Advertisement

Council approves rec center green space

Share

The Adult Recreation Center campus will be a lot more pedestrian-friendly come October after the City Council this week voted to revamp the area into a more park-like setting.

The first phase of construction at the 19,100-square-foot building at 201 E. Colorado St. finished in July 2010. The park’s prior recreation center, four tennis courts, shuffle board courts and a lawn bowling area were demolished.

The second phase, scheduled to be completed in 90 days, will add landscaping, light poles, irrigation, a drinking fountain, walkways, furniture for the center and a retaining wall to protect an oak tree.

Jess Duran, director of community services and parks, said development impact fees previously earmarked for the recently completed Pacific Park community pool would be redirected to help fund the $560,596 Adult Recreation Center project.

“We have completed the pool, so the development impact fee funds are now available to reprogram to other projects,” he said.

The 1.5-acre park will include ample green space, officials said. Dave Ahern, the assistant director of community services and parks, said the City Council could eventually build the park out as an entertainment area, a soccer field, or “whatever council would like.”

“I’m not sure that we’re going to need an organized sports field in that particular location, but we need to move forward and get some green space,” Councilman Frank Quintero said.

City Manager Jim Starbird said the park’s plan was a minimalist approach and that for long term, the open space would be a potential site for subterranean parking to service the library, the Adult Recreation Center and potential development on Brand Boulevard.

Advertisement