Company:

Orange County Public Works

Status:

Awarded

Awarded:

Small Project of the Year

Additional Files

Pre-Project Photos, Completed Project Photos, Project Web Links

Additional Information

Perez Park, Drainage & Pavement Improvement Project

Project Location:

Intersection of Santa Ana Avenue and University Drive in Santa Ana heights, unincorporated Orange County, and city of Costa Mesa

Project Description:

This Project repurposed existing County property to a neighborhood park that encourages inclusive, local active transportation. The drainage and landscaping design of the park improves local drainage, promotes water quality treatment, and minimizes water usage through native, drought tolerant plant species. Every inch of this 5,000 sq-ft parcel was developed to enhance safety and integrate the communities open space priorities with resilient, sustainable infrastructure. For example, to improve pedestrian path of travel, a storm drain catch basin was relocated to install a new crosswalk and ADA-compliant curb ramp. The relocated catch basins capture storm water prior to reaching the pedestrian crosswalks and transports the storm water to a new drainage basin located on the outside perimeter of the new park. This drainage basin provides storage away from the roadways and sidewalks, filters storm water during typical storm events, and enhances safety of park go-ers by providing a green buffer from traffic.

Project Justification:

Orange County Public Works’ mission is to deliver infrastructure projects that enhance our communities through three primary project categories: Flood protection, roadway, traffic, and bikeway improvements. The inclusion of this community pocket park to the scope of this roadway and pedestrian improvement Project required design, construction, and long-term maintenance funding partnerships to best serve the community needs. Beyond agency cooperation, this Project demonstrated a community-centric development by facilitating design workshops, online surveys, and pre-construction meetings to engage the community from Project conception to construction. Partnering to construct the new park with the roadway and pedestrian traffic mobility improvements minimized construction impacts and aligned agency goals and objectives with the final product. The new community pocket park not only beautifies an underutilized, vacant parcel through a native Southern California plant palette, but also provides an inclusive children’s playground with improved local drainage and paths of travel through the intersection and local streets.

Special Circumstances:

The initial OC Public Works project objective was to provide pavement maintenance, American with Disabilities Act (ADA) upgrades, drainage, and landscaping improvements on Santa Ana Avenue and University Drive within unincorporated Orange County and city of Costa Mesa. During the planning phase, the County received a petition from residents requesting the vacant, County-owned corner parcel be converted into a community park. In order to provide this community resource as part of the Project, OC Public Works, OC Parks, and City of Costa Mesa partnered to establish funding, design and construction administration, and post-construction operation and maintenance to best serve the local community. The City of Costa Mesa named this park after a Costa Mesa resident, Rachel Perez Hamilton, known for making significant contributions to the community through volunteerism. This park was recognized throughout its development, published in the Daily Pilot and posted by City of Costa Mesa on social media provided in the links below:

https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/story/2019-07-26/vacant-eastside-lot-could-be-costa-mesas-next-park
https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/story/2019-09-18/costa-mesa-council-gives-thumbs-up-to-eastside-pocket-park
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQQvYtG1THA

Project Attachments:

N/A

Award Citation::

Perez Park, Drainage & Pavement Improvement Project repurposed existing County property to a neighborhood park that encourages inclusive, local active transportation. During the planning phase of a pavement maintenance project, the County received a petition from residents requesting the vacant, County-owned corner parcel be converted into a community park. OC Public Works, OC Parks, and City of Costa Mesa partnered to provide this community resource as part of the Project.

Suggested Award Summary:

The Perez Park, Drainage & Pavement Improvement Project is located in unincorporated Orange County, Santa Ana Heights, and city of Costa Mesa at the intersection of Santa Ana Avenue and University Drive. The Project repurposed existing County property to a neighborhood park that encourages inclusive, local active transportation. The drainage and landscaping design of the park improves local drainage, promotes water quality treatment, and minimizes water usage through native, drought tolerant plant species. Every inch of this 5,000 sq-ft parcel was developed to enhance safety and integrate the communities open space priorities with resilient, sustainable infrastructure. For example, to improve pedestrian path of travel, a storm drain catch basin was relocated to install a new crosswalk and ADA-compliant curb ramp. The relocated catch basins capture storm water prior to the pedestrian crosswalks and transports the storm water to a new drainage basin located on the outside perimeter of the new park. This drainage basin provides storage away from the roadways and sidewalks, filters storm water during typical storm events, and enhances safety of park go-ers by providing a green buffer from traffic.

Orange County Public Works’ mission is to deliver infrastructure projects that enhance our communities through three primary project categories: Flood protection, roadway, traffic, and bikeway improvements. The inclusion of this community pocket park to the scope of this roadway and pedestrian improvement Project required design, construction, and long-term maintenance funding partnerships to best serve the community needs. Beyond agency cooperation, this Project demonstrated a community-centric development by facilitating design workshops, online surveys, and pre-construction meetings to engage the community from Project conception to construction. Partnering to construct the new park with the roadway and pedestrian traffic mobility improvements minimized construction impacts and aligned agency goals and objectives with the final product. The new community pocket park not only beautifies an underutilized, vacant parcel through a native Southern California plant palette, but also provides an inclusive children’s playground with improved local drainage and paths of travel through the intersection and local streets.