Residents Answer City in Bid to Take Parks

Residents have made a counteroffer to a proposal under which the city would pay for more improvements to the Vista Park site in exchange for a homeowners association taking over maintenance of the facility.

Marina Hills Homeowners Assn. officials asked the City Council for extra park amenities that the city estimates would cost between $75,000 and $125,000.

In return, the association would assume ownership and responsibility for Vista and two other parks in the area.

City officials were interested by the offer.

“At first blush, it’s an interesting counterproposal,” City Manager Tim Casey said. “But we need to talk to them more about it.”

The extra improvements to the undeveloped, two-acre park site would include landscaping and playground equipment.

The city estimates that it would cost about $8,700 annually to maintain the park.

Association officials said that taking title to three parks would relieve the city of future maintenance responsibilities. The association assuming ownership of the parks would clear up any question of legal liability as well, they added.