[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6556172,"mediaKeyId","3321231-64e6f1c0fb25c737f4737a4709e930c0","parentId",3321231,"title","Parks commission recommends ‘Little Big House’ public art for Bishop Ranch Heritage Park","audioSeconds",3610,"startMs",1109000,"endMs",4719000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3321231-64e6f1c0fb25c737f4737a4709e930c0&start=1109&end=4719","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3321231-64e6f1c0fb25c737f4737a4709e930c0/thumbnail_1109000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6556172/San-Ramon-City/Contra-Costa-County/California/Parks-commission-recommends-Little-Big-House-public-art-for-Bishop-Ranch-Heritage-Park","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6556172-78603d0de3a5689407ea8fd32d6108fe/orig.mp4?Expires=1770994141&Signature=ZCBVqPFoyLJqJ3oeqq2-gY54FBhuZKoBC7eZRPJa2L4T5klItudsqx7bjTuhaGhVrKNtnDum172PwFBuoxrqqx0M429OD-5iLBzL5hgB~5xMheJJuoVKznJf2ND0ZXckS8sqCFiMFv7xhSi73RJ~EGunv8XIvRPkiiHzfp7o571-LREiklEVtFkBprBKRT6wQTrPXi4kHf7r7bwaP5wlbqZndB6qONMKG8Je4CceCsid8NfW8ZLPtyH8rFjX-NFfKLN8Je6yhT0-qFddfUnWCUUER35hbwKriIU3rJfTxZJNflQwllh7Q75hV5~3vmfXIAqw8x6~Q6VDn7YouEN8~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-15T16:56:46Z","article","The City of San Ramon Parks and Community Services Commission on May 14 voted to recommend that the Planning Commission consider approval of a public art piece titled “Little Big House” for the privately owned Heritage Park at 6141 Bollinger Canyon Road.

The recommendation followed a presentation by Dorka Kain of Kain + Art and a site-specific proposal from Sunset Development and artist team R & R Studios (Roberto Bahar and Rosario Marquette). The commission’s motion to forward the artwork proposal to the Planning Commission passed by a voice tally of four yes, two no and one absent.

Kain described the work as a contemporary folly designed for neighborhood use. “Little Big House” is a painted-steel structure intended to create shaded seating and a playful focal point near the picnic area and playground, with sightlines toward the Iron Horse Trail and the adjacent Belmont Village senior residence. The artist team proposed a modular steel structure with a textured, non-slip metal floor, rounded edges for safety, and a Tenemic (architectural) paint finish the team said is UV- and corrosion-resistant and is easy to touch up if scratched. Kain said the benches inside the structure would be at ADA-compliant heights (about 18 inches).

Why it matters: the parcel is private but the park and artwork would be privately owned and maintained; the city will rely on recorded property maintenance obligations to ensure long-term upkeep. Commissioners pressed for clarity on heat, maintenance and long-term responsibility if the developer sells the property.

Discussion highlights

- Material and heat: Commissioner Osment asked, “Does the material get hot?” Kain replied the paint is solar-reflective and the artist team reported no known heat issues in other hot-weather installations; the paint’s thermal performance was presented as suitable for the site.

- Slip resistance and safety: The artist said the metal floor will have a non-slip coating commonly used on exterior metal stair treads and that all corners and openings would be rounded to reduce risk of injury.

- Color and aesthetics: Several commissioners — including Commissioner Levy and Vice Chair Breen — expressed reservations about the proposed red-and-yellow palette. Levy said the combination “does not work for me” and asked if yellow could be made more prominent; others urged additional color review in situ. Staff and the artist team said they had discussed multiple color options with the Arts Advisory Committee and had muted the gloss and adjusted tones following that feedback. Staff said the team plans to view and confirm final color samples on site before fabrication.

- Placement and purpose: Some commissioners questioned whether the picnic area adjacent to senior housing was the best location for a playful “house” folly. Supporters said the piece was intentionally designed to foster intergenerational use — to enable seniors and children who use the nearby playground to interact — and to provide shade and seating where residents identified a need.

- Ownership and maintenance: Staff explained the park is a privately owned public open space created under the CityWalk Bishop Ranch approvals. Sunset Development is the property owner and will be responsible for maintenance under recorded property maintenance obligations and the development agreement; staff said a property maintenance agreement would be recorded on title and would transfer to successors in interest.

Formal action

- Motion (summary): Recommend approval of the “Little Big House” public art proposal as presented and forward the recommendation to the Planning Commission for final review and action (mover/second: not specified in the transcript).
- Vote: 4 yes, 2 no, 1 absent. Outcome: motion passed and will be forwarded to the Planning Commission.

What’s next

The Parks Commission’s recommendation will be packaged with the project record and presented to the Planning Commission, which has final approval authority over the art piece as part of the park project. Staff said the artwork will require stamped structural drawings and building permits; final color samples will be reviewed on site before fabrication.

Ending

The artists described the work as intentionally neighborhood-scaled and participatory: a durable painted steel “folly” meant to create memories for nearby residents and trail users. The Planning Commission will receive the Parks Commission’s recommendation at a future meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Parks and Community Services Commission Meeting 5/14/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The City of San Ramon Parks and Community Services Commission on May 14 voted to recommend that the Planning Commission consider approval of a public art piece titled “Little Big House” for the privately owned Heritage Park at 6141 Bollinger Canyon Road.","taxTitle","San Ramon City, Contra Costa County, California","taxId",4548,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6556161,"Teen Council forwards annual report to city council after year of outreach and programs",1274,6201000,7475000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3321231-64e6f1c0fb25c737f4737a4709e930c0&start=6201&end=7475","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3321231-64e6f1c0fb25c737f4737a4709e930c0/thumbnail_6201000.jpg","/articles/6556161/San-Ramon-City/Contra-Costa-County/California/Teen-Council-forwards-annual-report-to-city-council-after-year-of-outreach-and-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6556161-c7b742f0ac5af7ff0cbd899b8e81facf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770994141&Signature=Q9XE~rNJzhOwQa4CU6Tn-RS71J0sOvr2PXzOEtiE5GC96SQkQHRJtPk9UExBy7pMyE87dDkDRutUHCDXq-qnmLVu--6XwG5hKDO6jox3cxuTiDLv0Y7j2uZ~91g1rYWJVoGVTsYrbnWchPVT9dLl~1OVj~fuPJ6UVIixst8zT83gQelM-~Dkd6evnbFNICCwdnHnn64nfZZsQhEqL0VRb4Xvknq3nPfkKa9gxcftGe5ozVanJ-Gp90OJNtwhWvLdc5FRTguMDCH3N6rkMPqbN~HBiOvcmBWZSWnkpHaICmVjJjfaMqg0qbeOv~1RpHhuSJR~uecRMi8ZoRTihWBNaQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Parks and Community Services Commission on May 14 received and approved the Teen Council’s 2024–25 annual report and agreed to forward it to the City Council.

Daneshka (Tanishka) Chawla, Teen Council chair, presented a summary of the council’s year: 17 members and two alternates represented local high schools and the council ran five ad hoc committees on wellness, citizenship awards, senior technology, the “wishtree” digital prompts and an ambassador program. Activities this year included senior tech days at the El Cerrito senior center (four sessions), participation in community volunteer events, outreach at school wellness fairs and the selection of an Outstanding Teen Citizenship Award recipient.

Why it matters: the Teen Council is an official advisory body that interfaces with city staff and the Parks Commission to advise on teen programming and engagement. The group provided a set of recommended goals for 2025–26 that emphasize teen wellness, outreach, stronger ambassador ties to middle schools, expansion of senior tech programming and strengthened social media outreach.

Highlights from the report

- Senior Tech Days: four events that paired teen volunteers with seniors on basic device support and online safety. Council members said the program built intergenerational connections and the council plans additional workshop topics in 2025–26.

- Outstanding Teen Citizenship Award: the council reviewed 11 nominations and selected Kenneth Sarap (Dougherty Valley High School) for community work distributing books to underserved neighborhoods.

- Ambassador program: expanded outreach presence across multiple schools and middle‑school engagement; the council recommends closer integration of ambassadors into ad hoc committees next year.

Commission action

Commissioners praised the council’s work and its growing scope. Commissioner Osler and others suggested deeper ties with local foundations and with city departments (suggested guest presentations and site visits) to broaden teens’ exposure to civic operations. The commission moved to approve the Teen Council annual report and forward it to the City Council for consideration; the motion was seconded and approved (motion details: mover/second not specified in the transcript).

Ending

The commission recognized Chair Chawla and graduating Teen Council members. The Teen Council recommended continuing and expanding programming in 2025–26, and staff will forward the annual report to the City Council.","The Teen Council presented its 2024–25 annual report outlining volunteer activities, senior tech days, the ambassador program and recommended goals for 2025–26; the Parks Commission approved forwarding the report to the City Council for consideration.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6556167,"Design Workshop outlines Trails Master Plan update; public engagement phase set for May–July",3405,2798000,6203000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3321231-64e6f1c0fb25c737f4737a4709e930c0&start=2798&end=6203","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3321231-64e6f1c0fb25c737f4737a4709e930c0/thumbnail_2798000.jpg","/articles/6556167/San-Ramon-City/Contra-Costa-County/California/Design-Workshop-outlines-Trails-Master-Plan-update-public-engagement-phase-set-for-MayJuly","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6556167-270546fc5ea1c956d6b0147c3570f13c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770994141&Signature=oG7ID6rT8a-MjgKo65lXSrlncKUF-DAH90jHT0XfXEKouhC~KQ3HlWLAwZ7U~QR7UFG0DA4uHq1yvQ0fM2DQhExgV4E9dagYDVUnMtiVscc9Xwqjl5m5HSAan3KbjWAv85ARK6pop79kpzwp6SATcad-DrqULyL5W~OlS6h5-AOsByrhwqMHwgsyq0yyd9ZxdMDZzqJR-Am2nmyqnvEbHBfRVz46TTFhrLIwYjezV9CHL-akB~Gba6Zw~H0XPYKiPmBDoPdRwTZphycuW9F~CD-Kon9sf3Jxh~3Z5lJMZ7k5K5h1kJ-AVZobzc8WFFHxn66O5oCJTPnvGJVkiYrCnA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Design Workshop presented an update on plans to create a San Ramon Trails Master Plan at the Parks and Community Services Commission meeting on May 14. The presentation was informational: the consultant described the project scope, preliminary findings and a public engagement schedule and asked the commission for feedback.

Design Workshop principal Ben Fish summarized the team’s early assessment: the city’s off‑street trails are an “inherited system of old ranch roads” with many steep grades that limit accessibility and comfort for many users. The study team said a backbone network exists — including the Iron Horse Trail and expanses of open space — but that many existing off‑road alignments exceed comfortable trail gradients and lack loops, signage and consistent wayfinding.

Public engagement and schedule

The consultant proposed a public survey to launch in late May and run through July, combined with in‑field outreach at summer events (concerts, runs and the Art & Wind Festival) and coordinated stakeholder engagement with East Bay Regional Parks, neighboring cities (Danville, Dublin) and local community groups. Preliminary recommendations and a draft plan are planned later this summer, with a final master plan targeted for October.

Key technical points

- Slope and design constraints: several of the most used trails feature sustained grades above 10 percent; consultant maps showed grade profiles and suggested opportunities to realign or reroute sections to achieve more gradual gradients.

- Use patterns: user‑generated heat maps show that bicyclists concentrate on streets and paved corridors while pedestrians venture more into the open‑space singletrack; the consultant said design choices should reduce conflicts by favoring multi‑use alignments in some places and separate facilities in others only where appropriate.

- Accessibility: the team said it will evaluate accessible‑trail guidelines, national/state standards and local conditions to identify specific accessible loops and trailheads with firm, stable surfaces where feasible.

- Trailheads and parking: the scope includes assessing trailhead capacity and staging-area parking where demand exists.

Why it matters

Commissioners and staff emphasized the plan’s role as an implementation roadmap: recommended alignments, cost estimates, maintenance guidelines, prioritization and funding strategies will help the city and external partners coordinate future trail projects. Funding and long‑term maintenance were identified as core challenges to be addressed through the plan and stakeholder coordination.

Next steps

Design Workshop will finalize the public survey and outreach plan, begin collecting community feedback in late May and prepare preliminary recommendations for commission review in summer 2025. The consultant stressed that the final plan will prioritize projects, refine cost estimates and include implementation and maintenance guidance.

Ending

The presentation was for information only; commissioners offered clarifying questions and asked staff to ensure robust, inclusive public outreach that reaches non‑digital audiences and community‑based organizations.","Consultant Design Workshop presented an update on the San Ramon Trails Master Plan, describing an inherited network of steep, ranch‑road trails and a program of community outreach, heat‑map analysis, and draft recommendations; the presentation was informational and required no commission action.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parks commission recommends ‘Little Big House’ public art for Bishop Ranch Heritage Park

Teen Council forwards annual report to city council after year of outreach and programs

Design Workshop outlines Trails Master Plan update; public engagement phase set for May–July