Picnic Spaces, Walking Paths Wanted for Proposed New Center Avenue Park

If the city wins a $5 million grant to build a new park on what is now open space on Center Avenue near the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, residents hope to see picnic spaces, walking paths, open space with wildlife habitat, a play area for families with children and perhaps an exercise course.

Those are some of the high-ranking items that local residents spoke of after a series of neighborhood meetings regarding the possibility of a park on what is now city-owned open space bordered by Roman and Rolling Hills ways, near the Kaiser Permanente medical offices.

The items will be up for discussion Tuesday evening by the Parks, Recreation, Marina and Cultural Commission. That meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 525 Henrietta St.

According to recreation manager Mitch Austin and grant writer Tempra Board, the series of meetings held in the neighborhood resulted in a wish list of amenities for the new park, and also some brought up residents' concerns. For instance, three people wanted to see dogs allowed in the new park, while three other residents were opposed. There was concern that a newly-developed park would draw more vandalism to an area that has seen its share in the past few years.

On Monday, members of the PRMCC Grant Subcommittee reviewed the list of things residents wanted to see in the proposed park. Subcommittee members were largely in agreement with the residents regarding the amenities.

Austin pointed out that a new park also could solve an ongoing issue with the property.

"The hill itself is not stable," he said. "There was a big slide there a few years ago. When it rains, drainage is now an area of concern. If we develop that area into a park, it could resolve that issue."

But Board said that some neighbors were wary of major changes  to the property.

"Some neighbors were worried about vandalism," she said. "There were also concerns whether the city will be able to maintain the property, and also if the Police Department will have enough resources to patrol the area adequately."

Neighbors directly adjacent to the property were concerned that people using the park would be staring into their back yards.

Austin pointed out that the project is only in the discussion stage at this point, and that the grant application has not been prepared. These are competitive grants, he said, and the more input from the public, the more likely the city is to win one. But he noted that final plans would be vetted by the full PRMCC, Planning Commission, Police Department and City Council.

PRMCC chair Dylan Radke, who is also a subcommittee member, pointed out that a par course is being constructed at nearby Hidden Lakes Park, which may eliminate the desire for one at the proposed park.