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Uploaded: Thursday, September 15, 2011, 11:45 AM
Rengstorff Park revamp could cost $139 million
Critical council wants more "realistic" park plan
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by Daniel DeBolt
Mountain View Voice Staff
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| City Council members appeared to back away from plans for a major revamp of Rengstorff Park on Tuesday, expressing shock at the price and the need to remove numerous large trees in the park.
The city had hired San Jose-based Anderson Brule Architects to create several possible concepts for revamping the park, including the replacement of the park's aging aquatics center and community center. There's the potential of adding a new indoor gym and new teen center into a cohesive design.
Four conceptual designs were presented to show what was possible, with cost ranging between $86.7 million and $139.6 million if built in 2021, when costs could increase by almost 50 percent, according to a city staff report. Three of the designs cost over $130 million.
In the designs, the Community Center, tennis courts and Aquatics Center were placed in different locations, usually around a large grass area, with different ways of connecting those buildings through new paths and landscaping to the new senior center and child care center on the eastern edge of the park.
Few positive comments were made by council members about any of the four designs, with some calling for a design that was more "realistic" and affordable. Some of the harshest remarks came from council member Margaret Abe-Koga, who said that she found herself "trying to recall why we embarked on this project."
"We need to talk about how we are going to finance this," Abe-Koga said.
Council member Laura Macias said Rengstorff Park is already a "gem" that many people love. "What we need to do is polish that gem," she said. Council member Tom Means added, "I don't think we schedule a lot of weddings there."
Council member Ronit Bryant said the main reason for revamping the park was to rebuild the city's 1964 Community Center.
"We have a community center that looks pathetic," Bryant said, adding that she wanted a community center that "lives up to the other facilities we have in town."
"We need to bite the bullet on this," said Bryant, who recalled that the city looked at building a new community center 10 years ago "and it was expensive then, too."
Bryant said the cost of the park was largely in the community center, and "massively in the parking," which may be built underground to maintain space in the park. Bryant said that much of the parking in the plan should be done away with to reduce costs.
"In 50 years we won't be driving cars anymore," she said. "We don't actually need to be driving everywhere. We can walk to the park."
Residents who spoke had varying opinions, with one woman saying through a translator that it was important to have a community center for people who couldn't afford activities elsewhere. Others said it was important to keep as much open space in the park as possible, and not build too many buildings.
"A big, big green lawn doesn't do anything for me," said Bryant, who said open spaces should have "places where you can do things, places where you can sit."
Councilman Means expressed support for a "promenade" concept, which made the community center a prominent feature of the park, moving it to the corner of Crisanto and Rengstorff with a Taj Mahal-like promenade stretching from it diagonally across the park towards the Senior Center.
The four concepts removed between 88 and 111 heritage trees, which are large trees, oaks, redwoods or cedars. Removing 111 would remove 30 percent of the park's heritage trees.
"I was kind of horrified by the removal of all the heritage trees," said Mayor Jac Siegel, echoing comments from other members and the public.
Council members were largely supportive of closing Crisanto Avenue to gain room for the park, saying that a grade separation for the train tracks at Rengstorff made closure of the street inevitable. "There is going to be grade separation someday so we might as well close Crisanto," said council member Mike Kasperzak. But Macias said closing the street would back up traffic on Escuela Avenue, especially when parents are trying to drop off or pick up their kids from Castro School.
The concepts had the option of placing a new teen center either in the former Rock Church building now owned by the city on Escuela Avenue, or in the new community center, possibly closer to a new skate park. Some concepts combined the Community Center and Aquatics Center.
In one concept, the park's tennis courts are removed from the corner they've been tucked into for years and moved to the northern edge of the park where the Aquatics Center now is.
"I don't know what is achieved by doing that," said Mayor Siegel.
The public works director said that possibly in December the project would be brought back to the Council after considering the feedback. Park plans would likely be proposed with a "phased approach."
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Posted by resident in distress, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Sep 15, 2011 at 12:49 pm The thought of spending $139M of our tax dollars in a neighborhood housing a overwhelming percentage of illegals leaves me speachless.
I'm not racist either! It's a fact. Pick any day and walk through that park. The percentage of hispanic to non-hispanic obviously tips the scale? We know that undocumented hispanic residents in this country is an issue, and the Rengstorff/California community is no different! "Residents who spoke had varying opinions, with one woman saying through a translator" ....... Come one!! When people living and working in this country (and our community) get themselves legally documented and can SHOW that they pay their fare share of taxes, I'll stop complaining!
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Posted by No Need, a resident of the Castro City neighborhood, on Sep 15, 2011 at 12:56 pm Please - No need to do anything to this park. It is fine the way it is.
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Posted by Mark, a resident of the Blossom Valley neighborhood, on Sep 15, 2011 at 2:03 pm Is there any way to demolish those apartments on the corner of Crisanto and Escuela? Definitely would provide more park space so that we could add two soccer fields like in Palo Alto.
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Posted by Political Insider, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Sep 15, 2011 at 2:31 pm Council member Laura Macias said Rengstorff Park is already a "gem" that many people love. "What we need to do is polish that gem," she said. Council member Tom Means added, "I don't think we schedule a lot of weddings there."
How do these two statement go together?
"In 50 years we won't be driving cars anymore," she said. "We don't actually need to be driving everywhere. We can walk to the park."
What a silly arrogant comment. I suppose she doesn't own any cars?
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Posted by ditto, a resident of the Cuesta Park neighborhood, on Sep 15, 2011 at 2:44 pm I have to agree with "resident in distress." Well said.
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Posted by Won Usit, a resident of the Cuesta Park neighborhood, on Sep 15, 2011 at 3:17 pm It doesn't matter how much is spent, until the surrounding area is cleaned up, removing the loitering illegals and troublesome gangs, I won't even slow the car to look at it. Spend the money to clean up this troubled area before we invest ONE PENNY on things such as a park.
I've discussed this with many parents and they all say the same thing: "I'll never take my kid there because of the surrounding area and the elements who think the park is their "turf"
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Posted by Won Usit, a resident of the Cuesta Park neighborhood, on Sep 15, 2011 at 3:21 pm Another thought, how much would it cost to install an I.C.E. substation in the park?
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Posted by AC, a resident of another community, on Sep 15, 2011 at 3:25 pm
AC is a member (registered user) of Mountain View Online "In 50 years we won't be driving cars anymore," she said. "We don't actually need to be driving everywhere. We can walk to the park."
50 years ago, they thought we'd be in flying transportation like the Jetsons, and we'd have colonies on Mars.
Seems like a dubious statement to me.
And yeah, I don't stop at Rengstorff Park as it is; clean up the neighborhood first and then improve the park.
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Posted by Thom, a resident of the Jackson Park neighborhood, on Sep 15, 2011 at 3:31 pm Already known as a gang hangout, and they wonder why no weddings? This City Council is really clueless. I want to know how many council members live within the immediate area?
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Posted by Steve, a resident of the Sylvan Park neighborhood, on Sep 15, 2011 at 3:46 pm Some of the council member's quotes in this article remind me of the saying "It's better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak up and remove all doubt"
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Posted by Tom Purcell, a resident of the Shoreline West neighborhood, on Sep 15, 2011 at 4:45 pm I have spent literally thousands of hours in the park with my two-year-old daughter and my only complaint is that there are not enough swings. Anybody who thinks Rengstorff park is unsafe obviously doesn't spend much time there.
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Posted by Jeff, a resident of the The Crossings neighborhood, on Sep 15, 2011 at 7:28 pm I take my two daughters to Rengstorff park all the time. It's our favorite park. There's no need to change it. They old school sliding board is a gem, and that's probably the first thing they'd replace.
I'm white, and I don't understand the other commentors who think Hispanic = illegal alien = dangerous. The families in Rengstorff are as kind as you'll find anywhere, and I've seen more gang graffiti at Mitchell park in Palo Alto, a much posher neighborhood.
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Posted by USA, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Sep 15, 2011 at 8:31 pm "The city had hired San Jose-based Anderson Brule Architects to create several possible concepts for revamping the park"
Last year the city spent $100,000 on four cartoons of a proposed HSR station. I cannot image what they pissed away on this boondoggle.
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Posted by USA, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Sep 15, 2011 at 8:35 pm Margaret Abe-Koga, who said that she found herself "trying to recall why we embarked on this project."
"We need to talk about how we are going to finance this," Abe-Koga said.
Every time I think Abe-Koga cannot get any dumber, ... wow.
I don't know what is worse -- that she cannot remember or that she is moving on the finance questions without any idea why she wants to spent that much money.
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Posted by Mr. Big, a resident of the Sylvan Park neighborhood, on Sep 16, 2011 at 3:28 am To all the racists who like to comment here: get lost, you're not wanted here or anywhere else. And, yes it's right next to the day worker center so you would never be caught here anyway.
Knock down the old community center and build a new one right now, in the same general footprint, as constructions costs are low. No underground parking, just repave the existing lot.
I would hold of on relocating the swim center or tennis courts and the concourse to the Senior Center. How many seniors use the park?
Also, I think we could knock down those tennis courts and use the space for other sports. How often are those courts used?
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Posted by Ned, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Sep 16, 2011 at 7:15 am The city could raise the money by raising taxes on the city's property and business owners. Google and other corporations should also be charged a very heavy tax. What am I missing?
And I agree, every time Abe-Koga is quoted, I wince with pain. Macias is not much better. I'd like to see her to walk down California and Escuela late at night, every night for a month before telling us we don't need cars.
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Posted by Jeff, a resident of the The Crossings neighborhood, on Sep 16, 2011 at 7:33 am If they want to spend money on Rengstorff park, just fix up the public bathrooms there. Them men's room has taken a beating.
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Posted by Andrea Gemmet, Mountain View Voice Editor, on Sep 16, 2011 at 10:14 am
Andrea Gemmet is a member (registered user) of Mountain View Online This comment has been moved from a duplicate thread, which has now been closed:
Spending all that money on this park isn't going to change where it is located or stop all the crime that goes on there at night.
by Sean Sep 16, 2011 at 10:06 am
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Posted by Joe, a resident of the North Whisman neighborhood, on Sep 16, 2011 at 12:12 pm [Post removed. Please refrain from personal attacks.]
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Posted by Observer, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Sep 16, 2011 at 2:23 pm [Post removed. Please refrain from making personal attacks.]
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Posted by Martin Omander, a resident of the Rex Manor neighborhood, on Sep 16, 2011 at 5:04 pm Take the racist fear-mongering somewhere else. It's getting tiresome. I'm a white US citizen, I visit the park often with my kids, and I have never felt threatened.
I agree with the other posters that some repairs are needed, but there is no call for major changes. The park is an verdant oasis, especially for people living in apartments. We should keep plenty of trees and open space in the park.
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Posted by Observer, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Sep 16, 2011 at 6:44 pm Joe points out that a council member has a lot of cars in front of her house and it's called a personal attack? (Kinda of like accusing Al Gore of not being all that green when he flies around in a corporate jet with a huge carbon foot print?) He then points out that the idea of an underground garage in a park located in an area known for gang activity is an invitation to trouble, and his entire post gets removed? And then I chip in and add that cars parked on the roof of the future Safeway in the San Antonio shopping center doesn't seen smart in earthquake country and my comment is deleted as well? Nice going moderator. Your shifting standards for ruling over the boards are at least consistent with your shifting standards for journalism; you do both to suit your own interests and agenda.
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Posted by Joe, a resident of the North Whisman neighborhood, on Sep 17, 2011 at 11:22 am This is an activist editorial censor. They remove posts they disagree with. Sometimes they don't even leave a trace. This is how online newspapers in China are run. Sometimes progressives adjust their ethics a bit when it serves a purpose.
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Posted by Greg David, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Sep 19, 2011 at 2:20 pm "In 50 years we won't be driving cars anymore," she said. "We don't actually need to be driving everywhere. We can walk to the park."
No, in 50 years we are going to have Prius carcasses sitting on our front lawns oozing toxins from batteries gone bad decades earlier and no place to put them because concept of NIMBY will never change. What a horribly arrogant and misguided statement. Oh well... you guys voted for her. And the other one. And the other one. I'll let you decide which.
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Posted by Matt Raschke, a resident of the The Crossings neighborhood, on Sep 19, 2011 at 4:50 pm "But Macias said closing the street would back up traffic on Escuela Avenue, especially when parents are trying to drop off or pick up their kids from Castro School. "
I don't understand how closing Cristano will affect traffic around Castro School. Castro School is on the other side of California Avenue.
The intersection of Rengstorff and Cristano is a nightmare. There shouldn't be intersections that close to a grade crossing.
I support the closing of Cristano and a new park layout that prepares for a future grade separation.
But if Cristano must be kept open, please realign it with Leland Avenue and put in a traffic signal. Mi Pueblo Market has great carne asada, but I avoid shopping there due to the crazy intersection.
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Posted by Ned, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Sep 19, 2011 at 5:59 pm Matt:
Get with the times. According to the council you should be walking to Mi Pueblo.
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Posted by Really?, a resident of the Castro City neighborhood, on Sep 21, 2011 at 11:34 pm Ok first of all since when is a Hispanic a threat? Im Hispanic. I don't see myself as a threat. Hell I work for the city and have spent around 8 hours a day at Rengstorff and it has really changed for the better. There's always at least 1 cop patrolling the park every 15 minutes. Gang members aren't allowed here anymore. You see one you have the right to call the police and they will "escort" them out. Now about building an I.C.E. Station there... Really? Let's build one in Chinatown and see howany illegal Asians we catch! You have a choice you know? It's as easy as not going there! It's a PUBLIC park. You have your backyard for a reason! Keep out everyone you don't like. And hell MV has ALOT of parks to choose from!
Now as far as revamping the park. It's fine the way it is. Just rescuing the playgrounds and the bathrooms. Want more ppl at the community center? Advertise!
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Posted by Ned, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Sep 22, 2011 at 3:51 am "There's always at least 1 cop patrolling the park every 15 minutes."
Me thinks you just missed your own point!
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Posted by Cali St. Swag, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Sep 24, 2011 at 6:14 am SMH at all the racist people on here. People gotta realize they live in California, so there will always be Hispanics like it or not! Don't like it move to Alaska or some sh**. I grew up coming to Rengstorff Park, the park is great - however I would definatly make a larger playground if not more - and definatly have a larger basketball courts with real size. I know us hispanics are small, but make the courts bigger lol.
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