Show Post 26

joey t on 10/05/2007 09:23AM (over 2 years ago)

BART deal nets Fremont new dog park
Yamaguchi's plans for Central Park also advance
By Matthew Artz, STAFF WRITER
Article Last Updated: 10/02/2007 02:31:50 AM PDT

FREMONT — A new dog park and 185 additional parking spaces are now part of a plan to build BART tracks under Central Park.
The City Council approved an agreement with BART last week that commits the transit agency to pay for and complete the dog park and also move two basketball courts before starting work on the underground project.
The new dog park and basketball courts, which are slated to go between the softball complex and the Tri-City Animal Shelter, are among several new facilities planned for the park.
In 2008, a playground funded by Kristi Yamaguchi's Always Dream Foundation is scheduled to open near the soccer and softball fields off Stevenson Boulevard.
The following year, Fremont's water park is scheduled for completion on the south side of the park at the Puerto Penasco Swim Lagoon.
The dog park and basketball courts currently are located southeast of the softball complex.
They are being relocated to an undeveloped area on the opposite side of the softball complex to make way for a ventilation and emergency evacuation structure serving the planned BART extension to Warm Springs.
BART initially planned to build temporary replacements and then rebuild the dog park and courts near their current sites. However, by building permanent replacements before construction begins, BART saves money that it can invest in new amenities — possibly lights for evening use, said Amy Rakley, Fremont's park planning manager.
The new dog park, she added, should be a significant upgrade from the present facility, where turf is frequently worn out.
"We're convinced we'll improve upon it in the next design," Rakley said.
The new plan also allows for the construction of additional parking spaces.
If BART gets funding in early 2008 to build the underground tracks, the new dog park, basketball court and many of the new parking spaces would be built in 2009.
Construction work, which is scheduled to last through 2012, would not impact the softball complex, but would result in rerouting part of Stevenson Boulevard.
As for Yamaguchi's estimated
1-acre $500,000 playground, her Always Dream Foundation released a new site plan last week. The playground will include a central seating area, play areas for children ages 2 to 5 and 5 to 12, and possibly a water play area.
In keeping with plans to make the playground accessible to wheelchair users, both merry-go-rounds would have decks allowing children to board the ride from their wheelchairs.
In addition, the water area, if included, would be raised to allow wheelchair users to pull up directly to it.
A planned sand area also would be wheelchair accessible.