The City Council will consider a two-phase approach to improving WeHo Hart Park at the next regular City Council meeting on Monday, April 3, 2023.
Phase 1 improvements include site access and disability upgrades, a reconfiguration and surface material replacement of the off-leash dog area, and associated enhancements identified during the community outreach process.
Phase 2 improvements for additional opportunities for enhancements that resulted from the community outreach process shall be considered through a Subcommittee led evaluation process.
The Staff report for item Agenda Item 4.B. breaks down the following recommendations:
1) Direct staff to proceed with the recommended Phase 1 Improvements as
follows:
- a) Upgrade all pedestrian path-of-travel routes and proceed with site
accessibility barrier-removal improvements in locations identified in the
Certified Access Specialist (CASp) Report. - b) Reconfigure the off-leash dog area in accordance with the results of the
community outreach process. - c) Remove the existing wood chip surface material and replace it with dogfriendly synthetic turf.
- d) Retain a consultant to provide design and engineering services, to produce
construction documents, and work with a Construction Manager to prepare
a revised project cost estimate. Staff will return to Council upon completion
for approval of the final design and budget prior to proceeding with the
bidding process for construction.
2) Direct staff to form a City Council Ad-Hoc Hart Park Subcommittee to evaluate,
as a Phase 2 effort, concepts and potential enhancements that arose during
the community outreach process, determine a scope of work to be explored by
a consultant, and make recommendations to the City Council regarding
additional desired improvements.
3) Authorize the Director of Finance & Technology Services to allocate $600,000
from unallocated reserves in the Park Development Fund for design,
engineering, consulting, construction management services for the Phase 1
Improvements, additional studies as part of Phase 2, and related costs.
The William S. Hart Park outreach process for future site design improvements officially began in December 2019 and included several in-person pop-up community outreach events held at various locations throughout the City. After the first facilitated presentation of the outreach findings in February, remaining events were postponed due to the emerging COVID-19 pandemic.
In September 2020, the City resumed outreach efforts and presented preliminary concepts for comments and recommendations to the City’s Disabilities Advisory Board (DAB) during its monthly meeting. As with every outreach event, community members were encouraged to share their ideas about improvements to pedestrian and vehicular access and site amenities within the park.
In October 2020, the City of West Hollywood hosted a virtual presentation via the Zoom platform seeking community engagement on the future of the William S. Hart Park.
The next Regular West Hollywood City Council meeting begins at 6pm on Monday.
