Economic Growth & Cultural Vitality: Design contract for the Memorial Park Redevelopment and Expansion Project moves forward
July 25, 2024 12:55 PM
by Linda Cogswell
Updated Aug. 29, 2024
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. And it’s about to get a much-anticipated upgrade.
At their Aug. 27 meeting, the Santa Monica City Council approved the award of a professional services agreement for the design of the first two phases of the Memorial Park Redevelopment and Expansion Project, plus a potential “phase zero” underground stormwater harvesting tank, to SWA Group.
Guided by an extensive community outreach process, the project, which will be designed and completed in phases, will add 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 to 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 “phase zero” design includes 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.
The 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, a playground, and a community hub building that includes restrooms, concessions and storage.
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 relocation of the Public Landscape Division headquarters, currently located on the Fisher Lumber site, to the City Yards.
(City staff recently published an Information Item detailing their analysis of possible relocation sites and scenarios for the Public Landscape Division.)
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. With the award of the contract, design is expected to begin in the fall and construction, contingent on available funding, will start in summer 2026.
Read the full staff report on the award of the design contract for the Memorial Park Redevelopment and Expansion Project here.
Authored By
Linda Cogswell
Architectural Associate