Parks
by John M. Zukoski on September 20, 2011 | 
7 Comments | Topics: City Hall · Parks
In another move that put developer interest before the needs of Schaefer Ranch home buyers, the Dublin City Council recently approved controversial developer Albert D. Seeno’s request to postpone construction of the promised 10.6-acre park in the growing west Dublin hills Schaefer Ranch community. The decision comes as a disappointment to residents that have been eagerly awaiting usable park space for the past three years. While the previous agreement required Schaefer Ranch’s developer to complete construction of the park once 200 building permits had been issued, the new agreement sets the park construction completion date at June 30, 2013.
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by John M. Zukoski on July 16, 2011 | 11 Comments | Topics: Opinions · Parks
Residents in Dublin, CA are in love with their parks and are familiar with community mainstays such as Emerald Glen, Fallon Sports Park, Dublin Sports Grounds, and Shannon Park. These parks offer plenty of play opportunities, athletic fields, and other amenities for folks of all ages in the Tri-Valley and beyond. In addition to these four high-profile parks, Dublin has a full collection of fantastic neighborhood parks in its park portfolio. Dublin’s Piazza Sorrento, Kolb Park, and Dolan Park rank among the best hidden gems of the Tri-Valley.
Cloistered in the heart of the Sorrento community and often featured in promotional materials by the City and Sorrento West’s homebuilder, the appropriately named Piazza Sorrento at 3600 Palermo Way is a 2-acre neighborhood square surrounded by lavender plants and other gorgeous flora. At the heart of this neighborhood park is a lush carpet of richly green grass that is perfect for families that want to run around and frolic under the sun. Piazza Sorrento also features what could be the most modern play equipment in all of Dublin’s parks. Piazza Sorrento, with its new picnic area equipment, natural shade structure, and convenient location may just be the perfect spot for small picnics in East Dublin.
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by John M. Zukoski on July 11, 2011 | 10 Comments | Topics: City Hall · Parks · Public Works
The City of Dublin, CA has demonstrated a strong commitment to providing residents with a quality of life that is unparalleled based on income per capita in the East Bay. The City’s plan to spend $13.9M in capital projects over the 2011-2012 fiscal year offers residents much to look forward to throughout Dublin. Dublin’s newest park at Positano, aptly named Positano Hills Park based on a suggestion from Dublin resident Nicole Roy Borris, is expected to be completed in October 2012. Positano Hills Park will include fun play area features for kids, a basketball court, and a vast open field that can be used for soccer and softball.
The City of Dublin will also draw up the construction & design documents for the Emerald Glen Park Recreation and Aquatic Complex and Passatempo Park at Sorrento East. While funding has yet to be secured, Dublin residents can also look forward to the future 14,700-square-foot Community Center at Emerald Glen Park. Other planned but currently unfunded park improvements include future phases at the Heritage Park & Museums and Fallon Sports Park.
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by John M. Zukoski on June 27, 2011 | 2 Comments | Topics: Parks
After many years of anticipation, the 4.3-acre Dublin Heritage Park and Museums will be gracing the public stage for a grand opening event on Saturday, July 2nd. The official ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at noon, beginning with presentations by the City Historian, the Poet Laureate, the Poet Laureate Emerita, and the Kolb family. The grand opening event will mark the completion of Phase I at the Heritage Park and the successful relocation of the Kolb family’s farm buildings from their former Dublin Canyon site, which is now part of Pleasanton. The original farm buildings are now part of Dublin’s historical center on the corner of Dublin Boulevard and Donlon Way.
Some of the events planned for the grand opening celebration include music from Dublin’s local Bluegrass and Irish Jam groups, wagon rides for kids pulled by the old Kolb family tractor, docent led tours, and presentations from local dignitaries. In recognition of the Bavarian heritage of the Kolb family, German music by the Karl Lebherz Band will be featured at the outdoor stage, and free refreshments, including root beer, hot dogs, brats, German potato salad, soft pretzels, and German chocolate cupcakes will be served. Dublin City Council had expressed some concerns about having the grand opening event on July 2nd, given that many residents leave town for the extended weekend. Because no other date could work for a majority of the Kolb family, Dublin City Council decided to keep the celebration on July 2nd to honor the Kolbs.
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by John M. Zukoski on June 23, 2011 | 7 Comments | Topics: Development · Parks
After nearly a decade of waiting, the dream of having a state-of-the-art Recreation and Aquatic Complex at Emerald Glen Park in Dublin, CA will soon become reality. The design phase of the Emerald Glen Recreation and Aquatic Complex is set to kick-start again in July 2011. Construction at the site of the complex is scheduled to begin in October 2012 and to be completed in September 2014. The grand opening celebration will most likely be held shortly thereafter to take advantage of the beautiful weather leading into fall.
Phase I of the complex will house a 6,675-square-foot leisure and instructional pool, as well as a 25-meter by 25-yard competition pool. The complex will also include a 35,895-square-foot facility featuring a gym, fitness center, game room & teen center, group exercise & dance studio, special events room, juice bar, and locker rooms.
Design planning work for Phase I of the complex began in 2008 with a community workshop to gather feedback for the design plans held in January 2009; however, the project was placed on hold in 2009 due to a drop in new home construction, as Dublin and the rest of the country braced for the economic downturn. The City of Dublin receives funding to build parks from impact fees collected from developers on new construction projects.
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by John M. Zukoski on June 14, 2011 | No Comments | Topics: Local Businesses · Parks · Things To Do
School is out, and kids in and around Dublin, CA are excited about the summer ahead. In between summer jobs, family vacations, and summer camps, families throughout the Tri-Valley are looking for fun-filled activities to make the most of the summer. Consistent with Dublin’s reputation of being a very family-friendly city, the City of Dublin has many great opportunities for kids of all ages within its city borders.
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by John M. Zukoski on June 10, 2011 | 4 Comments | Topics: Parks
Dublin City Council recently directed staff to begin preparing construction documents for the new 4.6-acre neighborhood park named Positano Hills Park. The new park will be located on Valentano Drive and is expected to be completed by October 2012. The conceptual design for the $1.5M park was the culmination of a collaborative process involving Dublin residents, Richard Alcina from MPA Design, and Dublin Parks Development Coordinator Rosemary Alex. Councilperson Eric Swalwell proclaimed that the design represents a “new day and age in Dublin park building.”
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by John M. Zukoski on June 2, 2011 | 6 Comments | Topics: City Hall · Parks · Things To Do
The City of Dublin recently pulled the plug on Emerald Glen Park’s signature Day on the Glen event in Dublin, CA; however, Dublin City Council is now contemplating the possibility of hosting an International Festival at Emerald Glen Park in 2012 to celebrate the Tri-Valley’s burgeoning multi-cultural population. An International Festival could be a terrific opportunity to bring residents together and provide a platform for the various ethnic restaurants in and around Dublin to spotlight their cuisine. While Dublin has not sponsored an International Festival in the past, the 2008 Day on the Glen festival did have an international theme.
Dublin’s City Council is leaning towards having distinct areas setup in various parts of Emerald Glen Park where the food and culture of different countries may be featured. The area next to Emerald Glen’s Bocce Courts, for example, could feature Italian food, games, and entertainment. Similarly, the area adjacent to the cricket field could be the designated area that showcases Indian culture and cuisine.
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by John M. Zukoski on April 27, 2011 | 8 Comments | Topics: Opinions · Parks · Things To Do
East Dublin is growing up fast. Day on the Glen is no more. While facing a projected budget shortfall, Dublin City Council moved to cancel Emerald Glen’s signature event in 2010. Dublin City Council recently confirmed that the City of Dublin will no longer sponsor Day on the Glen due to waning interest in this annual festivity.
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