, in excess of $50,000 per year for a field such as Highlands.In addition, natural turf requires a significant amount of water compared to a synthetic turf.Synthetic fields provide access for play during inclement weather and require virtually no down time for maintenance, thus enabling access by the public and organized programs an additional 80 days or 22% increase per year.

Data regarding the safety of synthetic surfaces have shown it to be similar to natural grass.The new all weather synthetic turfs are vastly improved from the older generation of synthetic surfaces, commonly referred to as AstroTurf.The new synthetic turfs look and play much more similarly to natural turf fields.

The synthetic turf is designed to withstand very high use, far greater than a natural turf surface.A representative from Delta Blue Grass, a supplier and installer of natural grass athletic fields, confirmed synthetic turf was a better selection to meet excessive heavy demand versus natural grass.The recommendation to install synthetic turf to meet heavy demand was confirmed by a number of facility managers responsible for maintenance of athletic fields.

Facilities recommended for renovation

Highlands Park (lower field), Heather School field and Tierra Linda School (lower field) are all in a deteriorated condition.As a result of their deteriorated condition they are not used to their full capacity.

Highlands, lower field

The Highlands lower field has been in a deteriorated condition for over 10 years and continues to get worse.The root cause of this condition can be traced back to 1994-95 when the surface was de-thatched and sprayed with weed killer.The Mahady report states that thatch is desirable for a sand based field, which Highlands is.Since than, the turf has broken loose and comes up in chunks under moderate to heavy play, creating an undesirable playing surface that is unsafe.To overcome the current condition of the Highlands field, usage has been reduced to 40-50% of its capacity.This is at a time when existing facilities cannot meet the demand of the citizens in San Carlos.This recommendation brings Highland’s lower field back to the capacity levels available in previous years.

Highlands Recommendation

Highlands lower field is the most versatile field in San Carlos given the size, parking, and availability of lights.It can accommodate older age youth and adults.Given the additional stress placed on a playing surface by older age athletes and the fact Highlands is in need of renovation, the Highlands lower field should be rebuilt with a synthetic surface.

Neighbor Issues

While there will be an increase in traffic and noise associated with full capacity use after the field renovation, it will not be any greater than previous years when the facility was operated at full capacity, before the field deteriorated.A parking survey conducted by the San Carlos Parks and Recreation Commission determined there was sufficient parking space capacity to accommodate the operation of Highlands Park at full capacity.Issues regarding parking had more to do with parking habits than available parking spaces.

Benefit

Additional 80 +/- days of available time as a result of implementing synthetic turf.

Increased capacity back to full from reduced utilization of 50%

Heather School Field

The playing surface has been in a deteriorated condition for over 20 years.Negligible renovation and maintenance efforts have kept the surface minimally playable bordering on unsafe, far from the quality playing surface the facility could provide.This has resulted in reduced usage below the field’s capacity.Due to the size of the facility, Heather School provides the potential for a full size soccer and baseball field that can accommodate young and older youths with a quality playing surface.Available parking also makes this facility desirable for improved facilities.

Noise Factor

The noise factor has been raised as a reason for not improving the facility at Heather School.Noise has been defined as yelling by players, coaches and spectators.While there would be increased usage at the field, the majority of the increase is for practice time with a marginal increase in game usage when an increase in noise occurs.

Heather School Recommendation

Due to its size and available parking, Heather School provides flexibility to accommodate young to older age youths.Given the additional stress placed on a playing surface by older age athletes and the fact that Heather School field is in need of renovation, the Heather School field should be rebuilt with a synthetic surface.

Benefit

Additional 80 +/- days of available time as a result of implementing synthetic turf

Increase capacity back to full

Tierra Linda (lower field)

The field has been maintained by the San Carlos Youth Softball Association for over 20 years.Their efforts have resulted in a field that is at the minimal playing condition.The field is in need of new irrigation and replacement, as well as grading to level the slope.The renovated surface should be synthetic based on the desires of the primary users.

Tierra Linda School (lower field) Recommendation

Given its size and available parking, Tierra Linda School provides flexibility to accommodate young to middle age youths (up to 16 years old girls).The Tierra Linda School lower field is in need of renovation and should be rebuilt with a synthetic surface.

Benefit

Improved playing surface

Additional 80 +/- days of available time if synthetic turf is installed

Conclusion

San Carlos cannot continue to allow our existing resources to operate at less than full capacity while we pursue long-term remedies to the field shortage situation.All three fields recommended for renovations are in a deteriorated condition requiring significant improvement.Renovating the playing surface with synthetic turf will increase available time for City and community programs, as well as provide a high quality, safe playing surface. Therefore, the City of San Carlos should pursue the above recommendations to realize the near term benefits described to help address the current field shortage situation.

Financial considerations

The committee was instructed that it was not our responsibility to identify the funds for the recommendations.But, the consensus of the committee was that a funding recommendation for the projects should be part of our recommendations.

Financial Impact

Highlands Park, lower field renovation to synthetic surface cost: $1,693,886

Heather Field renovation to synthetic surface cost: $1,308,840

Tierra Linda, lower field renovation to synthetic surface cost: $1,375,848

Total Financial Impact: $4,378,574

Funding sources:

Measure G: $974,998 – $1,392,850

Sale of Chilton Property: $2,500,000

Other financial considerations

Maintenance Savings (Synthetic vs. Natural):

Average per field: $ 54,420/year, $544,200/ 10 years

Three fields: $ 163,260/year, $1,632,600 /10 years

Reduced Water Consumption (Gallons):

Average per field: 2,963,589 /year, 29,635,890/ 10 years

Three fields: 8,890,766 /year, 88,907,660 /10 years

Long Term Considerations

The long-term projects can be prioritized for future consideration.The timing of these potential projects could be scheduled to begin at end of the previous majority recommended items.These projects will provide additional capacity not met with the majority recommendation above and identifies other areas in need of renovation.

Long Term Projects

1. New field – Identify and procure a parcel of land for future development into an athletic/park complex.Financial impact:To be determined - depending on property and plans.
2. Crestview Park – Renovation of playing surface including improved drainage and consideration for synthetic surface.
3. Stadium Field (Highlands) – Renovation of playing surface, either natural or synthetic turf.Consider lights.
4. Burton Park, Flanagan Field – Addition of lights
5. Central Middle School – Renovation of grass area or consider replacing asphalt with turf, natural or synthetic to be determined.

New Field

Property must be identified and zoned for development of a new athletic/park complex.Identification of the property, procurement, zoning, planning, and development of a new facility is a long term project that can help meet the field demand not met by the short term solutions.Conservatively, it would take at least three (3) years to develop a new facility taking into consideration the factors mentioned previously.

Crestview Park

Crestview Parks playing surface is in acceptable condition with a few exceptions.Drainage of the sand based field continues to create isolated problems where the field is excessively wet.Improvements could include improved drainage, renovation of the sand based field, and conversion to an all dirt natural surface or synthetic turf.

Stadium Field

Stadium field is in acceptable condition with a few exceptions.There are undulations along the sides of the field as a result of the drainage areas.Also, the quality of the playing surface should be improved to a higher quality grass turf or synthetic turf.Lights should be considered to provide additional time on the field.

Central Middle School

Turf Area

The turf area is in poor condition.It needs to be renovated with new irrigation and turf.Due to the field’s relatively small size, it provides space limited primarily to younger age children’s activity, 5-7 years old.

Asphalt Replacement

Removing the asphalt play area along Cedar Street and replacing it with turf is a consideration.A new black top area would have to be identified to provide an area for the activities displaced such as skate boarding, basketball and roller hockey.

Lights at Burton Park, Flanagan Field

Lights at Flanagan field would provide extended hours for older age baseball, as well as additional time for other activities on the main turf area such as youth soccer.

Funding Source

Possible sale of Crestview Property: $8,000,000