Design of the Memorial Park Redevelopment and Expansion Project moves forward

July 25, 2024 12:55 PM
by Linda Cogswell

Established in the 1950s and geographically located in the center of Santa Monica, Memorial Park is a vital part of the city’s overall parks and recreation system.

Guided by an extensive community outreach process, the Memorial Park Redevelopment and Expansion Project would create a 13.2-acre newly renovated and expanded community park with additional diamond sports fields, pedestrian and bicycle improvements, and other highly desired community amenities.

The expansion project adds 2.9 acres of city-owned land adjacent to Memorial Park, known as the former Fisher Lumber site, to the current 10.3-acre park.

In the FY2024-25 budget, the City Council approved an additional $1 million for the project, bringing the total budget to $4,575,994, which includes planning, design, and the temporary relocation of the Public Landscape Division headquarters currently located on the Fisher Lumber site. A permanent location still needs to be identified and will be part of a separate process.

In April of this year, at the direction of the City Council, staff issued a Request for Proposals for design services for the first two phases of the expansion project. A recommendation for award of the design contract is set for the Aug. 27 council meeting.

Phase one design of the project includes two fields, a covered parking lot and elevated pickleball and tennis courts, and mobility and streetscape improvements on 14th Street and Colorado Avenue.

Phase two design includes two additional fields, a temporary natural turf practice field, playground, and a community hub building that includes restrooms, concessions and storage.

Additionally, there may be a “phase zero” added for the creation of an underground stormwater storage, capture, and reuse and/or filtration system at the park, as part of the city’s ongoing efforts in stormwater capture and watershed management.

If the City Council approves the proposal on Aug. 27, design would begin in the fall and construction, contingent on available construction funding, would start in summer 2026.

In the coming weeks, city staff also plan to share more information about work to find a temporary relocation site for the Public Landscape Division, including construction and lease cost estimates and schedules based on preliminary concepts. Currently, these plans are likely to focus on the City Yards as the only feasible relocation site. More information on the Public Landscape Division relocation can be found here.

Authored By

Linda Cogswell
Architectural Associate