Susan Cavallari, SCCAN
The Santa Cruz City Parks and Recreation Department has been working with the landscape architecture firm, Bionic Landscape, on a redesign plan for San Lorenzo Park. This Park includes the lower flood plain area now called the Riverlands, and the Upland area where the duck pond, lawns and playground are located.
In discussions and online questionnaires involving the community over many months the plan was narrowed down to 2 options: Option A, with partial restoration of the Riverlands and Option B with full restoration of this wetland area as a riparian forest. The two options were presented to the Parks and Recreation Commission on Jan. 8, 2024. During the meeting there was an outpouring of support for Option B from many community members, including formal endorsement from the three leading local environmental groups, the Santa Cruz Bird Club, the Sierra Club and the California Native Plant Society. The Amah Mutsun Tribal Band also formally endorsed full restoration as did the Santa Cruz Climate Action Network. A representative for the Tribal Band read a letter from Chairman Valentin Lopez offering to provide indigenous knowledge and assistance to fully restore the Riverlands.
A number of people spoke in support of pickleball courts, lawn bowling and an AIDS memorial in the Upland area of the park.
At the end of the 4 hour meeting the Commission approved a motion to postpone approval of the staff proposal for only partial restoration of the Riverlands pending further study, and to accept the Upland plan with inclusion of lawn bowling, pickleball, an AIDS memorial, a water feature and an amphitheater.
The motion approved by the Commission was proposed by commissioner Jane Mio:
“Motion to recommend the City Council accept the Recommended Layout and Use Concept for the upland section with specific Parks & Recreation Commission feedback (listed below) as the basis of the draft redesign plan for San Lorenzo Park. And continue development of the Riverland section recommendation until comprehensive, inclusive restoration analysis is available.
Specific feedback:
- Identification and preservation of lawn bowling within the park
- Location and design of an AIDS memorial within the park
- Work to include an upland pond as a water feature in the park
- Engagement of design team to meet with indigenous groups present at January 8 meeting
- Focus on Daytime pickleball use only
- Support the Upland Amphitheater”