The Pickleweed Park Enhancement Project has been a community priority for over 15 years. Since 2010, the City has applied for funding multiple times and conducted extensive community outreach to refine the proposed enhancements. In 2020, the City held various community events, in partnership with the Canal Alliance and the Multicultural Center of Marin, to gather input on desired amenities. Feedback was also collected through two food distribution events and a youth event, as well as an online survey completed by 294 community members. The results informed the project's conceptual plans, which were further refined through additional community events in 2022.
In 2022, the City was awarded a $4.24M National Park Service Land and Water Conservation Fund grant, creating a path forward for the project, which aims to ensure that Pickleweed Park remains a welcoming and inclusive space for all. In Winter 2022, the City hired the design firm Gates + Associates to develop construction documents based on the feedback received during initial community outreach. In March 2023, an online survey was launched to gather opinions on equipment styles, complemented by two pop-up events during Spring Egg Hunts, engaging over 280 community members. The community’s preferences have been integrated into the final design.
On April 5, 2023, a project update was presented to the Pickleweed Advisory Committee, followed by a presentation to the Park and Recreation Commission on April 20. These updates included survey results and recommendations based on community interests. Additionally, a Citywide Park and Recreation Master Plan, completed in April 2023, emphasized the importance of the Pickleweed Park project, reaffirming it as a high priority for the San Rafael community within the next five years.
We're grateful for all of the community insight, thoughts, and support for this project!
