Novato Residents Have Chance To Weigh In On Final Hill Recreation Area Design

NOVATO, CA — The city of Novato announced Tuesday that a final community design workshop will be held in an effort to finalize the vision for the Hill Recreation Area Master Plan.

The meeting is slated to begin at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 9 in the Hill Community Room, 1560 Hill Road.

Previously, the city held two public workshops in May 2015 to gather community input and ideas in order to create a new and improved Hill Recreation Area that would better serve Novato.

Since then, the city has been working with an experienced landscape architectural firm to incorporate feedback received and create the best site plan possible for Novato’s youth and adults, according to Heather Hafer, senior management analyst for Novato Parks, Recreation and Community Services.

The city has also been researching several different funding opportunities in order to make the collective community vision a reality, she said.

Two revenue-generating projects that are being considered include the proposed installation of a tournament bocce ball facility and improvements at the Margaret Todd Senior Center and the installation of a synthetic turf field, according to the Hill Recreation Area Master Plan webpage. Both recommendations would add a new community asset while simultaneously generating revenue for the city.

"We are now ready to move forward and get final feedback on design plans," Hafer said. "We invite you and any and all Novato residents to attend this meeting and see what we’ve come up with."

Healthy refreshments will be served at the Aug. 9 meeting. Spanish translation services will be available upon request; those who need translation services are asked to call 415-899-8991 or email hillmasterplan@novato.org by Wednesday, Aug. 3.

This fall, the final conceptual design plans will be presented to the Recreation, Cultural and Community Services Commission and then to the Novato City Council. If Council approval is secured, construction is expected to begin in 2017.

Information about the Commission and City Council meetings will be posted on the Hill Recreation Area Master Plan webpage and announced on the NovatoFun Facebook page. Residents may also send an email anytime to hillmasterplan@novato.org for project information and updates.

"You are encouraged to attend both meetings to share your input and provide feedback and/or support for this project," Hafer said.