Save the Date –
Stay Tuned for the Date of the Final City Council Hearing
Dear Friends,
The Piedmont Recreational Facilities Organization (PRFO), a group of community volunteers, has been working for six years to define and develop a concept for a new park on Moraga Avenue known as Blair Park. After more than two dozen hearings, the Piedmont City Council is nearing the point where they must give their thumbs up or thumbs down to the proposal. PRFO is working hard to make sure the final proposal addresses concerns about pedestrian and traffic safety and provides a beautiful new community amenity.
At the March 21, 2011 Piedmont City Council meeting, PRFO presented its final master plan which reflected changes recommended by the Environmental Impact Report prepared for the project and input provided by the continued community discussion.
To summarize, the PRFO has reduced and improved its plan by:
a) Converting the small recreation field with a synthetic surface to a passive open space with real grass;
b) Implementing traffic mitigations recommended by the EIR;
c) Providing a new stair and walkway connector that facilitates pedestrian movement, east to west, along the northern edge of Blair Park and
d) Providing a single parallel parking space along Moraga for public safety monitoring by the Piedmont Police Department. In addition, the parking area will serve as an access point to the recreation field and concession area plaza for emergency vehicles.
PRFO had considered expanding the Blair Park amenities to include a tot-lot, a fitness course and a climbing wall in an effort to make the park even more multi-faceted. Based on comments received about these proposals, these elements will not be included in the final project.
PRFO intends to take full responsibility for the funding and construction of Blair Park should the Piedmont City Council grant project approval. The conditions of approval will require proof that PRFO has the money in the bank to build the park and has secured a fixed fee for construction, that a Single Purpose Entity is in place to fully assume all liability for funding and construction, and that the terms of use for Blair Park mirror those of other parks in Piedmont. Every measure is being taken to assure that Blair Park is treasured as much as all of the other beautiful parks in Piedmont and does not become a burden to taxpayers or neighbors.
There seems to be a misperception that the traffic study included as part of the Environmental Impact Report did not include an analysis of traffic impacts in Oakland. This is simply wrong. The traffic report looked at Blair Park’s impacts along Moraga at both Harbord and Estates and found that the impacts were limited, especially when compared to the current traffic at those locations. We have heard from many Oakland residents that they are frustrated that the City of Oakland has for years ignored their pleas to for traffic calming, and we share their frustration. However, as indicated in the EIR, the construction and development of Blair Park does not warrant traffic improvements in that area and to ask PRFO to pay for traffic improvements for a situation that existed prior to project development is not the answer.
PRFO is working hard to deliver an attractive park and recreation resource for our entire community. This has been a long and thoughtful effort by many community volunteers and professionals. We look forward to making this vision a reality
Sincerely, PRFO
