Park district plans for citywide improvements
55-acre sports park expected to go out to bid by November
By Eliav Appelbaum Acorn Staff Writer

With summer coming to a close, the Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District remains busy with a variety of ongoing projects for 2007-08.

None may be bigger than plans for the $15 million, 55-acre sports park, the Village at the Park.

Situated next to a housing development, an elementary school and a YMCA, Village at the Park is being hailed as "our landmark" by Recreation and Park Superintendent Daryl Wagar.

"We're waiting for the construction plan to go to the board for approval. . . . We expect to go out to bid in November, go to the board for approval in December and hopefully start construction in January," said Mark Carlson, the board clerk and administrative assistant with the district. "It's been a very long process."

Carlson said the park is tentatively scheduled to open in August 2008.

In the meantime, Crestview Park is near completion of an extensive renovation. At the special meeting on August 29, bids were awarded for the purchase and installation of sod and decomposed granite. The sod needed to be replaced when the heavy machinery used to build the retaining wall damaged the grass. The retaining wall "cost us close to $ 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 , " Carlson said.

Wagar estimated that Crestview would completely reopen to the public by the end of October.

"The wall's made a huge impact on the park," Carlson said. "Before, there was just a hill coming down from the street. The hill was not really protected by a fence or anything."

The recreation and park district also plans to install an additional restroom facility for $204,000 on the east end of Freedom Park.

Improvements to the main road entrance of the park are expected to cost $100,000.

Plans are underway to replace the lights for the softball and soccer fields at Freedom Park for about $300,000.

"A lot of the lighting fixtures are from the '60s and '70s. We'll get energy efficient rebates from Edison that will cut down on the overall cost while vastly improving the quality of the lighting," Wagar said. "That will make the field a safer and more enjoyable playing experience."

Wagar pointed out that improvements at Freedom will make life easier for The American Youth Soccer Organization players and their parents. All organization soccer players in Camarillo play their games at one location, Freedom.

Tennis courts at Pleasant Valley and Vallee Lindo parks are scheduled to undergo resurfacing, which is expected to cost $40,000-$45,000.

Much of the work being done at the 28 parks in Camarillo will not affect the majority of citizens.

"Most people work during the day, which is the same hours our construction crew is working," Wagar said. "We're cordoning off small areas to safely work."

During last Wednesday's meeting at the Camarillo Community Center, the recreation and park district also decided to take over the Christmas parade from the Camarillo Pageant Association, which couldn't get enough volunteers. Any questions regarding the Christmas parade should be directed to the district office at 805-482-1996.