Buena Park : County to Accept Help in Paying for Clark Sign

Since changing the sign for Los Coyotes Regional Park in Buena Park to Ralph B. Clark Regional Park is likely to cost $2,500 to $3,000, county supervisors said Tuesday that they would be happy to receive public contributions toward the effort.

The park was renamed by the other four supervisors in honor of Clark, who retired in January after 16 years as a supervisor. On Tuesday, supervisors gave the go-ahead to the county Environmental Management Agency for a project with an estimated cost of $10,000, including changing the sign and repairing damages to the concrete supports holding the sign in place.

Denton Turner, chief of recreation facilities design, said that a “real guesstimate off the top of my head” would put the cost of just changing the name on the sign at $2,500 to $3,000. The sign is about 24 feet wide and more than 4 feet tall, Turner said.

A crane will be required to take down the existing sign. Denton said the county has estimated the cost of damage to one of the supports when it was struck by a subcontractor’s vehicle at the park several months ago at $3,400, which the county will try to collect from the contractor.

Denton said other work could boost the total cost up to $10,000, although he said it likely will be less.

Supervisor Roger R. Stanton said Tuesday that Clark was “one of the most vigorous cost-cutters in government” during his tenure as a supervisor. Stanton added that “private contributions are welcome” for the project.

There was no indication whether Clark, himself, would contribute to the project. Campaign expense reports filed last week showed that Clark left office with a surplus of $187,080. He is barred by law from spending it on himself and has not indicated how it would be spent.

On Tuesday, Clark said it “has not been suggested” that he contribute toward the renaming of the park in his honor. “Naturally I’m flattered and thrilled (that) they want to name the park after me,” he said, but added that he has not yet decided what to do with his campaign surplus.