Ideas Sought for City’s Central Park

Tennis courts or more playing fields? A lake or playground equipment? A jogging track or more lights for the baseball diamonds?

The Moorpark City Council wants to hear from the public about priorities for the city’s central park--Arroyo Vista Community Park.

With about $100,000 to use in the coming fiscal year, the council wants to set spending priorities as it enters the next phase of building in the $3-million, 69-acre park.

A huge gym and recreation center were completed at the site more than two years ago, and since then there has been a steady stream of improvements, including soccer fields and baseball diamonds.

The council voted last month to move ahead on construction of a football field at the park for use by the local youth football league. Because the league organizers got all the supplies and labor donated for the field’s construction, the improvements are not expected to cost the city anything, said Councilman John Wozniak.

One of the questions coming before the council is whether to install a large lake at the park. Members of the Parks and Recreation Committee and members of the City Council have said that removing the lake from the park plans would save money.

“Personally, it’s not so much the money,” Wozniak said. “I have just never liked the idea of a lake there. It’s a huge nightmare. Just look at Rancho Simi Park District’s lake. They have to worry about mosquito larvae, and whether the water is clean. . . . It’s just a big nightmare.”

The council plans to discuss the matter at its April 17 meeting. The list of park priorities was on the agenda Wednesday night, but council members asked to postpone discussion so residents would have more time for input.

Right now the list starts with the youth football league field, a paved access road, a multipurpose court for basketball and street hockey, tennis courts, and a furnished kitchen for the recreation center.