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Council directs staff to pursue Riverview parcel for park development, keeps Artesia pocket-park option under review
Summary
City staff were asked to prioritize planning and grant pursuit for the Riverview/Andy’s Nursery parcel for a new park with controlled access and staffing; a small Artesia Boulevard parcel remains under consideration but not prioritized for current grant opportunities.
The Bellflower City Council on Monday gave staff direction to prioritize conceptual planning and pursue grant funding for the larger Riverview (Andy’s Nursery) parcel adjacent to Riverview Park, while leaving an 11,000-square-foot Artesia Boulevard parcel on hold for future consideration.
Parks and projects staffer PJ Milano told the council the Artesia parcel is small — roughly 11,000 square feet — and would require a zone change and creative, space-efficient design if developed as a pocket park. Milano presented a conceptual rendering showing passive, pedestrian-oriented features and said the parcel would not include parking; traffic/engineering and lot-depth limitations would require further study.
Milano described the Riverview/Andy’s Nursery site as approximately 2.5 acres, partially landlocked, with an existing trail connection to Riverview Park and proximate Edison right-of-way. The parcel, she said, is better suited to larger-scale park uses, including modular staff buildings, controlled access, programmed courts (for example, a court-sports complex), and grant-funded amenities. Milano said the city already has some county planning funds available that could be used to advance design to the 60% level and that the larger site scores better for competitive regional grants.
Council members discussed public-safety and maintenance risks associated with small pocket parks, citing recent problems at other small parks in the city. Council member Victor Sanchez and others said new parks should be designed with lighting, cameras and gating where appropriate, and with green-screening so fencing does not present a “prison-like” appearance. Council member Dan Coops and Mayor Pro Tem Sonny Santinez both supported pursuing the larger Riverview option because it offers potential for staffed, programmed space and better grant competitiveness.
Council did not take a formal roll-call vote on a resolution for either parcel. Instead, staff reported they will move forward with grant-writing and conceptual planning focused on the Riverview parcel while keeping Artesia as a potential future project; councilmembers indicated consensus for that prioritization.
Milano noted the city holds approximately $200,000 in TAP-design funds that could be applied to planning work; staff said the current grant round favors the Riverview site’s connectivity and regional-destination potential, so Artesia is not viable for the immediate funding opportunity but could be revisited later.
Councilmembers also suggested integrating enforcement and public-safety planning up front to reduce the risk of future misuse. Council directed staff to return with grant application timelines, design concepts and community-outreach plans if grant opportunities advance.
