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13 <br /> <br />IV. PARK DESIGN <br /> <br />The design vision for the Community Park is for active sports <br />facilities to be clustered within a framework of linear forested <br />open space. Parking is to be disbursed around the perimeter <br />of the Park in a series of smaller, heavily landscaped, non- <br />rectangular shaped lots that similarly fit into the open space <br />framework. The overall visual effect of the sports fields and <br />parking areas is to mimic the forested/meadow patterns of <br />the outlying “grand park” area, thus blending into and <br />becoming a part of it. Park facilities are to be interconnected <br />with each other and the outlying “grand park” through a <br />coordinated system of creative, mounded landforms, <br />vegetation, and inspiring public art. <br /> <br />Park Landscape – The Community Park Landscape Concept <br />(Figure 4) is intended to integrate with the planned outlying <br />“grand park” landscape to the extent feasible. The open space <br />framework of the Community Park is to emphasize natural <br />patterns and forms such as mounding, tree clusters forming <br />linear forested edges, and generally native plant materials. <br />Active recreation areas and parking lots, however, are to be <br />planted with a much broader range of both native and non- <br />native plant species that serve the functional and decorative <br />requirements of these areas. <br /> <br />Street Entry Landscape – Another key element of the <br />Community Park is the extension of Pleasanton Avenue <br />between Bernal Avenue to the north and Valley Avenue to the <br />south (Figures 2, 3 and 6). This is to be a two-lane street (one <br />lane in each direction) with bicycle lanes on both sides. <br />Roundabouts and pedestrian safety medians are also planned <br />at key parking lot driveway/intersections to slow traffic for <br />pedestrian and bicycle safety. <br /> <br />The new Pleasanton Avenue/Bernal Avenue street intersection <br />(Figure 5) will result in a major entry into the greater Bernal <br />Property from Bernal Avenue. This will provide not only <br />vehicular access for motorists, but will also create the <br />primary visual impression of the Community Park. The <br />landscape quality of this intersection is therefore of major <br />importance to the City. <br /> <br />Pleasanton Avenue will need to be wide enough to <br />accommodate three lanes of both entry and exit traffic. A five- <br />foot wide, raised median is proposed, extending south from <br />the Bernal Avenue intersection to the first roundabout. The <br />shared pump station and Park maintenance road will connect <br />to the first roundabout, and <br />