Jack Harrison

CARMICHAEL RECREATION & PARK DISTRICT

Over the past three years, the Carmichael Recreation and Park District has been able to complete a District master plan, four parks site master plans with cost estimates, as well as construction of Patriots Park. We are pleased to recommend the services of beals alliance, inc., an innovative landscape architectural firm that served as a consultant on Patriots Park and the Site Master Plan for Jan Drive Park.

Patriots Park was completed this year, thanks in large part to the team at beals alliance. They created a master plan in 2005 which transformed a difficult site into a cohesive and innovative design. In 2007, the experience of having a professional firm guide us through the process to the final design, documentation and permit stages was very productive. Construction bids came in below budget, allowing us to afford extras, such as shade covers for play equipment. Of course community approval is always the true proof of success. Over 500 community members attended the Patriots Park dedication on November 15, 2008. We received many positive comments from citizens, the news media and our County Supervisor, Susan Peters.

We are also pleased to report that the Master Plan for Jan Drive Park, one of our four remaining park sites, is completed and awaiting approval from the County Board of Supervisors. Once approved and adopted, it will be added to the funding queue for construction during the next three years. We selected beals alliance for this project because of their excellence in community outreach, facilitation and master planning-qualities they admirable demonstrated on the Patriots Park project.

Each of our four site master plan projects met with some form of neighborhood resistance. beals alliance’s approach to facilitating and managing public input inspired confidence among the neighbors and community.

My board and I were completely satisfied with beals alliance’s community process and creative design talent. We are confidently looking forward to the successful completion of the Jan Drive Park project in the near future. We highly recommend beals alliance to other agencies for consensus building, facilitation of public process park planning and design.