Park 35 years in the making

Santa Rosa Park's grand opening will be from noon to 3 p.m. tomorrow, March 28 and will include a ribbon-cutting, games of horseshoes and a barbecue.

Santa Rosa Park is on Hill Canyon Road, roughly 3½ miles west of the interchange at Santa Rosa and Moorpark roads.

"I know the community is really excited to come out," said Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks.

The first phase of the 50-acre park includes picnic benches, barbecue grills, water fountains, restrooms and a parking lot. The second phase of the project will include equestrian arenas, a grandstand, an announcer's booth for horse shows and a trail access for horses.

Though there is not enough room for horse shows at this time, horses can still walk the grounds, Parks said.

The county cannot begin second-phase construction until the city of Thousand Oaks grants an equestrian trail access.

"We've been thwarted in our efforts to put in the equestrian improvements," the supervisor said. "We need one little segment of trail that we don't have.

Because the second phase design plans are complete, Parks hopes the second phase of the $1.18million park can be finished soon.

"I'd like to see it done now," she said. "So would all the equestrians. There's some frustration. But we're glad we got the first phase done."

The construction of the park cost $800,000, engineering $280,000 and extra land purchasing $100,000.

The park was funded by roughly $900,000 in proposition bond money and $268,000 in an agricultural trust fund that could only be used for Santa Rosa Park.

The park has hit some snags along the way.

An endangered species of bird—the Least Bell's Vireo— was discovered near the park. Construction was delayed about five months last year until the chicks hatched, Parks said.

The county also had to buy easements to build road turnouts.

During a neighboring restoration project along the Arroyo Conejo Creek, abandoned cars and nonnative vegetation needed to be removed.

Hundreds of trees and native vegetation, including willow, cottonwood, sycamore, oak and walnut trees, have been planted along the creek.

The park had been an empty field with a few picnic benches in the middle. The grounds were also used for agriculture.

"(Thirty-five) years ago the idea for this park started," Parks said. "When I got on the board of supervisors, it was my goal to get it done as a park. I'm really looking forward to the opening."