Council voted 5-0 to move forward with the Hillcrest Park Duck Pond Improvements Project at their April 21 meeting. The funding, which had already been earmarked for the project before the COVID-19 pandemic, will come from from the Park Dwelling Fund, as opposed to the General Fund.

Three Peaks Corp., who will be building the project, won the constriction bid in the amount of $829,600. In addition to Park Dwelling Funds, this project is also being funded by a $380,000 California River Parkway Grant.

To address concerns about the timing and funding of the project, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Public Works Director Meg McWade said, “This is [using] Park Dwelling Funds. It’s a specific funding source that can only be used in this way [for park improvements], and it has been set aside for this project….In order to meet the grant deadlines, construction must happen this Spring.”

The Hillcrest Park Duck Pond Improvements Project is the third of the current series of Hillcrest Park rehabilitation projects. This project includes the restoration of the existing Duck Pond area located at the intersection of Harbor Boulevard and Brea Boulevard.

The project area is part of the City’s storm drain system and therefore the work will include renovation of the drainage facilities to reestablish a naturalized creek by modifying the existing concrete waterway and stabilizing the area.

Other improvements will include new drought-tolerant landscape and irrigation, seating areas, walkways, lighting and widening the sidewalk along Brea Boulevard. New fencing will be installed adjacent to the Brea Boulevard sidewalk, matching the previously installed fencing along Harbor Boulevard. A new decorative metal guardrail, with a pattern intended to mimic the look of tree branches, will also be installed on the existing historic bridge that crosses the creek. The following is a rendering of the improvements that will occur as part of this project:

City staff communicated with Three Peaks Corp. regarding the current COVID-19 pandemic and the contractor stated they had adequate staff, equipment, and materials to begin the project. Unless additional health orders are issued that limit construction, the City anticipates construction will begin in late May 2020 and conclude by September 2020.

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