LAGUNA NIGUEL : City Takes Control of 120-Acre Park

As a result of an agreement between the city and a local developer, Laguna Niguel now owns a 120-acre park that includes more than 100 acres of open space for hikers, bicycle riders and equestrians.

Combined with the adjacent Salt Creek Park, the city’s takeover of Chapparosa Community Park provides a total of more than 400 acres of open space and parkland in the area, City Manager Tim Casey said.

“We have taken ownership of the 120 acres forever,” Casey said. “In doing so, this becomes the largest community park within the entire city.”

Although Chapparosa Community Park has been open to the public for about two years, the city did not accept ownership of the land until last week because of a dispute over whether the developer had completed improvements on the land, Casey said.

The council’s 4-0 decision last week to take over the property and accept $300,000 in cash from Shea Homes represents “a significant transfer” of land, Casey said. Councilwoman Patricia C. Bates abstained from the vote because her husband, a local architect, has done work for Shea Homes in the past.

In return for various development rights, Shea Homes was obligated to dedicate the land to the city, Casey said. The city and developer had worked out a settlement more than a year ago to conclude the agreement, but transfer of ownership was delayed because officials said the developer had not completed required work on the property, including “fine-tuning” of the irrigation system and completing grading along park trails, Casey said.

Those improvements have now been completed, Casey said. Previously, the developer spent $1.9 million to outfit the park, bordered by Street of the Golden Lantern and Chapparosa Park Road, with baseball diamonds, a soccer field, basketball and volleyball courts, and other recreation facilities.

The city will use the $300,000 cash for additional landscaping and to complete a view knoll, Casey said.