Quick Links
What are capital projects?
Capital projects are significant, long-term investments aimed at enhancing the infrastructure and facilities within parks and recreation areas. These projects often involve the construction of new structures, extensive renovations, or major upgrades to existing amenities. By focusing on the development of public spaces such as community centers, playgrounds, sports facilities, and open areas, capital projects play a crucial role in improving the quality of life for residents and visitors.
These efforts not only increase the functionality and accessibility of recreational spaces but also contribute to the overall aesthetic and environmental sustainability of the community. Capital projects are typically funded through a combination of public funds, grants, and private investments, and their impacts are felt for years to come as they create lasting spaces for community engagement, recreation, and outdoor enjoyment.
Children’s Park Renovation Project
IVRPD selected Children’s Park based on the grant criteria to improve the health and quality of life for intergenerational families living in in Isla Vista whom for years have not been fully represented in community planning processes as such. From October 2020 – March 2021, 5 community planning meetings offered in both English and Spanish were hosted in-person and via Zoom. IVRPD gathered feedback on park amenities, design features, and themes. After going out to RFP, IVRPD awarded a contract to Pacific Coast Land Design to develop a conceptual park design and support additional community engagement. The final concept design was presented to the Isla Vista Recreation & Park District Board of Directors for approval on March 4th, 2021. Improvements in the park design include two nature-themed playgrounds, ADA-accessible pathways, an amphitheater for workshops and performances, a new standalone restroom, an educational demonstration garden, a renovated recreation building for expanding workshop programs and services for students and youth alike.
Pardall Gardens Renovation Project
Pardall Gardens (6514 Pardall Road) is a public park in downtown Isla Vista within the business corridor of Pardall Road near the bike tunnel that connects Isla Vista to UC Santa Barbara. Pardall Gardens is a south-facing, approximately 720 square foot lot of unirrigated parkland that currently lacks amenities, infrastructure, or “park identity”. Isla Vista Recreation & Park District (IVRPD) conducted a 3-month survey from May to July 2021, known as the “Measure O Survey”, to establish a priority list of parks and amenities based on public input. On August 12, 2021, the IVRPD Board of Directors adopted a project list that ranked Pardall Gardens as the number one priority site for performing park renovations.
IVRPD partnered with Pacific Coast Land Design (PCLD), a landscape architect firm based in Ventura, CA, to develop a conceptual site plan based on continuous and ongoing engagement with the Isla Vista community. IVRPD and PCLD launched its community outreach plan on November 2, 2021 with a stakeholder meeting that brought local business owners together to discuss proposed changes to Pardall Gardens, followed by a community-wide meeting held on November 10th, 2021 open to the public. Onsite voting boards installed at Pardall from November 11th – 16th invited park goers and passersby to vote on their favorite park elements and choose from 3 primary design concepts. These boards were tremendously popular and helped supplement an online survey that gathered 108 total votes.
Voters selected the “Peaceful Pardall” design theme that features decomposed granite walkways, a wooden deck, shade structure, tree and xeriscape planting, benches, picnic tables, bar-top seating, lighting, and a gathering area known as the “paver plaza”. This capital improvement project is almost entirely grant-funded by the RIRE and Per Capita grants. Project must be completed by the deadline of June 29, 2028.
