Los Alamitos : U.S. Moving Toward Giving Park to City

The federal government has taken the first steps toward deeding to the city the 6 acres on which the city’s largest park is situated.

The General Services Administration has declared surplus the land at Farquhar Avenue and Bloomfield Street, which is part of the Los Alamitos Armed Forces Reserve Center and the site of Little Cottonwood Park.

The city spent $348,000 to build the park in 1980 after the federal government granted a 30-year, $1-per-year lease.

Then in March, 1986, federal authorities notified the city that they were considering declaring the land surplus. Under federal regulations, surplus federal land can be given to local and state governments for public use.

Mark A. Wagner, the city’s director of recreation and community services, said the city is preparing an application for ownership of the land, based on its existing use as a city park.

“The city has a severe shortage of park open space, Wagner said. “That’s why this park really filled a need in that segment of the community. It’s the largest park site the city has.”