Construction to Begin on Thousand Oaks Civic Center

Pushing gold-painted shovels into loosened earth, Thousand Oaks city leaders symbolically broke ground on the former site of Jungleland park Saturday to begin construction of a controversial $63-million civic arts plaza.

An estimated 2,000 people attended the groundbreaking ceremonies that included musical and dance performances, an animal show with an elephant and other live entertainment.

With Thousand Oaks and Ventura County officials all toting gold shovels, the dirt digging and speechmaking never touched on the legal disputes and public discord over the costs, the design and nearly every other aspect of the proposed complex. Once completed, the Jungleland project will include a new City Hall, an arts auditorium and a forum theater.

“It’s an exciting day for our whole community and for the thousands of people who have supported this idea for the last four years,” Mayor Frank Schillo said. “Today is the end of a dream and the beginning of the civic arts plaza reality.”

The mayor was flanked by other Jungleland supporters, including City Council members Robert Lewis, Alex Fiore and Judy Lazar. County Supervisor Maggie Erickson Kildee and other officials also spoke briefly in support of the project.

Councilwoman Elois Zeanah, a leading critic of the project, did not show up--although her name appeared on the program.

Schillo boasted in his speech that the facility will be the best anywhere between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Fiore, another strong supporter, agreed. Fiore and Schillo are both targets of a petition seeking their recall in an upcoming election.

“It will be a facility second to none, and the people will cherish it,” Fiore said. “I can understand, in these economic times, people’s concerns. But it’s paid off--the money’s been set aside.”

The event resembled a large picnic, with supporters munching on pizza, hot dogs and beef barbecue. A footbridge, built for the event by the Seabees from Port Hueneme, helped supporters cross a dry ravine that cuts across the site.

The event even included a few celebrities. Jaleel White, Kellie Shanygne Williams and Cherie M. Johnson of ABC-TV’s “Family Matters” were on hand to lend their support. White, who plays Steve Urkel on the program, praised the project and said it would provide young people with an alternative to drugs and gangs.