Historic Design Review Commission approves Woodland Lake Park splash pad with stipulations and shade request

The Historic Design Review Commission on April 2 approved a certificate of appropriateness for a new splash pad at Woodland Lake Park (Case No. 2020561), following a neighborhood voicemail urging more shade.

The Monticello Park Neighborhood Association voiced support for the project and asked the commission to consider additional shade near the pool side of the splash pad. "We are thankful for the placement of the splash pad in its proposed location… However, we respectfully request in the future that additional shade be considered, for the splash pad specifically on the pool side," said Bianca Maldonado, president of the Monticello Park Neighborhood Association, in a recorded public comment played for the commission.

The recommendation presented to the commission included the proposed location and design details. Nathan Bettis, an architect with Ford, Powell & Carson, told commissioners the design intentionally avoids a formal fence in favor of low seat walls along the east-southeast edge so parents can sit and supervise. Bettis said the splash pad will be adjacent to the existing restroom facility and that posted hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. "We don't have a formal fence…and then also, friendliness. You know, how does this feel? Does this feel like a not having to feel like a fortress? So our decision…we have these low seat walls, on the edges," Bettis said.

Commissioners raised concerns about after-hours misuse. Bettis acknowledged the difficulty of securing the area because of the adjacent restroom but said staff and designers have discussed adding shade structures on the opposite end of the splash pad to provide bounding shade on both sides; he described the existing mature elm tree that provides morning to early-afternoon shade on the southeast side and said additional shade structures are a "perfectly reasonable request."

The commission voted to approve the item as submitted. Roll-call votes on the motion were recorded as: Castillo — Aye; Savino — Aye; Velasquez — Aye; Mazuca — Aye; Kivada — Aye; Vasquez — Aye; Cervantes — Yes; Fetzer — Aye; Gibbs (Chair) — Aye. The motion carried.

Staff noted that certificates of appropriateness will be emailed to applicants within 10 days and that permits must be obtained before starting any work.