Tamarisk, Rimgate Park Construction Plans Approved

Disagreement about a Tamarisk Park gate didn't dissuade the City Council from moving forward with proposed renovations for that park and Rimgate Park.

The council voted at a Tuesday evening meeting to approve the improvements and authorize staff to solicit bids on the construction contracts for both parks.

Under the scheduled renovations, a gate at Tamarisk Park would be removed.

Some residents of the neighborhood near Tamarisk Park, however, would prefer that it instead remain in its current position and be locked on a nightly basis, according to Councilwoman Marcia Rudolph.

When Tamarisk Park belonged to the nearby Homeowners Association, the gate was shut regularly, Rudolph said at Tuesday's meeting. But since its transfer to city ownership, it has been left open.

Rudolph said that some residents believe the open gate invites ne'er-do-wells to spend time in the ostensibly-closed park after dark.

"Evidently, there are people coming in after hours who are acting inappropriately," she said.

But there has been no noticeable increase in calls for service from that park, sheriff's Lt. Pat Higa said.

At the meeting, Rudolph argued that city staffers should meet with residents to find a solution to their request.

City staffers said that they have already met multiple times with area residents, and that if the city takes on responsibility for the gate it could face liability issues.

If the gate is to remain and be used by the Tamarisk Park neighborhood, a signed agreement must indemnify the city from any liability, Mayor Kathryn McCullough said repeatedly.

Rudolph did not get consensus from her colleagues to direct staff to meet once again with area residents, but thanked the the council for having the gate debate.

Under the improvement plans, each park will get upgrades as follows:

Tamarisk Park

• New baseball diamond with dugouts and bleachers 
• ADA accessible entrance ramps 
• New playground equipment and shade sails 
• Decomposed granite walkway with low-level perimeter lighting 
• Landscape improvements 
• Pre-fabricated restroom building 
• Park monument sign 

Rimgate Park

• New playground equipment and shade sails 
• Outdoor exercise equipment
• Enhanced walkway lighting
• New pre-fabricated restroom

The bids also include a park momument sign for Peachwood Park and new bleachers for Heroes Park.

The proposed improvements at Rimgate and Tamarisk parks are the final two projects on the city’s five-year plan for park and playground improvements, approved by the City Council in 2007. Construction is scheduled to begin in August.