DEFOREST PARK COMMUNITY DESIGN SURVEY

Take Your Park to the Polls!

The City of Long Beach has collected valuable feedback over the past few months from hundreds of residents and park users about future improvements to DeForest Park. This has been incorporated into a pair of conceptual designs to collect your feedback, and your priority improvements to phase in first.

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Project Background
Funded by a State grant, RMC Prop 1, the Conservation Corps of Long Beach, Camp Fire Angeles Council, Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine, and City Fabrick are collaborating to develop a Vision Plan for future improvements to Deforest Park.

What is a Vision Plan?
A community-based plan for guiding future park investment.

Why does your voice matter?
It's your park! You understand the challenges and opportunities for enhancing Deforest Park.

Wait, is there money for this?
Yes! Funding for the plan and initial new improvements have already been secured with more opportunities to come.

What's been done so far:
We have already hosted two rounds of community workshops while surveying residents and park users, and performing regular park-use audits, all done to better understand the opportunities and challenges within the park.

<strong>Project Background<br></strong>Funded by a State grant, RMC Prop 1, the Conservation Corps of Long Beach, Camp Fire Angeles Council, Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine, and City Fabrick are collaborating to develop a Vision Plan for future improvements to Deforest Park.<br><br><span style="text-decoration: underline;">What is a Vision Plan?<br></span>A community-based plan for guiding future park investment.<br><br><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Why does your voice matter?</span><br>It's your park! You understand the challenges and opportunities for enhancing Deforest Park.<br><br><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Wait, is there money for this?</span><br>Yes! Funding for the plan and initial new improvements have already been secured with more opportunities to come.<br><br><span style="text-decoration: underline;">What's been done so far:</span><br>We have already hosted two rounds of community workshops while surveying residents and park users, and performing regular park-use audits, all done to better understand the opportunities and challenges within the park.

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The community has spoken! Both Deforest Park concepts include the following elements:

Walking Trail

Dry Creek Bed

Pedestrian-Scale Lighting

Waste/Recycling Receptacles

Benches

Picnic Tables

Deforest Avenue Safety Enhancements

Bicycle Parking

Horse Hitching Area

Drinking Fountains

Playground Improvements

Wayfinding Signage

Dog Waste Bag Dispensers

Outdoor Fitness Equipment

Seating Built into Slope

General Design Concept:
DeForest Park draws inspiration from the OCEAN and the FOOTHILLS and harmoniously unifies the DeForest Wetlands to the south with the sloping terrain and forested landscape to the north. DeForest Park also responds to its surrounding context of the NEIGHBORHOOD with the LA RIVER, serving the park needs of local residents and identifying the LA River as a regional opportunity for habitat restoration and play. They are woven together by two NORTH-SOUTH CONNECTIONS that offer unique walking and bicycling experiences throughout the entire park.

The community has spoken! Both Deforest Park concepts include the following elements:<br>
<ul>
<li>Walking Trail</li>
<li>Dry Creek Bed</li>
<li>Pedestrian-Scale Lighting</li>
<li>Waste/Recycling Receptacles</li>
<li>Benches</li>
<li>Picnic Tables</li>
<li>Deforest Avenue Safety Enhancements</li>
<li>Bicycle Parking</li>
<li>Horse Hitching Area</li>
<li>Drinking Fountains</li>
<li>Playground Improvements</li>
<li>Wayfinding Signage</li>
<li>Dog Waste Bag Dispensers</li>
<li>Outdoor Fitness Equipment</li>
<li>Seating Built into Slope</li>
</ul>
<span style="text-decoration: underline;">General Design Concept:</span><br>DeForest Park draws inspiration from the <span style="color: #80a645;"><strong>OCEAN</strong></span> and the <span style="color: #80a645;"><strong>FOOTHILLS</strong></span> and harmoniously unifies the DeForest Wetlands to the south with the sloping terrain and forested landscape to the north. DeForest Park also responds to its surrounding context of the <span style="color: #666699;"><strong>NEIGHBORHOOD</strong></span> with the LA <span style="color: #666699;"><strong>RIVER</strong></span>, serving the park needs of local residents and identifying the LA River as a regional opportunity for habitat restoration and play. They are woven together by two <span style="color: #63b8cc;"><strong>NORTH-SOUTH CONNECTIONS</strong></span> that offer unique walking and bicycling experiences throughout the entire park.

Check out the Community Conceptual Designs!

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Design Concept Option One:
This design imagines a series of distinct parks unified by two strong north-south paths that span the entire site length of the site. This design recognizes that the existing topography, building structures, and park uses naturally divide the park into several different experiences, building upon this diversity to offer a park for all.

Unique Characteristics:

Improve and expand the number of community buildings

Transform the closed handball court structure into a another use.

Build a concession stand and restroom building between two existing sports fields.

Transitions between different park uses have clear edges and sense of space.

Add on-street bicycle path, separated from vehicle traffic.

Expand the playground for different age groups.

Add dog park, compact in design.

Provide space for a community garden.

<span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Design Concept Option One:</strong></span><br>This design imagines a series of distinct parks unified by two strong north-south paths that span the entire site length of the site. This design recognizes that the existing topography, building structures, and park uses naturally divide the park into several different experiences, building upon this diversity to offer a park for all.<br><br><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Unique Characteristics:</span><br>
<ul>
<li>Improve and expand the number of community buildings</li>
<li>Transform the closed handball court structure into a another use.</li>
<li>Build a concession stand and restroom building between two existing sports fields.</li>
<li>Transitions between different park uses have clear edges and sense of space.</li>
<li>Add on-street bicycle path, separated from vehicle traffic.</li>
<li>Expand the playground for different age groups.</li>
<li>Add dog park, compact in design.</li>
<li>Provide space for a community garden.</li>
</ul>

Question Title

Design Concept Option Two:
This design imagines a series of interconnected spaces within the park that overlap together with more seamlessly transitions between park-uses. This design maximizes north-south visibility and the utility of land by reshaping topography, building structures, and types of uses that are unessential to meet the park's full potential.

Unique Characteristics:

Replace the community clubhouse with new community buildings.

Replace the handball court structure with other amenities.

Relocate existing restrooms on the south end of the park and add new, safe restrooms.

Transitions between different park-uses have more organic edges that encourages flexibility.

Add plaza and performance space.

Replace parking lot with diagonal on-street parking.

Add off-street walking and bicycle path.

Add and expand the playground for different age groups and maximum visibility.

Expand sports courts and fields.

Add dog park, natural in design.

Provide space for a community garden.

<strong>Design Concept Option Two:</strong><br>This design imagines a series of interconnected spaces within the park that overlap together with more seamlessly transitions between park-uses. This design maximizes north-south visibility and the utility of land by reshaping topography, building structures, and types of uses that are unessential to meet the park's full potential. <br><br><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Unique Characteristics:</span><br>
<ul>
<li>Replace the community clubhouse with new community buildings.</li>
<li>Replace the handball court structure with other amenities.</li>
<li>Relocate existing restrooms on the south end of the park and add new, safe restrooms.</li>
<li>Transitions between different park-uses have more organic edges that encourages flexibility.</li>
<li>Add plaza and performance space.</li>
<li>Replace parking lot with diagonal on-street parking.</li>
<li>Add off-street walking and bicycle path.</li>
<li>Add and expand the playground for different age groups and maximum visibility.</li>
<li>Expand sports courts and fields.</li>
<li>Add dog park, natural in design.</li>
<li>Provide space for a community garden.</li>
</ul>

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* 1. Which of the two Conceptual Design options do you like more?

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* 2. Please share any input related to either of the two design options.

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* 3. The community center is aging and in need of improvements. To what extent should the community buildings be improved and/or replaced?

Replace the community center to maximize space and use.

Improve the existing community center and expand to provide additional programs.

Leave the existing community center with just modest upgrades

No preference

Other (please specify)

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* 4. Park users shared that sports courts and fields have different levels of demand and use depending of the time of day. Please share your thoughts to how likely you and your family are to use the following sports facilities:

	Very unlikely to play	Unlikely to play	Likely to play	Very likely to play
Basketball	Basketball Very unlikely to play	Basketball Unlikely to play	Basketball Likely to play	Basketball Very likely to play
Football	Football Very unlikely to play	Football Unlikely to play	Football Likely to play	Football Very likely to play
Handball / Racquetball	Handball / Racquetball Very unlikely to play	Handball / Racquetball Unlikely to play	Handball / Racquetball Likely to play	Handball / Racquetball Very likely to play
Skating Area	Skating Area Very unlikely to play	Skating Area Unlikely to play	Skating Area Likely to play	Skating Area Very likely to play
Soccer / Futsal	Soccer / Futsal Very unlikely to play	Soccer / Futsal Unlikely to play	Soccer / Futsal Likely to play	Soccer / Futsal Very likely to play
Tennis	Tennis Very unlikely to play	Tennis Unlikely to play	Tennis Likely to play	Tennis Very likely to play
Volleyball	Volleyball Very unlikely to play	Volleyball Unlikely to play	Volleyball Likely to play	Volleyball Very likely to play

Other Sport

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* 5. Currently the handball court structure is closed down and inaccessible to the public. It also divides the park into two, limiting north-south accessibility and creating hidden and unsafe areas. Share your thoughts of potential future uses of the space as suggested by community members:

Use handball courts for emergency storage for the neighborhood.

Remove the handball courts in favor of other sports facilities or recreation areas.

Keep the existing handball structure and activate all sides of the handball court structure so it is not an eyesore.

No preference

Other (please specify)

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* 6. Community members report unsafe driving behavior near the park, what potential improvements would you prefer to make Deforest Avenue safer park users?

Curb extensions and landscaping

On-street bicycle path separated from vehicles

Roundabouts or mini traffic circles

Street trees

Enhance crosswalks

No preference

Other (please specify)

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* 7. How would you prioritize these potential smaller size projects?

	High Priority	Medium Priority	Not a Priority
Additional Lighting	Additional Lighting High Priority	Additional Lighting Medium Priority	Additional Lighting Not a Priority
Benches	Benches High Priority	Benches Medium Priority	Benches Not a Priority
Dog Waste Bag Dispensers	Dog Waste Bag Dispensers High Priority	Dog Waste Bag Dispensers Medium Priority	Dog Waste Bag Dispensers Not a Priority
General Maintenance / Landscaping	General Maintenance / Landscaping High Priority	General Maintenance / Landscaping Medium Priority	General Maintenance / Landscaping Not a Priority
Water Fountain	Water Fountain High Priority	Water Fountain Medium Priority	Water Fountain Not a Priority
Picnic Tables	Picnic Tables High Priority	Picnic Tables Medium Priority	Picnic Tables Not a Priority
Tree Planting	Tree Planting High Priority	Tree Planting Medium Priority	Tree Planting Not a Priority
Waste/Recycling Receptacles	Waste/Recycling Receptacles High Priority	Waste/Recycling Receptacles Medium Priority	Waste/Recycling Receptacles Not a Priority
Outdoor Fitness Equipment	Outdoor Fitness Equipment High Priority	Outdoor Fitness Equipment Medium Priority	Outdoor Fitness Equipment Not a Priority

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* 8. How would you prioritize these potential medium size projects?

	High Priority	Medium Priority	No Priority
Bicycle Path	Bicycle Path High Priority	Bicycle Path Medium Priority	Bicycle Path No Priority
Community Garden	Community Garden High Priority	Community Garden Medium Priority	Community Garden No Priority
Dog Park	Dog Park High Priority	Dog Park Medium Priority	Dog Park No Priority
Equestrian (Horse) Amenities	Equestrian (Horse) Amenities High Priority	Equestrian (Horse) Amenities Medium Priority	Equestrian (Horse) Amenities No Priority
Outdoor Seating for sports games and events	Outdoor Seating for sports games and events High Priority	Outdoor Seating for sports games and events Medium Priority	Outdoor Seating for sports games and events No Priority
Playground (multiple age groups)	Playground (multiple age groups) High Priority	Playground (multiple age groups) Medium Priority	Playground (multiple age groups) No Priority
Remove Existing Handball Structure	Remove Existing Handball Structure High Priority	Remove Existing Handball Structure Medium Priority	Remove Existing Handball Structure No Priority
Sensory Garden	Sensory Garden High Priority	Sensory Garden Medium Priority	Sensory Garden No Priority
Skate Area	Skate Area High Priority	Skate Area Medium Priority	Skate Area No Priority
Sports Courts	Sports Courts High Priority	Sports Courts Medium Priority	Sports Courts No Priority
Walking Trail with Landscaping	Walking Trail with Landscaping High Priority	Walking Trail with Landscaping Medium Priority	Walking Trail with Landscaping No Priority

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* 9. How would you prioritize these potential larger size projects?

	High Priority	Medium Priority	No Priority
Community Center	Community Center High Priority	Community Center Medium Priority	Community Center No Priority
Concession Stand with Restroom	Concession Stand with Restroom High Priority	Concession Stand with Restroom Medium Priority	Concession Stand with Restroom No Priority
Sports Field	Sports Field High Priority	Sports Field Medium Priority	Sports Field No Priority
Traffic Safety Enhancements	Traffic Safety Enhancements High Priority	Traffic Safety Enhancements Medium Priority	Traffic Safety Enhancements No Priority
Transformation of Handball Structure	Transformation of Handball Structure High Priority	Transformation of Handball Structure Medium Priority	Transformation of Handball Structure No Priority

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* 10. Do you have any additional thoughts that you would like to share?

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* 11. Where do you live?

DeForest Park Resident

North Long Beach Resident

Long Beach Resident

I am a DeForest Park Visitor

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* 12. Tell us how you heard about this survey:

Council District 9 Newsletter

DeForest Park Neighborhood Association Newsletter

Facebook

Flyer or Poster

Instagram

Nextdoor

Word-of-Mouth

Other (please specify)