Park Plan Includes $5.5 Million for Valley

The Los Angeles Recreation and Park Commission on Friday recommended that the city apply for $5.5 million in state bond funds for four San Fernando Valley projects, including construction of the first city-owned indoor swimming pool in the Valley.

The proposal is part of a $14.4-million citywide package. It calls for three Valley projects to receive more than half of the $8.3 million expected to be available from a state bond measure approved by voters in June and a fourth project to receive funds from a 1984 state bond measure.

The commission suggested spending $2.7 million to build an indoor swimming pool at Cleveland High School in Reseda, $1.6 million for a community building at Paxton Recreation Center in Pacoima and $725,000 to develop picnic areas, irrigation systems and outdoor recreational facilities at O’Melveny Park in Granada Hills, said Joel Breitbart, assistant general manager for planning and development of the Department of Recreation and Parks.

Breitbart said the pool would be the first city indoor swimming pool in the Valley. There are 14 outdoor city pools in the Valley, he said.

If the request is funded, construction of the pool could begin by next summer, Breitbart said.

The community facility in Pacoima would include a gymnasium, meeting rooms, craft rooms, a stage, kitchen and office space. Construction could probably begin by mid-1988, he said.

The proposals must be approved by the City Council--which usually goes along with the department’s recommendations--and the mayor, and then by the state Department of Parks and Recreation and the Legislature.

Money is available from a $100-million state bond measure, the Community Parklands Act, approved by voters in June. The state parks department estimates that Los Angeles will receive nearly $8.3 million from the bond fund under an allocation formula based on population.

In addition, the city parks department recommended that the city seek $6.2 million, for use citywide, from a 1984 state bond measure. Of this, the city department proposes to use $345,000 for development of the Orcas picnic area at Hansen Dam.

The city must compete with other park agencies in the state for the funds. The final decision will be made by the state Legislature based on recommendations from the state parks department.

The city department report also lists a number of projects which it is proposing to fund out of the city’s budget next year.

The report proposes spending $1.7 million for a community building in Balboa Park in the Sepulveda Basin and for lighting of tennis courts at the Reseda, Northridge, Granada Hills and Sun Valley recreation centers. It would also provide funds for parking lot lighting at McGroarty Park in the Sunland-Tujunga area, Breitbart said.