Parks commission asks council to add Hat McGee Park shade structure to 2026—6/27 CIP

The Danville Parks, Recreation and Art Commission voted on Feb. 11 to recommend that the Town Council include a proposed shade structure for Hat McGee Ranch Park in the FY 2026—6/27 capital improvement program.

Assistant Town Manager Dave Castile told commissioners the prefabricated steel gable structure measures about 33 by 28 feet with a 17-foot peak and is designed as an open-air shelter. Cost estimates provided in the plans range from roughly $260,000 to $285,000; under the town—county cost-sharing arrangement for Hat McGee Ranch Park, Castile said the town—s portion would be about $130,000 to $145,000. He also said the project team included two bid alternates: converting the base from decomposed granite to concrete (about +$18,000) and adding electrical outlets (about +$4,000).

"Everything has gone very well, and the Danville South Playground is set to open next Friday," Castile told the commission in his opening remarks. He reviewed the project—s history, saying the Alamo Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) first requested a replacement feature after a barn building was removed and that a feasibility study and conceptual designs were completed and reviewed by the commission in 2024.

Commissioners pressed staff on schedule, revenue and maintenance. Commissioner Kevin Donovan and others asked staff to estimate rental revenue if the town pursued an active rental program; Castile said staff would produce revenue projections for inclusion in the CIP request. Several members noted other large, near-term projects in the CIP (including the Town Green pavilion and MakerSpace, the Diablo Road Trail and LED lighting conversions) and questioned whether staff bandwidth and prioritization might delay construction even if the project is included in the 2026—6/27 CIP.

Commissioner Adam Falcon raised concerns about the proposed location——noting potential disturbance to the roots of a mature sycamore near the site: "I'm very passionate about protecting especially the older, more developed trees, and sycamores grow slowly," Falcon said. Castile acknowledged tree-protection and long-lead material issues and said additional specifications and bidding steps would follow before construction.

After discussion, Commissioner Charlie Neary moved to place the Hat McGee shade-structure project into the town—s FY 2026—6/27 CIP request, including the concrete and electrical alternates and asking staff to attach revenue estimates to the submission; Commissioner Lindsey seconded the motion. The commission approved the motion, and the chair recorded the motion as passed (meeting remarks describe the final vote as unanimous). Castile noted that the council would review all CIP proposals during its May study sessions and make final budget determinations in June.

Next steps: staff will prepare a CIP submittal with a cost figure that reflects the chosen alternates and include revenue estimates as requested; commissioners and staff indicated additional specification and bidding work would be required before the project could be advertised for construction.