Fred Hesse Jr. Community Park Map, Hours, Parking, Location, Fred Hesse Jr. Community, Park, This park, with its well-manicured parkland and active community center, is one of the most popular in the City. Among the features available for public enjoyment in the upper park area are baseball and soccer fields, numerous picnic areas with barbecues, playground equipment suitable for toddlers to adolescents, and a well-used ¼ mile walking path. Most of the privatized recreation classes are offered at this facility and many Peninsula Senior activities are held here. Additionally three rooms in the community center are available for rental for meetings and private parties. The newly developed lower park site offers a sand volleyball court, picnic areas (no barbecues permitted), leisurely walking paths, and comfortable locations for enjoying panoramic views of Catalina Island north to Malibu. As at all parks, dogs must be on a leash. A Detailed Description of Robert E. Ryan Community Park
LOWER HESSE PARK AND GRANDVIEW PARK IMPROVEMENTS
Lower Hesse Park
  
Pacific Plan
(between Hawthorne and Verde Ridge Rd.)
View Map
    
Grandview Park
  
Sycamore Plan

(between Via Panorama and Grayslake Rd.)
View Map

  


Lower Hesse Park & Grandview Park
Improvement Projects

The City of Rancho Palos Verdes is in the process of improving Lower Hesse Park and Grandview Park.  Park improvement plans are intended to enhance the accessibility, aesthetic condition, and recreational opportunities available at both parks. 

During this conceptual design process, the City has worked with its landscape architect consultant to perform site analyses, hold community workshops to share concepts and collect community input, and create conceptual designs of the two parks.  The conceptual designs for Lower Hesse Park were reviewed by City Council on November 16, 2010 and the conceptual designs for Grandview Park were reviewed by City Council on December 7, 2010.  City Council directed staff to proceed with the environmental review process for the Pacific View conceptual plan for Lower Hesse Park, and the Sycamore conceptual plan for Grandview Park.  To learn more about the park improvement projects, join the project listserv by clicking here, or emailing the Recreation and Parks Department by clicking here.

November 16, 2010 City Council Meeting

On November 16, 2010, City Council directed staff to proceed with the environmental review process for the Pacific Plan for Lower Hesse Park, and to reopen the public outreach process for consideration of a skate facility.

  • Click here to view the November 16, 2010 City Council Staff Report
    • 2010-232
  • Click here to view the November 16, 2010 Conceptual Design presentation created by Mia Lehrer & Associates.

December 7, 2010 City Council Meeting

On December 7, 2010, City Council directed staff to proceed with the environmental review process for the Sycamore Plan for Grandview Park.

  • Click here to view the December 7, 2010 City Council Staff Report
  • Click here to view the December 7, 2010 Conceptual Design presentation created by Mia Lehrer & Associates.

The Conceptual Design Process

Public outreach performed by consultant, Mia Lehrer & Associates, and City staff included three community workshops during which community input was gathered and preliminary designs were shared.  Staff also took public outreach tables to shopping centers and special events throughout the Peninsula to share information with the public and to gather input.  

At the May 15 Community Workshop, the City’s landscape architect led participants through a site analysis of both park sites to gather resident input. 

  • Click here to view the May 15, 2010 Community Workshop #1 notes.


At the July 17 Community Workshop, the city’s landscape architect and city staff presented conceptual designs of the two parks and discussed traffic and circulation, park programming, and park character. 

  • Click here to view the July 17, 2010 Community Workshop #2 notes.

At the September 25 Community Workshop, Mayor Wolowicz, city staff, and the city’s landscape architect shared conceptual designs of Lower Hesse and Grandview parks with the community and solicited feedback. 

  • Click here to view the September 25, 2010 Community Workshop #3 notes.

Parks Improvement Public Outreach Table

Staff brought a public outreach table to locations throughout the city to gather input from residents.

Council Actions Related to Park Improvement Project

November 16, 2010 City Council Meeting
On November 16, 2010 City Council directed staff to proceed with the environmental review process for the Pacific Plan for Lower Hesse Park, and reopen the public outreach process for consideration of a skate facility.

  • Click here to view the November 16, 2010 City Council Staff Report
    • 2010-232
  • Click here to view the November 16, 2010 Conceptual Design presentation created by Mia Lehrer & Associates.

December 7, 2010 City Council Meeting
On December 7, 2010 City Council directed staff to proceed with the environmental review process for the Sycamore Plan for Grandview Park.

  • On December 7, 2010, City Council directed staff to proceed with the environmental review process for the Sycamore Plan for Grandview Park.

    • Click here to view the December 7, 2010 City Council Staff Report
    • Click here to view the December 7, 2010 Conceptual Design presentation created by Mia Lehrer & Associates.

April 20, 2010 City Council Meeting
On April 20, 2010, City Council awarded a contract to landscape architect Mia Lehrer & Associates to conduct community workshops and create conceptual designs of Lower Hesse and Grandview parks.

  • Click here to view the April 20, 2010 City Council Staff Report
  • Click here to view Mia Lehrer & Associates’ Original Proposal


November 17, 2009 City Council Meeting

After considering public testimony and the information presented by staff, the City Council approved the conceptual improvement plans for Lower Hesse Park and Grandview Park and directed staff to retain consultants to prepare design plans for these parks and to create opportunities for public input concerning the design of these community parks. Original conceptual designs were modified based on input received at two neighborhood meetings from individuals residing near the parks. The following modified plans were presented
to the City Council at its November 17, 2009 meeting:

  • Click here to view the modified plan for Lower Hesse Park
  • Click here to view the modified plan for Grandview Park
  • Click here to view the November 17, 2009 City Council Power Point Presentation
  • Click here to view the November 17, 2009 City Council Staff Report
  • Click here to view the Request for Proposals (RFP) issued by staff in December 2009

 

Project Background

On February 16, 2010, the City Council adopted its 2010 Tactical Plan. The Tactical Plan is intended to establish the City Council’s goals and priorities and therefore direct the work of City staff for the upcoming
year. One of the many tactical goals adopted by the City Council includes the following:

•Goal: Improve the City’s recreational and educational facilities by expanding opportunities for active recreational uses and improving access to all parks.
        •Sub-goal: Provide improvements to Grandview Park & Lower Hesse Park.
               •Milestone: present a report to the City Council regarding possible options to improve Lower Hesse Park and Grandview Park for active recreation.

Planning Process and Public Outreach

To address these goals, City staff performed an extensive visioning process, relying on public input and information from a variety of available sources including, but not limited to:


• The City’s Parks Master Plan (Adopted 1989)
• The Conceptual Trails Plan (2008)
• The City of Rancho Palos Verdes Parks and Recreation and Open Space Task Force Community Survey
• 5-Year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) (2009)
• Sports Field Use Inventory and Peninsula-wide Recreational Resources Inventory
• Ongoing input from the general public.


Neighborhood Meetings

Prior to presenting the City Council with the conceptual park improvement plans, City Staff along with two
City Council members, met with residents from the respective neighborhoods to introduce the conceptual
plans and to receive initial input on the proposed design schemes. The following neighborhood meetings
were conducted:

Pacific View HOA
On November 5, 2009 the conceptual plan for Lower Hesse Park was presented to the neighborhood by
City Staff. In attendance that evening was Mayor Pro-Tem Wolowicz and Councilman Stern.

  • Click here to view the Lower Hesse Park conceptual plan presented to the neighborhood.

Grandview HOA
On November 11, 2009, the conceptual plan for Grandview Park was presented to the neighborhood by
City Staff. In attendance that evening was Councilman Dyda and Councilman Long.

  • Click here to view the Grandview Park conceptual plan presented to the neighborhood.

Learn More

To receive electronic updates on the park improvement plans, including future public outreach opportunities,
via email, subscribe to the Lower Hesse Park / Grandview Park Listserve group. Click here to subscribe.
Inquiries regarding the park improvement projects should be directed to Katie Howe, Administrative Analyst,
Recreation and Parks Department at 310-544-5260 or parks@rpv.com.