HomeMy WebLinkAboutVII(F) Discussion/ Action Re: Proposed Central Park Pavilions Project Report Agenda 2-3-98
Item VII F
"CENTER OF GOOD LIVING-PRIDE OF WEST ORANGE" MAYOR•COMMISSIONER
S. SCOTT VANDERGRIFT
COMMISSIONERS
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Staff Report
Date: January 28, 1998
To: The Honorable Mayor and City Commissioners
From: Janet G. Resnik, Community Relations/Projects Director
Subject: Proposed Central Park Pavilions Project V'
Issue
Should the Honorable Mayor and City Commissioners approve the placement of two pavilions
with picnic tables to be located at Central Park on Flewelling Avenue?
Background
In December, Recreation Director Bruce Nordquist and I met with Nereyda Ochoa and Beatriz
Tones, two young women who live near Central Park on Flewelling Avenue. Miss Ochoa and
Miss Tones had written a letter on behalf of members of the Hispanic community who live in
this part of Ocoee, asking if they could work with the City to make some improvements to
Central Park. A petition with more than 130 signatures was attached to the letter.
Mr. Nordquist and I were most impressed with the efforts of these young women to write this
letter and get a petition generated. When we met with them, Nereyda and Beatriz said they
understood that bathrooms would be expensive; however, they wondered whether they could get
some shelter and benches near the basketball court, and said that the parents of young children
would like a shelter near the new playground equipment since there were no shade trees.
Discussion
Since the pavilions are not budgeted for, City staff has discussed the possibility of drafting plans
for these pavilions and then attempting to get the materials for the pavilions donated. The
Recreation Department, Engineering Department, and Public Works Department have all agreed
to help acquire the necessary materials by contacting local building supply companies to see if
they will contribute to the project. If we are successful in getting the materials, we would then
propose to get a group of City staff to volunteer on a Saturday to build the pavilions. Nereyda
and Beatriz said they could get people from the neighborhood to help as well. This project
would not only help get the petitioners the improvements they want, it would also help to
strengthen the sense of community and encourage the communication that this group of Hispanic
residents would like to build with City leaders.
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Page 2
Staff Report - Central Park
The only things staff does not think will be donated are: (1) concrete for the slabs,and (2) picnic
tables for underneath the pavilions. Because of the maintenance-free nature of steel picnic
tables, the City has been purchasing them as opposed to wooden tables. They are quite
expensive; however, staff feels they pay for themselves in the long run. The tables are $500 each
and we envision a large pavilion that will hold four tables, and another pavilion that will have
room for two. The cost of the concrete is estimated at$1,000.
If the City Commission approves this project, staff will work on finalizing plans for the pavilions
immediately. If staff is successful in getting the materials donated, we should be ready to plan a
workday in early March.
Recommendation
Staff respectfully requests that the Mayor and City Commissioners approve a total of $4,000
from the General Fund Contingency to cover the cost of the picnic tables that would be placed
under the pavilions and for the concrete slabs.
cc: Ellis Shapiro, City Manager
Jim Shira, P.E., City Engineer/Utilities Director
Bruce Nordquist, Recreation Director
Bob Smith, Public Works Director
Alice Tate-Barnett, Horticulturist
• Ernie Kovacs, Engineering Technician