Monday’s meeting on the fate of Duck Pond Park was interesting. Here is what I remember…

• The designers were looking for resident and committee input and have the plans finalized for the Community Update this April.
• The park is planned to be passive and complement the children’s park (Frog Pad Park) and the future playing fields (Sycamore Park) across the street.
• The configuration of the school site (if any) has not been determined, but resulting traffic patterns are being considered in the placement of the driveway entrance.
• The plan is to keep most of the Eucalyptus trees, but those lower on the slope and those that pose risk may need to be removed.
• The Queen Anne — currently cut in half and staged at the end of Willet Street — is planned to be the main building on the site.
• The use of the building has still not been finalized, but there are plans that the space may be used for evening meetings (HOAs, etc.). The required number of parking spaces will be based on the potential use.
• The building will have a working restroom, but there will be no outdoor restroom when the facility is closed.
• A resident suggested installing solar panels on the roof of the building, and to utilize solar-powered lighting on the grounds.
• I suggested chess tables in addition to the bocce courts.
• The final location of the horseshoe pits has not been decided.
• Low maintenance and drought-resistant plants are priorities.
• There will be muted site or ambient lighting.
• The plan is to break ground in the next fiscal year which starts in July.

Unrelated but also gleamed from the meeting…

• The dog park is planned to begin construction this fiscal year.
• There is a community garden planned for Ohlone Park.