City Moves to Upgrade Central Park Facilities

The City Council approved a plan this week for possible future uses of the undeveloped areas of Huntington Central Park, including a batting cage, urban forest, trails, parking lots, a swim complex, a bandstand and more.

The plan is a preliminary step to making improvements to the 370-acre park along Goldenwest Street. An environmental impact report will precede any development.

In some areas, development is not imminent. For example, a section set aside for an aquatics complex at the northeast corner of Goldenwest Street and Ellis Avenue would be developed only if plans fall through for a public pool at Ocean View High School.

And three possible Native American archeological sites were discovered in the area planned for the urban forest--in the southwest part of the park.

Instead of paying for a $60,000 environmental study there, the plan recommends using the money for a sports complex with areas for children’s soccer, softball, roller hockey and a batting cage.

The income from areas with user fees, such as the roller hockey facility and the batting cage, would be used for development and operation of the sports complex, officials said.

At the City Council’s meeting Monday, resident Terry Lindenberger lauded plans for improving the youth sports facilities.

“Kids who are constructive in their communities have very little time to be destructive,” she said.