Council accepts draft Terralinda Park and Community Center enhancement plan after broad community outreach

San Rafael councilmembers on March 17 accepted a draft enhancement plan for Terralinda Park and Community Center after reviewing community outreach results and three conceptual designs.

Parks staff and consultants reported roughly 900 public participants across surveys and events. Consultants said respondents prioritized play, shade, flexible gathering spaces and an indoor‑outdoor relationship with the community center. The team presented three concepts: a single‑story replacement center, a larger single‑story L‑shaped center, and a two‑story option that places a branch library on the second floor. Public preference favored the two‑story concept.

The draft preferred plan preserves and enlarges the playground and lawn, adds a central plaza with a half basketball court and flexible step seating, creates a reservable picnic area under existing trees, and proposes an approximately 11,500‑square‑foot two‑story community center with multipurpose rooms, a ceramics/fine‑arts studio and an indoor‑outdoor arts yard; a second‑floor library is optional depending on funding.

Councilmembers emphasized phasing and costs; park staff said cost estimates and funding strategies (Measure A, development impact fees and other grants) will be developed during the next design phase and that phasing will prioritize shorter‑term park amenity improvements (playground and lawn) that benefit the community early. Staff also confirmed reclaimed (purple) water serves on‑site irrigation, which affects choices about lawn areas.

The council voted to accept the report and encouraged staff to continue outreach and return with refined cost estimates, phasing and funding options.