San Rafael presents biannual parks maintenance report; Pidgwick enhancements near completion

City of San Rafael public works staff updated the Park and Recreation Commission on Oct. 16 about biannual parks maintenance and current projects, including completed playground renovations and ongoing capital work.

Andrew Powell and other DPW staff reviewed recently completed projects: Boyd Memorial Park received a replacement playground (construction began August 2025 and reopened in September), and Peacock Gap Park completed a playground renovation with a ribbon cutting on Sept. 12. Powell highlighted active capital work at Pidgwick Park (an enhancement project funded partly by a 50/50 matching grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund), which reached substantial completion in August and includes all-weather turf fields, fitness equipment, a basketball court and new parking. Powell said outstanding items — a toddler playground area and restroom floodproofing — remain and are expected to be completed in early 2026.

Staff also reported a bench and picnic-table sponsorship program that focuses on replacing benches at end of life rather than expanding inventory, and described costs and a scholarship option for donors. "It's between $2,500 and $3,500 for a bench," staff said, adding the program covers equipment and maintenance for roughly 15 years and can accommodate plaques or scholarship-funded plaques on existing benches.

Other maintenance updates included Los Ranchitos Park restroom sewer-line repairs under investigation and replacement quotes being solicited, replacement of noisy basketball hoops at Rancho's Park, and seasonal redeployment of parks crews to assist streets divisions for winter storm preparations.

Staff encouraged residents to use the SeeClickFix tool to report maintenance issues, and said asset-management upgrades and reporting will help the city track recurring problems and plan future replacements.

The commission received the biannual report; no formal vote was required.