MENDOCINO Co., 7/17/24 – The proposed design concepts for the rehabilitation of Gualala’s Bower Park have been released, and now the County of Mendocino Facilities & Fleet Department is soliciting public feedback regarding the park redesign.
The two proposed designs include the addition of a pickleball court, a wildlife viewing area at the pond, new furniture and picnic areas, a new outdoor fitness area and new play structures for children. The basketball court, tennis court and baseball field, the latter where the Coast Youth Little League plays, will remain intact with upgrades. Both proposals were designed by Integra Planning + Landscape Architecture, a Santa Rosa-based design firm.
The two designs are as follows:
The designs were based on feedback that the county collected during a community workshop in April, followed by a survey with local students in grades K-12 to solicit feedback on what youth want to see in the park. The project, which is funded with $2.2 million procured by State Assemblymember Jim Wood in partnership with the county, also includes improving accessibility, removing hazardous trees, fire and fuel mitigation, and the installation of electricity.
Bower Park has a long history as a place for families and friends to gather in the Gualala area.
The 10 acres of parkland was donated in 1974 by John Bower. The park is centered around a duck pond, which was originally meant to be a holding pond for a proposed 50-acre golf course, which never came to fruition. Certain parts of the park were closed in summer 2022 due to safety concerns.
The county is requesting public feedback through a survey that walks respondents through the conceptual site plans. The collected feedback will help select the preferred park design, which will then be presented to the county for final approval and implementation.
The survey is available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/H8CZ25J
Where is the public swimming pool? Though that was in the future upgrades..?
Great park upgrades, and will improve the existing facilities.