On Tuesday, Signal Hill City Council approved a resolution recognizing the completion of Signal Hill Park upgrades that include installing new turf and removing a non-operational bathroom in the park.
Residents can use the new turf along the southeast corner of 21st Street adjacent to Spud Field. Public Works Contracts Manager Patrick Kelley said the turf was made for leisure activities.
The Parks and Recreation Commission recommended the demolition of a nearby non-operational Spud Field restroom facility on the southwest side of Signal Hill Park due to “long-standing nuisance issues,” litter accumulation, vandalism, and general disrepair.
The project to upgrade features of Signal Hill park is part of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, a document that guides the upgrade of park facilities and new park spaces.
Park improvements also include minor drainage features, including a new irrigation system.
In 2019, the City approved an agreement to purchase residential properties at 1905-1907 E. 21st St., a third of an acre located along the southern border of Signal Hill Park.
The City purchased the land with the intent to demolish the properties and regrade the site to further the goals of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, Public Works Contract Manager Patrick Kelly said.
The master plan identified the need to upgrade and enlarge Signal Hill Park to provide additional recreational open space.
Following the approval of the purchase, staff were instructed to develop a budget for the demolition of the existing structures on the property.
Due to its proximity to the 1905-1907 E. 21st St. site and the similar nature of work, the restroom demolition was included in the scope of the two-home demolition project. After it was removed, workers constructed a new sidewalk and ADA access ramp with truncated domes, asphalt paving and parking striping lines.
On Oct. 12, 2021, the Signal Hill City Council authorized the execution of a Public Works agreement with Green Giant to complete the project’s demolition.
On June 13, 2022, Green Giant completed the work in conformance with the plans and specifications detailed in the contract.
The total cost of construction was $349,151, included in the fiscal year budget 2021-22 capital improvement program budget.
The project was funded by the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and park development funds totaling $34,496.31.
Public Works Director Thomas Bekele said that the turf is made with a mix of tiffany teff and ryegrass for water conservation and the merging of the native grass.
“We typically use natural turf on our parks,” Bekele said. “We don’t have to water that area as much, so we did take conservation efforts into play when we placed that turf.”
Deputy City Manager Scott Charney added that the plans were assessed by the designer to comply with the current requirements for water conservation, “so it met our stringent standards.”
The 10-acre Signal Hill Park at 2175 Cherry Ave. is located next to the Signal Hill Public Library and City Hall. It features a baseball diamond, basketball courts, playground, barbecue area, restrooms and community center.
