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Published on 02/23/1998 All articles from this issue

Council approves park plan for Edith corner

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By Joanne Griffith Domingue

Town Crier Staff Writer

Louise Lee was on cloud nine all day following the city council's vote to approve a park plan for the vacant corner next to her condo.

At the Feb. 24 Los Altos City Council meeting, council members approved a $163,780 plan, that included lawn, paths, benches, gentle berms and lights. The park will be built on the .75-acre city-owned site on the corner of San Antonio Road and Edith Avenue, next to the 57-unit Parc Regent condominiums.

Council members rejected a $285,202 plan that included a dry creek at a cost of $87,500 and a "water element" at $20,000.

"I was really pleased with the way the council deliberated," Lee said. "The plan they chose will satisfy the need to make it (the park) a passive, attractive area at one of the entrances to downtown. I think we can do without the dry creek."

Parking is not a part of the park plans.

"This is a 'walk-to' park," said Jay Beals of the San Jose-based Beals Landscape Architecture, Inc., who worked with the citizen task force to design the park.

"It's downtown. It's across from the Civic Center. There's no parking demand at all. It's not a 'destination' park," Beals said.

The pathways through the park will be paved with a gravel-type material that "discourages skateboards and bikes," he said.

The five residents who spoke at the meeting all urged the council to begin work on the park, at least with some grading and tree planting.

Councilman John Moss reflected that the overwhelming sentiment he had been hearing was, "'Let's get on with it.' So, let's get on with it."

Funding remains unresolved. The city had $55,000 reserved for the master plan process. Of that, $9,800 has been spent, said Recreation Director Bob Rayl in a staff report. What's left is not enough to do the park.

There is also no time line for the park. Rayl suggested to council members that they consider the cost of developing the site at the council's midyear budget study session, scheduled for last night.