THE VALUE OF INVESTMENT
“Do something today that your future self will thank you for.” Anonymous
Foster City’s unique brand and identity is the open park space connected by the water lagoon. In Foster City, our community creates social connections and life experiences in our park system. Leo Ryan Park, inclusive of the Recreation Center, the VIBE Teen Center, tennis, bocce and pickle ball courts, a skate park, and most prominently, the central lagoon, is the heart of our City; it is part of the fabric of our community.
On April 16th, the City Council voted to partner with Burks Toma Architects, allocating $300,000 to develop conceptual design plans of a multi-use facility and the adjoining Leo Ryan Park. The intent of undergoing this conceptual design process is to consciously and thoughtfully preserve what this community values so dearly, which is open public space to gather and create opportunities for building social connections and having culturally diverse experiences.
Understanding the challenges related to traffic, there is also an interest to invest in the community by creating a dynamic facility and public amenity that will offer something to keep our residents in town, as well as provide opportunity for our business community to take advantage of the site amenities (after work), which might offset commute time back to their homes.
I am excited to embark on this process to provide a community amenity through a multi-use facility and park enhancements that will be a place WE all can enjoy.
Our William E. Walker Recreation Center opened in 1974. It is a hub of activity from dance classes to pottery making to social events and much more. The location serves as a central amenity in Foster City’s “crown jewel” Leo J. Ryan Park. Currently, the Recreation Center and Leo Ryan Park are separate and distinct.
One of the goals of this project is to explore opportunities for better integrating the facility with the park and creating a special event venue that is flexible and adaptable and provides a seamless transition from interior spaces to exterior spaces.
The vision is to identify opportunities of the site to enhance the facility’s and park’s ability to provide a variety of recreational and respite options and foster a sense of place where anybody can find something to do.
Parks and Recreation Director Jennifer Liu said there’s “major interest” in a conceptual design that encompasses the entire park while preserving existing open space.
How true this is.
Foster City is not what it was back in 1974, and that my friends, is ok. Change is good, for if we do not change, we fail as a community and I fail as your elected official.
Our community needs are evolving day-to-day, month-to-month and year-to-year. Similarly, parks and recreation services are constantly evolving, and in order to stay relevant and provide opportunities to enhance quality of life, being able to adjust to meet community needs and interests is essential.
The idea of future planning should be exciting times for us all. Planning for future generations, as T. Jack Foster did for us today.
Here is my question to all of you –
Are you just thinking about today? Or like me, are you thinking about the today AND the future?
