Newark reviews proposed CIP amendments for parks, two fire stations and Thornton Avenue improvements

Newark City Council held a special workshop to solicit council feedback on proposed amendments to the city’s 2024–2026 capital improvement plan, including playground replacements at multiple parks, a new all‑abilities play area at Newark Community Park, preliminary planning for replacement of two city‑owned fire stations and several street and streetscape projects along Thornton Avenue and elsewhere.

City Manager Banoon opened the meeting, saying, “The purpose of tonight's work session is to solicit feedback from the council on a proposed amendment to the existing CIP.” City Engineer Mickey Sabota told the council the proposals are intended to reinstate projects that could not be reapproved in 2024 because of recusals and absences and to accelerate a few high‑priority items staff believes can be completed before the end of the current fiscal year.

The most immediate park proposals are playground replacements at Birch Grove, Jerry River/Ash Street and Mirabeau Park (three of four parks shown in the presentation) with the three projects combined at about $3,700,000. Sabota said those are “priority 1 projects” identified by the parks master plan after safety inspections and community outreach. Separately, staff presented a fourth parks project: an all‑abilities play area at Newark Community Park estimated at about $2,600,000; staff said that site was selected for existing programming and space and potential future expansion.

Staff proposed using park impact fees as the primary funding source for the parks work; Sabota said the park impact fee account currently has a balance of around $10,000,000 and that, after funding the four play projects, an estimated $3,500,000 would remain.

On facilities, staff asked the council to authorize preliminary planning funds for two city‑owned fire stations the facilities master plan identified as high‑priority: Fire Station 27 (Cherry and Mowery Avenue) and Fire Station 29 (Russian Drive at Newark Boulevard). Sabota said…