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Page 5 <br /> Pleasanton Park and Recreation Master Plan <br /> As part of our initial work,we reviewed the City's Park and Recreation Master Plan prepared in <br /> 2013 for the purpose of"providing a realistic and visionary guide for the creative, orderly <br /> development and management of City parks and recreational facilities." Overall, our review <br /> indicates that a community farm would be consistent with the Plan's recommendations and <br /> vision.Listed below are four specific notations supporting a community farm park. <br /> • Identifies benefits for pursuing opportunities for public-private partnerships to provide <br /> recreational programs as a means of maximizing local and regional resources,expertise <br /> and funding opportunities. (Executive Summary,page V) <br /> • Recommends expanding volunteer related activities including the use of Park Stewards <br /> to bring together needed volunteers,materials and expertise for park use and <br /> operations. (Section 3 Recreation Programming Recommendations,page 3-15)As noted <br /> later in this report,the community farms we surveyed relied heavily on volunteerism <br /> and specifically,long-term volunteers who were experts in specific areas on farming <br /> operations. <br /> • Indicates that existing community gardens at Val Vista Community Park are popular <br /> and that there is a waiting list of City residents that would like to use a garden plot.As <br /> such,the report encourages the City to evaluate its park system for underutilized areas <br /> which could be potential community garden locations. (Appendix B,page 15) <br /> • Recommends expansion of the Community Garden program to provide opportunities <br /> for more city residents to participate in the program. The report also refers to Bernal <br /> Property locations which could be used for additional gardens. (Appendix B,page 16) <br /> Review of Existing Community Farm Parks <br /> As part of our work,we reviewed and visited several municipal park facilities with agriculture <br /> and farm animal features.A summary is included as Attachment C. As a result,we have <br /> identified a number of matters that require attention and a range of opportunities that could be <br /> part of the master planning process and project design. <br /> Community Farm Programming <br /> The Abbie 4-H Draft Master Plan provides a quality and significant start to the development of <br /> a plan for the two subject sub-areas. However, the Abbie 4-H Draft Master Plan's focus is based <br /> on the vision developed by Abbie 4-H and its partner participants and therefore, it may not <br /> represent a broader community interest or the overall best use for the property.The parks we <br /> reviewed are programmed primarily around the concept of public recreation,education, and an <br /> overall public experience rather than animal husbandry and the housing of livestock envisioned <br /> in the Abbie 4-H Draft Master Plan.As an example,San Jose's Emma Prusch Farm Regional <br /> Park includes a tot play area,open space for general recreational events and facility rentals for <br /> private and public events.The Deer Hollow Farm in Cupertino includes a range of <br /> programming including summer classes,educational experiences with the animals and nature <br /> walks.Both of these parks have accommodations for livestock but it is not central to the parks' <br /> programs. <br />