Below is the status report we published on April 15, 2021. Some updates on the design and the creation of a project website for the work calls for us to update our report as well. The new County information can be found on DPW’s Bayside Park Improvements page. This may not yet constitute the final design as further discussions are being held between the Coalition and DPW on some issues, including the parking issue.
To Our Neighbors:
The Point San Pedro Road Coalition welcomes the much-needed renovation of Bayside Park, the small waterfront park where Main Drive intersects with Pt. San Pedro Road. This work is necessary to ensure that the park is accessible to people with disabilities and is being funded as an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliance Project. Unfortunately, the County has been required by the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) to modify the project’s original plan in a way that runs counter to that goal. The notice attached below from Marin County Department of Public Works (DPW) is the most recent description of this modified plan and construction schedule which now calls for removal of parking on Pt. San Pedro Road at Bayside Park.
Why? In order to obtain the BCDC grading permit needed to proceed with this project, BCDC is adamant that the County provide a dedicated bike lane on Pt. San Pedro Road at the park. The bike lane was originally required in 1971 as a condition of the BCDC permit obtained when the park was originally created. However, it was never implemented, and BCDC requires that DPW now create that bike lane as part of this permit. To do so, DPW has determined that the curb running along the park must become a no parking zone to accommodate that bike lane.
While we recognize and appreciate the benefits of dedicated bike lanes, and the time constraints that the County is under to move forward with this project, we believe this change will impact not only nearby neighbors but those who need to drive to the park to recreate. The loss of all adjacent parking will make it very difficult for disabled and mobility-impaired people to access the park. The limited parking on the south side of Pt. San Pedro Road will put park users in jeopardy by increasing the risk that they will park on the north side of Pt. San Pedro Road (at Main Dr.) and cross Pt. San Pedro Road where there is a blind curve for east bound traffic, no crosswalk or signals, and vehicles that travel at speeds of 40 miles per hour or more.
The Coalition has been in active communication with the Project Manager and County staff as recently as this past Wednesday (April 14) to try to get answers to a number of questions we have about the project. We hope that a feasible alternative can be developed which will not result in the unintended consequence of reducing public access to this park, particularly to the elderly and physically disabled. We intend to actively work with DPW, BCDC and any other involved entity to try to find a solution to this problem. We urge you to contact us or the Project Manager below with your ideas, comments, and concerns as we work on your behalf to find this solution.
Following is the most recent notice from County DPW posted on NextDoor on 4/15/2021:
Bayside Park construction is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, 4/28/2021 and to be completed by Friday, 7/9/2021. The park will be closed during construction. This is an ADA accessibility project.
Due to age and damage from root uplift, the park is no longer code compliant for accessibility. The entire park will be refurbished including grading of many areas of the park, replacement of all paths, benches and trash/recycling receptacles. Nearly all landscaping will be replaced, including new trees that will be placed to prevent future root uplift of paths, and drought tolerant, heavily native plants to better reflect our environment. The approximately half acre park also provides access to the San Rafael Sanitary District’s pump #24, so a vehicle path is included as part of the design.
As a condition of the original 1971 San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (SFBCDC) permit, the curb running along the entire park will become a no parking zone in order to provide a dedicated bike lane. This parking/bike lane change will become effective as soon as construction is complete and the park reopens.
In collaboration with the City of San Rafael, the County of Marin is looking into possible future modifications and improvements along this stretch of roadway. This is in the early stages of project development and would likely include bike lane improvements and traffic flow changes, pedestrian crossing and signage modifications, as well as assessing on-street parking along the corridor. We anticipate introducing concepts to the community within the next few months and look forward to hearing community input on these possible improvements.
The Bayside Park permit approval will be included in the 4/15/2021 SFBCDC meeting. For more information on the commission meeting, please visit the SFBCDC website.
For additional information about the park project, please email dpwbaysidepark@marincounty.org.
Thank you,
Erin Riley (she/her)CAPITAL PLANNING &
SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER
415 473 2503 T