A rendering of one of the options to improve safety at Ashley Pond Park. This option involves installing boulders and having native plants. Courtesy/LAC

By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

Looks certainly are not everything but when it comes to improving crowd safety at Ashley Pond Park, Los Alamos County is striving to offer something that ensures the public’s wellbeing and is aesthetically pleasing.

Los Alamos County Senior Engineer Jennifer Morrow explained to the Transportation Board Tuesday that the concrete jersey barriers currently lining the park’s perimeter along Trinity Drive are not exactly easy on the eyes.

“Just to ensure that we kept the safety of the public in mind, we started with the jersey barriers and apparently those didn’t go over well with the public,” she said. “There were quite a few complaints but they were always a temporary solution.”

Morrow presented options for a permanent solution to the Historic Preservation Advisory Board June 10, the Parks and Recreation Board June 11 and finally to the Transportation Board Tuesday. In addition, a survey is being conducted to gage what the community would like. The survey closes June 28 and can be accessed at lacnm.com/BollardSurvey.

The options include installing 30 by 19-inch concrete piers or bollards, installing a mix of the bollards as well as 96 by 24 by 24-inch planters or placing natural boulders on the park’s perimeter along Trinity Drive along with native plants.

While the Parks and Recreation board decided to support whichever option the community voted on, the Historic Preservation Advisory Board and the Transportation Board unanimously voted to recommend the third option, which is the boulders. County Council will have the final approval.

Parks and Recreation Board Chair Brian Watkins said during the June 11 meeting that he appreciated the County’s efforts to get feedback.

“I think that is super valuable and super important … I suspect that our recommendation is to do what the community recommends and what they vote for …”  he said.

During the Historic Preservation Advisory Board meeting, it was commented that option three would complement the existing landscape at the park the best.

Finally, at the Transportation Board meeting, it was stated that option 3 offered the most effective barriers for the public’s safety, as well as featured the most favorable aesthetics and required the least amount of maintenance.

During the Transportation Board meeting, Morrow said thus far option three is the favorite among the survey respondents, too.

She reported that as of Tuesday, the survey garnered 507 responses. Of those, 69 percent voted for the natural rocks, 18 percent voted in favor of the planters and bollards and 13 percent said they preferred the bollards.

Public Works Director Eric Martinez said the recommendation will be presented to County Council June 30. If approved, the project will move into the design and installation phase. The goal, he said, is to have the improvements installed before next year’s summer concerts.

Morrow said all three options are in the same price bracket – approximately $100,000. She mentioned that the boulders could be locally sourced, which might make option three more cost effective.

When asked during Tuesday’s Transportation Board meeting, if the bollards or rocks would be anchored, Morrow said the boulders would not be anchored if they were 4 feet by 4 feet by 4 feet. She added the boulders would weigh 4 tons. The bollards would be anchored, she said. They would have a concrete foundation with a four-inch metal pipe.

The Transportation Board also wondered how the hybrid road diet on Trinity Drive would impact this project.

Morrow noted the hybrid road diet project will provide a two-foot curb and gutter, a five-foot bike lane and then the traffic lanes “so that design will add some protections for pedestrians given this additional buffer space.”

The Transportation Board also wondered about emergency vehicle access.

Morrow said they would still have access to the park, adding “we were looking mostly at the Trinity side because it is the most traveled and the highest risk area.”

A rendering of one of the options for improving safety at Ashley Pond Park. This option features installing bollards and planters. Courtesy/LAC

A rendering of one of the options for improving safety at Ashley Pond Park. This option features bollards. Courtesy/LAC