RES 87327 - Laserfiche WebLink

II. EXISTING CONDITIONS A. Context Augustin Bernal Park rests in a steep rolling hillsite located ~n the ridgelands west of Pleasanton, and is predominately undeveloped land used for cattle grazing and hiking. The 230-acre parcel, granted to the City of Pleasanton in 1971 by Mr. Walter Johnson was once a part of his Golden Eagle Farms Ranch, a former cattle and dairy operation. The balance of that now defunct ranch ~orms the eastern boundary of the par~ property, and is now planned as a development of 80 single-family homes. The park site, roughly rectangular in shape, is bordered by East Bay Regional Park District lands to the west and south, and also to the west by Kilkare Woods, another housing development. It is becoming apparent, therefore, in the context of open space planning, that this park wZll be a' crucial link in the network of parklands that string along the Pleasanton Ridgelands. Providing adequate access to the park is a fundamental task of this Master Plan. Although the park hillside is visible from most of the City, it is largely unknown and out of reach to most residents. The site is separated from the central portion of Pleasanton by Highway 680 and Foothill Boulevard, but more importantly is physically inaccessible from the town, except for a brief gravel road from Longview Drive, and a dirt fire road extending from the Golden Eagle Farms Ranch. The comprehensive Master Plan addresses these issues of access as well as of site circulation, to dictate the types of non-motorized uses appropriate for the land. B. History and Background When Walter Johnson deeded half of his ranch to the City of Pleasanton in 1971, because he "wanted to do something for the community," he was continuing what had been a lifetime o~ contribution and generosity. When one considers his tremendous gifts to the Bay Area, such as the rescue and restoration of the Palace of Fine Arts, and his seemingly endless support for the arts and humanities; it seems disrespectful to name the proposed park anything other than Walter Johnson Park. However, it is in keeping with Mr. Johnson's wishes that the park be named for the original Spanish settler, Augustin Bernal; therefore, it is the intention of this Master Plan to create a park in the spirit of Mr. Johnson's vision. Of special relevance to this Master Plan is the stipulation in the deed that public vehicular access be prohibited from the park in order to maintain it as a natural preserve. - 2 -