El Rancho Verde Park Renovation Planned

Still glowing from a much-praised renovation of Central Park last year, officials are now proposing a make-over of the city’s other park on Moody Street.

“In the course of developing Central Park, there were questions raised by neighbors as to when this park would be renovated,” City Manager Daniel E. Keen said as he introduced a master plan for El Rancho Verde Park at this week’s City Council meeting.

The plan calls for new restrooms and playground equipment, a parking lot and landscaping.

The city last year had budgeted $74,000 for improvements to the one-acre park, but Keen asked the council to consider a $280,000 rehabilitation.

The city has not given El Rancho Verde much attention since its creation 24 years ago, Keen said. The park, north of Sharon Drive, now suffers from a lack of parking and restrooms, said council members, some of whom spoke from personal experience.

“When my grandchildren visit me, it’s very easy for me to go there but there’s no place to park and it’s hard to carry a packed lunch five blocks,” Councilwoman Eva Miner-Bradford said.

City Council members said they were impressed with the proposed plan for the park, but suggested that Kean rework the plan so the renovation could be done more economically in phases.

Several council members said they still want to consider building a roller rink and would want to split any recreational funds with that project.