County Opens 2 Parks in Fast-Growing Castaic

Los Angeles County dedicated the first two neighborhood parks in the Castaic area Friday, giving the growing community’s residents places to picnic and play.

“The young people, especially, needed a place where they could gather,” said Michele Edmonson, who led a community coalition that convinced the county to build one of the parks. “My children used to have to play ball in a vacant lot.”

Del Valle Park, 28201 W. Sloan Canyon Road, and Hasley Canyon Park, 28700 W. Quincy St., cost more than $1 million in state park bond funds, said John Weber, assistant director for the northern region of the county Parks and Recreation Department.

“They are the first two community parks in Castaic,” he said. “This is just the first phase in their construction.”

Castaic, with a population of 8,000, is expected to grow to 25,000 by 2010, including many young families with children who will use the parks, county officials said.

Initial construction costs on both parks included grading, drainage, landscaping and irrigation, Weber said.

The 5.8-acre Del Valle Park, which cost $500,000, includes picnic tables, an open play area and restrooms. Developer Robert Waldron donated $50,000 for a children’s play area.

Plans call for a basketball and tennis court, recreation building, sand volleyball court and jogging path and exercise equipment, when more money is available, Weber said.

Edmonson, who lives near Del Valle Park, said that when she bought her house in 1983, the builder told her that a park would be developed on the site. In late 1987, she said, she and her neighbors organized the coalition.

“The land had just been sitting there unused,” said Edmonson, who participated in Friday’s dedication. “We’re really pleased that they listened to us. We’re really excited now that the park’s finally here.”

The 5.83-acre Hasley Canyon Park is adjacent to the Castaic Union School District’s Live Oak Elementary School. Supt. Scott Brown said it will become an extension of the school grounds.

“Our playground really was too small to accommodate even softball,” he said. “We’re really happy about its completion and are looking forward to a happy and successful partnership with the county.”

The park, which cost $507,000, has picnic tables, benches, restrooms and a children’s play area, Weber said. Eventually, a swimming pool, recreation building, softball field, and basketball and sand volleyball courts will be added, he said.

“The community played a major role in determining the design of the parks,” said Weber, who was master of ceremonies at the separate dedications. He said he wants the community involvement to continue.

“I’d like to see kids adopt trees to watch over,” he said. “If they see something wrong, they can report it to us and the problem will be taken care of sooner. It’s very important that when you have a park in the community that the community accepts responsibility for its upkeep.”