Centennial Park (formerly Fairmont Park) will be reopening on December 12!  Come celebrate the improvements at the park, including a new accessible path network, enhanced gathering and recreational spaces with new site amenities, improved children's play area, and improved landscaping and irrigation.  Please see more information here. 

Community meetings and public outreach history

The first public outreach event was a design charrette that was held on Saturday, June 3, 2017, from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm, at the Fairmont Elementary School Multi-purpose Room, 724 Kearney Street, El Cerrito, CA 94530.

The public was invited to participate, provide input and collaborate with staff and the design team. The interactive workshop included a site walk to the Fairmont Park from 10:00 am to 10:30 am, and light refreshments were served.

The City had its second public meeting regarding the Fairmont Park Phase I Improvements Project at the Park and Recreation Commission Meeting, Wednesday, July 26, 2017. There was a presentation by Restoration Design Group and City staff, followed by an open comment period. The schematic design incorporated input received from the June 3rd Design Charrette and the project’s online survey. 

The City had its third public meeting regarding the Fairmont Park Phase I Improvements Project during the Park and Recreation Commission Meeting, Wednesday, September 27, 2017.  There was a presentation on the 65% design plans by Restoration Design Group and City staff, followed by an open comment period.

Phase I of the Project upgraded a portion of Fairmont Park (approximately 16,000 square feet of area at the south portion nearest Eureka Avenue) including:

• New entry plaza – welcome kiosk, seating, gateway signage, and group exercise area
• New path network - accessible paths with emergency and maintenance vehicle access
• Enhanced gathering spaces - passive and active recreational areas with new amenities
• Consideration of future art (such as mural) opportunities and locations
• Improved children’s play area
• Improved landscaping and lighting

Schematic Design Plan

Schematic Design Profile

public Input Online

Survey Results

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More Details

Where is Fairmont Park?

Fairmont Park is located along the Ohlone Greenway, at Eureka Avenue and Liberty Street and is adjacent to the El Cerrito Senior Center, Library, Fairmont Elementary School (on Stockton Avenue).
 

What amenities were there?

The park’s existing design and furniture was originated by the landscape architecture firm Royston, Hanamoto, Mayes & Beck in 1965 and include elements that have been identified by the community as important to retain, including a stone statue of a turtle near the playground and steps and field-stone walls classic of the firm’s design.

The park was also home to a “pop-up” community garden project constructed during Earth Day in 2013 and maintained by the El Cerrito Community Garden Network, and which serves as an informal gathering space. A local community group also maintains habitat along the recessed areas at the base of the retaining wall on the east side of the Ohlone Greenway.

How was this project prioritized?

Fairmont Park was identified as an important community project and was selected as one of four Pilot Projects in the City’s Urban Greening Plan, which was adopted in December 2015. The desired improvements for Fairmont Park were split into phase 1 and phase 2 due to limited funds. Currently, phase 2 improvements are unfunded.

The design of Phase 1 improvements will also take into consideration the full vision for Fairmont Park identified in the City’s Urban Greening Plan (Adopted in December 2015).

What is the funding source for Phase 1 improvements?

Resources/Materials

Request for Proposal for design consultants - January 2017
Consulting Services Agreement with Restoration Design Group, Inc - March 2017
Urban Greening Plan - December 2015