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Phase 1 — Construction is planned to start in July 2023. County made the decision to close the entire park during construction, instead of only closing those areas that are actually being worked on. It is unclear what if Flood Park will also be closed when Phase 2 starts in a 2024 or 2025.

Many had hoped that the re-construction of the picnic areas would occur 1 or 2 at a time, allowing the majority of the picnic areas to be open for public use. Please see Actions to help convince County to prioritize public access during construction.

In a remarkable and very welcome pivot, the County’s newly updated plan for Flood Park honors the natural character of the park, and no longer calls for removing the heart of the woodland — but there is opportunity to make it even better.

You can view the County’s presentation of the updated plan in a PDF at this URL: https://www.smcgov.org/parks/news/updated-flood-park-landscape-plan-feedback-event

The layout of sports fields and amenities in the new plan goes a long way toward addressing desires and concerns raised by the community since planning started in 2015, including saving the natural character of the cherished woodland. It still provides new features for field sports but it no longer calls for removing the heart of the woodland to make space for them. However, there are a several places where additional mature trees can be saved, and where concerns about noise and neighborhood traffic can be addressed.

Community members have come up with a number of suggestions for adjustments to the county’s plan.

Notes about Suggestion H

  • The main benefit is saving more than 10 additional mature trees, including the “woodpecker tree.” An additional benefit is the reduction of noise for neighbors.
  • The smaller Multi-use Field is reduced in size (now in U-11 range), and shifted to allow saving multiple trees. The saved trees introduce a buffer between the two field areas.
  • The Smaller Multi-use field is now 50′ farther from neighbor back yards (reducing noise). The offset is roughly comparable to Hedge neighbor offset from the large field. For comparison both 150 x 210 and 200 x 210 footprints are shown.
  • The Basketball and Tennis courts are placed in reverse order, rotated, and offset to allow saving of a row of mature maples. They now feel more “tucked in among the trees.”
  • The perimeter path is returned to its current alignment, to be less intrusive to neighbor back yards.
  • Dashed lines show 100′ and 150′ offsets on Del Norte, Hedge, and Haven House edges of the park.
  • Based on the County’s May 2022 Updated Layout

Notes about Suggestion J

  • One main benefit is reduced noise for Del Norte neighbors and reduced traffic (player drop off) at Iris and Bay Road gates
  • Also saves more than 10 additional mature trees, including the “woodpecker tree” and a row of maples.
  • The Smaller Multi-Use Field is reduced in size (now 120 x 210, in the U-11 range), and is placed next to the parking and drop-off areas.
  • Many other features in the County May 2022 Layout are shifted to accommodate the new field placement. The all-abilities playground is shifted south east. The gathering-oriented areas are shifted to the Bay Road side of the Adobe building (as used during the movie-night screening of Encanto).
  • The Basketball and Tennis courts are shifted. The Sand Volleyball courts return to the placement they have today.
  • The pathway along the Del Norte side of the park returns to the position it has today.
  • This placement of the Smaller Multi-Use Field requires removing some minor trrees. No oaks or significant trees are removed.
  • Dashed lines show 100′ and 150′ offsets on Del Norte, Hedge, and Haven House edges of the park.
  • Based on the County’s May 2022 Updated Layout.