San Rafael’s Pickleweed Park upgrade slated for $4.2M grant

After more than a decade of planning, the proposed renovation of San Rafael’s Pickleweed Park has been selected for a $4.2 million boost.

The project, which includes an artificial turf playing field, a new basketball court and more, is one of 16 park projects selected by California State Parks for a federal grant. San Rafael is initiating an environmental study of the project, a requirement before the National Parks Service approves the funds.

“We’re really excited that we’re able to get this funding,” said Catherine Quffa, San Rafael’s library and recreation director. “This is a huge project for the community that we know has been a priority for a long time.”

The park is adjacent to the Albert J. Boro Community Center at 50 Canal St. One of the driving forces behind the project was the need to upgrade the heavily-used playing fields that are closed for six months out of the year for maintenance.

The city has tried to secure grant funding in the past, Quffa said. The city applied for funds in 2010, 2011, 2016 and 2021, without success.

“We’ve wanted to improve these fields so they are year-round use for a long time,” Mayor Kate Colin said. “The funding will enable us to start in this next step of the project that will really serve the residents as well as the greater Canal community.”

After a robust community outreach effort in 2020, city planners discovered that residents want other upgrades as well.

The entire wish list for the project includes new fitness equipment, a new play structure for children under 5, a gazebo, a mural, backstops for baseball fields, shaded seating, bathroom upgrades, more lights, security cameras, landscaping and added parking.

April Miller, director of public works, said the grant will also enable the city to fine-tune the project design.

“Without this grant, we had committed to do at least the fields,” Miller said, adding that the cost for the fields would be about $5 million. “Now, once we we’ve completed the remaining design, it will be ready to implement when we receive the funds.”

The project total is estimated to be just over $9 million, up from an $8 million estimate earlier this year. The city will continue to seek other grant opportunities, officials said.

Aaron Burnett, director of policy and civic engagement at Canal Alliance, a nonprofit serving Marin’s immigrant community, said Pickleweed Park and the adjacent community center are the only major facilities for outdoor extracurricular activities in the Canal area, a neighborhood with more than 12,000 residents.

Burnett said the park has been at capacity for years, and the planned improvements will help increase the volume, and open new opportunities for after-school programs and organized outdoor recreation.

“Canal Alliance foresees this project as being a major boon to the physical and mental health of Canal residents,” Burnett said. “We believe every family and child in Marin deserves equitable access to quality outdoor recreation.”

The grant money is coming from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The grant cycle had $45 million available.

The environmental review and final design are expected to take about a year. The National Park Service is expected to give final approval for the funding by the fall of 2023.