Park board sets annual goals
Sports park top priority, officials say
By Eliav Appelbaum eliav@theacorn.com

The obvious almost didn't need to be stated.

All five members of the board of directors with the Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District agreed that the completion of Village at the Park, the largest and most complex project in the history of the district, is the top priority for the upcoming year.

The board also discussed many other priorities during a goal-setting workshop last Wednesday at the Community Center conference room.

"Village at the Park is so obvious we didn't include it as a goal because everyone's so in tune with that," said board member Bob Kelley. "That's a given."

After local youth soccer leagues move into the Village upon completion of the 55-acre sports park, the district will turn its attention to creating 10 PONY baseball diamonds at Freedom Park. The Camarillo PONY Baseball Association currently uses three fields at Pleasant Valley Park.

Initial proposals for the Village in the late 1990s considered soccer and baseball leagues sharing the park. However, an agreement was made that satisfied all parties: Youth soccer and adult softball would move to the Village, then PONY baseball would transfer to Freedom.

"It's hard to run a program at multiple locations," said board director Mark Malloy.

During Wednesday's meeting, board members discussed various items, and whittled the list to 12 primary goals.

"It went really well," General Manager Dan LaBrado said of the workshop. "Everyone contributed and we came out with a workable list. . . . We want to establish a work plan for the year since we're doing budget right now. As a staff, we wanted to get a handle on priorities. We want to be in agreement with what the board wants us to do."

The board wants to work on these other main goals for next year: a dog park; teen center and gymnasium; Master Plan; Senior Center; Freedom Park facilities (center, pool, gym); advertising in the park; district relationships with other agencies; expanding special events; community group support; adult fitness equipment; and sponsorship of special events.

Kelley pushed for a teen center and a "first-class gym" that could be built at Community Center Park, while potentially moving the Senior Center to the old Camarillo Library. The city recently bought the old library from Ventura County. The library remains unoccupied until the building passes safety inspections and the city decides how to use the space. Malloy said a teen center could be built at the old library as well, because of its proximity to Pleasant Valley Park and the Boys & Girls Club.

Kelley said he'd like the multipurpose gym to be big enough for two basketball or two volleyball games to be played at the same time, while also being a home for futsal, a form of indoor soccer popular in Europe and South America. The board member would also like to install adult fitness equipment at various parks, especially those frequented by joggers or runners.

"I want the gym to accommodate various sports," Kelley said. "For the Senior Center, it's being used more and more, and the seniors deserve better than what we have now- although what they have now is certainly getting the job done."

Besides converting Freedom Park into the home for PONY baseball, building a teen center and expanding senior services, Malloy said there's a necessity for a dog park in Camarillo. He would also like to see the district expand its special events.

"We need more gym space," Malloy said. "Basketball is a sport that is appealing to teens. When they get to that age, they lose interest in baseball. Basketball's easy to play on a casual basis, and having a teen center nearby- it's a natural combination."