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Veterans Memorial Senior Center – YMCA Project <br />On January 31, Redwood City and the YMCA were <br />pleased to host the second of three master-planning <br />workshops for the joint Redwood City – YMCA <br />reimagination of the Veterans Memorial Senior Center <br />and a separate and new YMCA facility. Together these <br />new facilities intend to meet the increasing needs of <br />Redwood City residents which have outgrown their <br />existing, aging buildings. <br />Close to 200 community members participated in a <br />lively presentation by lead architect Clarence Mamuyac <br />which showcased three design alternatives, followed <br />by intimate table breakout discussions. Following <br />the charette session, each table elected a captain to <br />present its ideas to the audience. <br />We appreciate the public’s input and assistance <br />establishing design priorities, excitement for favored <br />amenities and features, questions, and the big ideas <br />we received from the table reports. Continued frank <br />communication among community members will be <br />critical to refining the master-plan concept into a final <br />recommended site plan. <br />Workshop #2: Recap, Next Steps and Key Questions <br />There were several common themes communicated <br />to the project team both during the large group <br />presentation and from the table reports: <br />l Excitement for, and appreciation of, the reduced <br />footprint of both facilities which created the <br />pedestrian promenade, eliminated infringement on <br />Red Morton Park, and maximized green space and <br />trees around the building. <br />l Importance of continuing current senior <br />programming, reorienting the Veterans Memorial <br />Senior Center to position specialized space for <br />senior programs nearest to entrances, and ensuring <br />services and classes like Adaptive PE continue. <br />l Concern for efficient and equitable management <br />of traffic, parking and senior-specific parking, <br />and circulation around the immediate facility and <br />throughout the entire park and along Madison. <br />l Ensuring the building continues to honor veterans <br />though the facility’s name, possibly including a new <br />memorial at the main entrance plaza and/or along <br />the pedestrian promenade, and refreshed displays <br />and secure storage for veterans’ memorabilia. <br />A few common questions arose in the group Q&A <br />and at multiple tables, please see reverse side of this <br />document for responses to those questions. <br />At the February 22 workshop, the project’s lead <br />architect will present the preferred project plan for the <br />Redwood City and YMCA, along with some early design <br />concepts. The presentation will incorporate the years <br />of discussions with community members, shared goals <br />among local stakeholders, and the latest thinking on <br />how to address what has been heard at the two first <br />workshops. Following the presentation, attendees will <br />again organize into table groups for short breakout <br />sessions to have more intimate discussions and provide <br />feedback. <br />Please continue to check our website for updates at www.rewdoodcity.org/CityYMCAProject. <br />You may also contact Chris Beth, Parks Director, at city-ymcafeedback@redwoodcity.org <br />with questions, comments, or to request a group presentation. <br />7.A. - Page 13