SANTA ANA : Council Weighs Plan to Develop Parks

City officials are considering an ambitious $15-million plan to build several new community recreation centers at local parks, one a year for the next four years.

The City Council and staff talked about the tentative plan during a three-hour study session on Monday. The proposal calls for recreation centers at Rosita, Delhi, and Santa Ana Memorial parks, with the fourth center to be built at either Carl Thornton or Santa Anita parks.

Residents have suffered with a severe shortage of parks and the proposed centers will offer greater recreational opportunities. Under the proposal, each new center would cost about $3.7 million.

Parks department personnel are drafting a formal recommendation for the council to consider. Ultimately, the city plans to build seven new parks and expand seven others by the year 2020, said Allen E. Doby, executive director for Recreation and Community Services.

The centers would offer sports, arts and crafts and other activities and would be paid for with a combination of grants, loans and tax increment, said City Manager David N. Ream.

Councilwoman Patricia McGuigan said the centers would offer ideal community meeting places and would also be a cost-effective way to help reduce crime and deter children from joining gangs.

“You’ve got an opportunity for education, recreation and prevention of problems. Certainly it’s less expensive than adding a whole host of police officers to deal with crime,” she said.