North Broad Street Neighborhood Park

Font Size: + -

Feedback Print

Safe space to play

In late 2023, the city began construction to transform the existing community garden at 533 Broad Street into a new neighborhood park that will serve as a safe and inviting recreation destination in the North Chorro neighborhood area.

Future Park Amenities

Garden Planter Boxes
Twelve 4'x6’ raised community garden planter boxes, plus six ADA-accessible planters, at the southeast corner of the park. Community gardeners will have access to a potting bench, compost bins and benches to enjoy the garden environment.

Bike Parking
The mission-style park promenade will include two bike racks offering a total of 14 new parking spaces for bikes. Once completed, the North Chorro Neighborhood Greenway will provide easy non-auto access to the park from the Foothill area and downtown.

Park Lighting
Along with a fence around the park perimeter, the neighborhood park will include motion-sensor lighting along the park pathways. Security cameras maintained by the San Luis Obispo Police Department will also be installed to provide an added layer of safety monitoring at the park.

Open Play Space
The neighborhood park includes approximately 3,000 square feet of open space. With a shade structure and hydration station, neighbors will be able to comfortably enjoy this new space year round.

Little Free Library
The park’s Little Free Library public bookcase will encourage neighbors to share and upcycle books for readers of all ages.

The North Broad Street Neighborhood Park is designed to be enjoyed by nearby residents within biking or walking distance. As such, the park will not include any on-street parking spaces. Current improvements to Lincoln and Broad streets are being implemented with the future park in mind, so it will be easy and safe for neighbors to travel to the park on bike or on foot.

Timeline
What to Expect During Construction
Project Background

The project is anticipated to start construction in late 2023 and be completed in mid 2024.

Sept./Oct. 2022	Community garden plots vacate.
Feb. 7, 2023	City Council approval: City Staff received approval on final designs and to advertise the project for construction bids.
Apr./May 2023	Early outreach activities with the community.
Late 2023	Construction Begins.
Mid 2024	Project Completion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more about project FAQ. Click on the question to expand the answer.

FAQ Box

I heard that trees are being replaced in the park. Why is this needed?
The City worked with the design team, including a certified arborist, to evaluate the health of all trees on site and which ones should be removed for health and safety reasons and/or to make room for new park amenities. To ensure a safe space for park goers and adequate room for new park amenities, the City made the decision to remove a total of seven trees. The following are the specific tree types that are scheduled to be removed in September 2022.
Willow

Victorian box

Holly Leaf Cherry

Eucalyptus
Notice will be posted on site in advance of removal.
Why are there less community garden plots in the site design compared to before?

It was important to the City to maintain as many of the current community gardening spaces as possible in the new park design, while creating an inclusive environment for all gardeners through the addition of six new accessible planters. The previous community garden featured 18 plots varying in size and condition, and the 12 new community garden plots offer a 4’x6’ raised garden bed, including six accessible planters.
What kind of amenities will the new park provide?
The city will transform the existing community garden at 533 Broad St. into a neighborhood park, a safe and inviting recreation destination in the North Chorro neighborhood area. The neighborhood park project includes the following amenities:
- Open turf space for cornhole boards and hopscotch
- Playground with a climbing tree and rope net climber
- Community garden planter boxes (18 total, including six ADA-accessible planters)
- Two bike racks providing 14 new parking spaces for bikes
- Walking path with lighting
- Safety fencing and security cameras around the park perimeter and at park entrance
- Shaded gathering spaces
- Two ADA accessible picnic tables
- Little free library public bookcase
- Hydration station with a pet fountain
Does the neighborhood park offer vehicle parking?

Neighborhood parks in San Luis Obispo do not have parking lots or a significant amount of on-street parking because these parks are meant to serve community members within easy walking, biking or rolling distance. This neighborhood park will not offer a parking lot or on-street parking along Broad Street. Park visitors are encouraged to walk or use one of the 14 bike parking spaces when visiting the park. The curb in front of the park will remain red to prevent passenger loading/unloading near the highway entrance.
How was the park location selected?

In Fall 2017, City staff met with North Broad Street neighbor residents to discuss and collect feedback on potential neighborhood park locations at four available undeveloped properties. The four undeveloped properties faced challenges with acquisition and development, so staff determined the city-owned community garden property at 533 Broad St. provided the best space for play features and gathering, while maintaining the community garden spaces. Since the 533 Broad Street site was the first City-owned community garden, in March 2021, Council approved rezoning the site as an Open Space area and prioritized incorporating planters into the design.

More FAQs

Project Contacts

Nathan Garcia Nava, Project Manager
ngarcian@slocity.org, 805-783-7865

Bobby Browning, Project Inspector bbrowning@slocity.org, 805-783-7710

STAY IN TOUCH

We appreciate your patience as we work on these key community improvements. Reach out to us if you have any feedback or questions.

Subscribe for regular updates.

white phone receiver on blue circle Call us at 805-783-7887.

Email questions or feedback to sloinmotion@slocity.org.

June 2018	Council approved funding of the2017-19 Financial Plan Supplement 2018-19 Adopted Budgetfor the creation of a new park in the Broad Street area north of Highway 101.
Fall 2017	City staff met with North Broad neighbors to collect input on potential park locations.
March 4, 2019	The City hired Cannon to design the neighborhood park.
May 8, 2019	Neighborhood outreach event at Lincoln Deli
June 5, 2019	Parks and Recreation Master Plan Workshop
Aug. 28, 2019	Community Workshop
Sept. 4, 2019	Staff presentation to Parks and Recreation Commission
Nov. 6, 2019	Staff presentation to Parks and Recreation Commission
March 2, 2021	City Council approved rezoning the 0.9-acre parcel at 533 Broad Street to accommodate the neighborhood park.

City of San Luis Obispo, CA

FIND A SERVICE

I WANT TO...

North Broad Street Neighborhood Park

Safe space to play

Future Park Amenities

Project Background/Site Selection

Project Funding

Project Background

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ Box

Project Contacts

Related Documents

STAY IN TOUCH