Moorpark to Mark First Decade : Anniversary: A City Hall open house and a host of festivities are among the events planned.

The city of Moorpark turns 10 on July 1, and city officials have planned a nearly month-long celebration aimed at achieving that close-knit feeling some say is still lacking in this city of 26,000.

Golf and softball tournaments were held earlier this month, and a City Hall open house is planned Wednesday evening. But most of the festivities--concerts, picnics and official anniversary ceremonies among them--will occur later this month and in early July.

“We’re celebrating 10 years of cityhood. I think it deserves some notoriety,” Mayor Paul Lawrason said.

“We still want to create more of a sense of community in the city and to get people to come together and realize the benefits of being a cohesive community working together,” Lawrason said. “There are a lot of events here that will bring people together and we think that’s good.”

Councilman John Wozniak, who headed the committee that planned the birthday bash, agreed.

“This is a celebration that the City Council wanted to give to the people of Moorpark,” Wozniak said. “All of the events that we’re having are either no fee or a very minimal fee, so this is really the gift of the city to the people.”

The people’s gift to the city came March 8, 1983, when residents voted 1,127 to 1,047 in favor of incorporation. The county certified cityhood as of July 1 and the first council members were seated two days later on July 3.

The city has planned 13 separate events this month and in July to mark its passage from county land to local municipality.

Scheduled events include a pancake breakfast Saturday, family barbecue July 2, the official anniversary commemoration ceremony July 3 in Arroyo Vista Park, an outdoor performance of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” July 11, and ‘50s-style concert July 25. The city has budgeted $5,000 for the celebration, with local businesses, churches and community groups also donating supplies and assistance.

About 20 local merchants have purchased commemorative banners customized with their store names for $150, Wozniak said. The colorful banners are now hanging on light standards around the city.

Wozniak said the City Hall open house, which starts at 5 p.m., will offer residents the chance to learn first-hand how city government works.

“It’s very confusing for people who have never been to a city hall, especially someone who moves in from a large city like Los Angeles,” he said.

“People here can get to directors of community development and directors of other departments very handily, the problem is that they don’t know what department takes care of what because they’ve never been able to get that far. This will allow them to come in and see, ‘Oh, this is the guy who takes care of my parks. This is who to talk to about my street,’ and so on,” Wozniak said.

Wozniak, one of the residents who cast a ballot in favor or incorporation, said it was a necessary move for the up-and-coming community that had little control over its own growth.

“At that time we were unincorporated,” he said. “We were part of the county and we had one vote on the Board of Supervisors. We felt we wanted to have more local control.”

Leta Yancy-Sutton, Moorpark’s first mayor, said she plans to attend the July 3 birthday celebration at Arroyo Vista Park on Tierra Rejada Road. The festivities will include a hot air balloon display, refreshments, entertainment and other activities.

“I think it’s great,” she said of the city’s birthday plans. “I never expected to be the city’s first mayor, but I enjoyed it. I think the best part was that we were brand new and just getting started putting everything together. It was like beginning fresh.”

Officials had vowed to have a new community building planned for Arroyo Vista, the city’s newest park, completed in time for the birthday celebration.

But construction delays left disappointed council members conceding months ago that the building would not be ready in time for the city’s 10th, though the outdoor park areas are complete and will host some of the events.

Councilman Scott Montgomery said the park will be officially opened at the July 3 ceremony, and that ground will be broken for the new building at the same time.

ANNIVERSARY EVENTS

* Wednesday, 5 p.m.: City Hall Open House, at City Hall, 799 Moorpark Ave.

* Saturday, 8-10 a.m.: Pancake Breakfast, United Methodist Church, 261 Flory Ave.

* Saturday, 8 a.m.: Family Bike Ride, United Methodist Church, 261 Flory Ave.

* June 28-July 2: 10th Anniversary Walking Tours, maps available at City Hall.

* July 2, 5 p.m.: Family Barbecue, outside City Hall, 799 Moorpark Ave.

* July 3, 9:30 a.m.: 10th Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony, Arroyo Vista Park.

* July 4, noon to 4 p.m., Fourth of July Picnic, Arroyo Vista Park.

* July 11, 5 p.m.: Shakespeare in the Park, South Meadows Park, Tierra Rejada Road.

* July 25, 5 p.m.: 10th Anniversary ‘50s Concert, South Meadows Park.