Deadline Proposed for Park Decision

If city officials and the Moorpark Unified School District cannot resolve what to do with Virginia Colony Park within the next month, the city staff recommends shutting down and fencing off the park.

The City Council will consider the staff suggestion during its meeting Wednesday. At least one resident is fuming at the idea that the 1-acre park might be sealed off.

“I think that is a terrible thing, and I don’t understand the motive for choosing to close the smallest park in the whole park system,” said Virginia Colony resident Tony Simen.

Simen said the park, next to a relatively low-income neighborhood on the city’s east side, is used frequently by families who don’t have large backyards. Virginia Colony residents use the park for birthday parties, christenings and weekend barbecues, Simen said.

Moorpark officials began considering whether to close the park--one of 13 in the city--during spring budget hearings, when they were trying to make up for a $600,000 shortfall after voters rejected a voluntary parks assessment measure.

After some residents complained about the park’s possible closure, city officials began considering whether the school district might be able to take over the maintenance because the park is near Moorpark Community School, a continuation high school.

The staff recommends that the two agencies make a decision by Oct. 7.

“Closing the park is not something anybody looks forward to doing, and it was uncomfortable when faced with it during the budget deliberation,” said Mayor Patrick Hunter.

But if the school district does not offer to take over park maintenance by the October deadline, Hunter said he would agree to close it.