Spring rumbles in with work at Burgess Park Spring rumbles in with work at Burgess Park (March 31, 2004)

** Sweeping project includes new athletic fields, a gym renovation and a new skate park.

By Rebecca Wallace
Almanac Staff Writer

Along with flowers bursting at the petals, spring brings the groans and grumbles of construction vehicles.

True to form, Burgess Park became a hotbed of activity March 18 as work began on sweeping renovations that are expected to take about a year.

The backstops on the softball and Little League diamonds came tumbling down and the old turf was stripped up last week in preparation for new sod. The fields will be reconfigured to make the Little League area separate, with a concession stand, restroom and storage building in between the two fields, city supervising engineer Art Morimoto said.

In addition, crews will work to improve the drainage and irrigation systems in the fields, which also have an area for soccer, he said.

This work is only a portion of the major $4.1 million park renovation project, which is chiefly funded by Measure T, the $38 million bond initiative passed by city voters in 2001. Some money is also coming from gas taxes and state Proposition 12.

Crews are also revamping the parking lots in several places, including expanding the lot next to the gym into the area where the torn-down Burgess Theatre used to stand. In addition, Mielke Drive, which runs through the park, will be closed permanently.

"We'll have that safer connection for the library and the rec center and the gym," Mr. Morimoto said. "Pedestrians will be able to walk through without having to cross the traffic there."

At the moment, drivers can park on part of Mielke but not drive through it because of the construction vehicles, he said.

The work is also displacing local soccer and baseball players who play on Burgess fields. Many local athletes were involved in planning the park renovations, and city officials gave them ample warning of the construction schedule, community services manager Bob Roessler said.

The teams have sought other places to play: some are at other city parks, while others made arrangements with local schools, Mr. Roessler said. For example, the Menlo-Atherton Little League had its opening day festivities on March 20 at Encinal School in Atherton.

Later work at Burgess is scheduled to include a renovated gymnasium, a new skate park, new picnic tables, bike racks and drinking fountains; resurfaced tennis courts and a new outdoor basketball court.

In addition to this $4.1 million project, the Burgess pool and locker room will get a $6 million facelift, with three new pools -- a 25-meter-by-25-yard lap pool, an instructional pool, and a children's facility -- and a new lobby and locker room building. Work on the pool area, which is also funded by Measure T, is expected to start in June.

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