Simi Approves Corriganville Park Permit : Recreation: The decision will allow officials to apply for U.S. and state grants to build the $4.3-million facility.

Simi Valley planners on Wednesday approved a development permit for the proposed $4.3-million Corriganville Park on the city’s east end, clearing the way for park district officials to apply for federal and state grants to pay for construction.

The Planning Commission voted 4 to 0 to approve the permit, but instructed its staff to draft a set of guidelines that would help control special events held at the park. The commission will consider the guidelines at its meeting next week.

At a hearing two weeks ago, neighbors of the park site expressed concerns about noise and traffic that would be generated by visitors coming to view concerts and other events. The commission decided to delay granting a development permit to allow more time to review these and other issues.

Although the city will require special permits for certain events held at the park, the commission said Wednesday night it wanted specific guidelines on what kinds of activities would require permits. The commission asked staff to define “active” and “passive” uses for the park.

Once developed, the 204-acre park site located at the far east end of the city will include a visitors center, horse stables, outdoor amphitheater, playgrounds and parking. The site was once home to the famed Corriganville movie ranch and amusement park.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Planning Commissioner Robert Swoish said of the planned community park before Wednesday’s meeting. “That’s a good part of the history of Simi Valley.”

The property east of Kuehner Drive between the Simi Valley Freeway and the Southern Pacific railroad tracks was purchased jointly by the city, park district and Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy in 1988. The Rancho Simi Open Space Conservation Agency, a joint city-park district panel, is overseeing development.

Even with the development permit, construction of the park is at least two years away, because the park district does not have any money to begin it, said Don Hunt, assistant general manager of the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District. Having a permit in hand allows officials to pursue grants, he said.

“Are they going to be able to get all the funds to build the park? Gosh only knows,” Planning Commissioner Dean Kunicki said. “It certainly is worthwhile as a part of the heritage of our community.”

Corriganville was used in thousands of Westerns, serving as a backdrop to John Wayne in the movie “Fort Apache” and to James Arness in the television show “Gunsmoke,” among others.

Named after its former owner, Hollywood stuntman Ray (Crash) Corrigan, the ranch for 20 years also housed an amusement park where park visitors daily could watch Wild West stunt shows. It closed to the public in 1967.

A group known as the Corriganville Preservation Committee is soliciting private donations to raise the estimated $5 million needed to rebuild movie sets used in Western movies and television series in the 1950s and 1960s. The sets were destroyed in a 1970 fire.