By Kathy Chouteau
The Hercules City Council approved a motion at its Oct. 24 meeting to move forward with the Refugio Valley Park Tree Succession and Shade Structure Plan.
The City of Hercules’ Tree Succession and Shade Structure Plan was developed after it had to remove 40 trees due to safety concerns.
This past July the City announced, following wet weather at the time, that the park’s picnic and playground experienced “significant limb droppings and uprooting of Eucalyptus trees.” Certified arborists were called in to evaluate the area, and recommended removing the aforementioned trees in high-use areas. The park’s picnic and playground were closed and secured for safety reasons while the trees were removed.
The recently approved plan aims to restore Refugio Valley Park’s landscape and improve its beauty and amenities via a planning process that will be guided by the community. The City said that new trees, a permanent shade structure, Portland cement paving, picnic tables and barbecues will be implemented based on the option the City Council selected.
The City said it is grateful for the community’s valuable input through a September survey and pop-up outreach efforts. “Get ready for a revitalized Refugio Valley Park in the coming year,” stated the City.
