Crow Canyon Gardens Park Renovation
Crow Canyon Gardens Park is located in the northwest corner of San Ramon near the intersection of Park Place and Crow Canyon Road.
The Park features a meadow, community garden allotments, demonstration gardens associated with the old Mudd’s Restaurant, access to Bollinger Creek and various structures.
Major renovations are needed to make the park more inviting and accessible for public use.
The City Council and Parks and Community Services Commission have previously indicated that improvements should reflect the site's natural setting, connect with the landscape environment and adjacent creek, and help maintain a serene environment where the community can connect and engage with nature.
City Council has directed staff to investigate saving one room of the structure and other significant features to interpret the history of the site, and keep the focus of the park on nature and gardening.
In September 2023, the Crow Canyon Gardens Master Plan was approved by the Parks & Community Services Commission.
The City’s landscape architect, PlaceWorks, has developed a phased approach to improve Crow Canyon Gardens and achieve the vision of the Master Plan over 5+ years as funds become available, which was approved by the Parks & Community Services Commission in January 2025.
At the City Council Meeting on August 12, 2025, the City Council approved authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement with PlaceWorks, Inc. for Architectural Design and Consulting Services for the Crow Canyons Gardens Facilities Improvements Project in an amount not to exceed $798,380 through June 30, 2027.
City Council Meeting
August 12, 2025
City Council approved Authorizing the Mayor to Execute an Agreement with PlaceWorks, Inc. for Architectural Design and Consulting Services for the Crow Canyons Gardens Facilities Improvements Project in an Amount Not to Exceed $798,380 through June 30, 2027.
City Council Meeting
May 26, 2025
At the May 26, 2025 City Council Meeting, the City Council approved the 25/26 CIP projects, which included the Crow Canyon Gardens. Staff sent out an RFQ for design services and to begin design of phase 1 and 2 of the improvements.
Parks and Community Services Commission Meeting
January 22, 2025
The Commission reviewed the proposed phasing for the Crow Canyon Gardens renovation and approved proceeding with phases 1 and 2 and then once 1 and 2 are completed bring back the other phase for more discussion and direction. Below is a brief description of the proposed phases and for more information please visit the Commission Meeting Video and agenda packet at the following link.
- Phase 1: Due Diligence, Schematics and Demolition - $664,000
This phase will focus on the existing Mudd’s building and immediate surroundings to assess suitability for reuse and materials salvage, conduct a site assessment, develop a detailed basis of design to identify how to demolish building components while protecting elements to remain, and prepare bid documents for building demolition and salvage.
The consultant fees in this initial phase will include up-front costs for more detailed site assessment and due diligence including a detailed building survey and assessment, a HazMat evaluation of the Mudd’s building, and geotechnical investigation.
Note that the current available funding will not support design and construction of a restroom, estimated at $300,000-$500,000, which will be completed in phase 2 unless additional funding is secured for phase 1.
- Phase 2: Building Renovation and Construction - $2,009,000
In this task, the PlaceWorks team will prepare a detailed set of plans, specifications and estimates (PS&E) for renovation of the remaining pavilion, jewel box room, outdoor kitchen, and restroom, as well as associated site improvements for accessibility and infrastructure continuity. Fees include bidding and construction support. Relocation of the PG&E transformer will occur in Phase 2 and is estimated at approximately $250,000.
- Phase 3: Parking Lots, Connections, and Building Landscape - $1,800,000
This phase will redesign the parking lots at Park Place and next to Mudd’s to maximize capacity within site constraints, as well as the entry arch, paving and ADA connections, improvements to garden sheds, and landscaping at parking and building planters. The design fee includes a new topographic survey of the entire site above top of creek bank for phases 3 and 4.
Note that topo survey, geo-tech, and hydraulic analysis of the creek at the Mudd’s parking lot to evaluate ongoing bank stability and repair options are not included in the estimated costs/fee, and can be provided separately, if requested.
- Phase 4: Park Landscaping & Pathways - $3,420,000
Phase 4 will include new and renovated pathways to maximize accessibility, a new nature play area and central meadow, updated and refreshed gardens and plantings in key locations throughout the park, irrigation, new shaded picnic structure near the nature play and community gardens and shaded picnic areas among gardens and shaded creek canopy, enhanced planting and signage at the intersection of Park Place and Boardwalk Place, and additional community garden beds and irrigation.
- Phase 5: Accessible Creek Trail - $975,000
This phase will design and construct accessible creek trail/boardwalk from top of bank to lower creek bank. This work will require a creek trail area survey, Geotech investigation, and structural design.
Parks and Community Services Commission Meeting
September 13, 2023
The Crow Canyon Gardens Master Plan was further refined by PlaceWorks and approved by the Parks and Community Services Commission. At that time, the preliminary estimated cost for construction (not including design, engineering or permit fees) of the Project was approximately $4,243,000.
*As part of the FY 24/25 Operating and CIP Capital Budget adoption, additional funds in the amount of $1,703,208 were appropriated to the Project from the Park Development Fund (PDF). The use of the funds from the PDF was contingent on receiving funds from development projects anticipated to come in during 24/25 fiscal year. Due to delays in development, and a new assembly bill that changed the timing of when fees are collected, the anticipated funds have not been collected; and therefore, the funds are not available for this Project at this time. Currently there is $517,000 available in CIP 955421, which is adequate to complete most of the design evaluation investigations, preparation of a demolition bid package, and demolition related to the reuse of the existing buildings. It is anticipated that development fees will continue to be collected, and the additional funds needed to complete the first phase of the Project may be available in fiscal year 25/26. If the funds are not available, the remaining $150,000 for phase 1 could be allocated or loaned from the City’s Public Art/Beautification Fund or the scope of the first phase could be reduced.
City Council and Parks and Community Services Commission Joint Meeting
January 25, 2023
Various options for the Crow Canyon Gardens Master Plan were presented to a joint meeting of the City Council and the Parks Commission. At that meeting, direction was provided to staff and PlaceWorks identifying the key elements that should be included in the final design.
City Council Meeting
November 9, 2021
The City Council approved Resolution No. 2021-130 appropriating $137,000 from the General Fund for PlaceWorks, Inc., the City’s landscape architect, to complete the Crow Canyon Gardens Master Plan and the associated phasing of the Project.