At their meeting on Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at 7:00 p.m., the La Palma City Council will consider final adoption of the Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan. In 2009, the City Council contracted with MIG, Inc. to develop the Master Plan, which will establish a vision for the future, while taking into account the existing condition of facilities and the total parks, recreation, and cultural arts desires of the community.
During the development of the document, numerous public outreach efforts occurred, such as a phone survey, onsite surveys, focus groups, and stakeholder interviews. The results have identified both recreational needs for facilities and the types of programs desired by La Palma residents that would meet their expectations for a successful park and recreation system for the next 20 years and beyond.
Based on these findings, a Conceptual Site Plan for Central Park was developed to incorporate items considered most important given space constraints. The proposed Site Plan provides for several new amenities, including: group picnic shelters, a children’s water plaza, reflection/meditation garden, walking/exercise trail, and improved park entryways. The Site Plan also addresses a number of space conflict issues, such as the relocation of the existing children’s play area from next to the basketball courts to a more user friendly and expanded area; relocation of the softball field to maximize field space and field orientation; and relocation of the park restroom to serve both park and greenbelt users. In addition to Central Park, other parks, schools, and the Edison right-of-way were identified for possible future improvements. The Conceptual Site Plan was reviewed by the City Council in January.
During the development of the document, numerous public outreach efforts occurred, such as a phone survey, onsite surveys, focus groups, and stakeholder interviews. The results have identified both recreational needs for facilities and the types of programs desired by La Palma residents that would meet their expectations for a successful park and recreation system for the next 20 years and beyond.
Based on these findings, a Conceptual Site Plan for Central Park was developed to incorporate items considered most important given space constraints. The proposed Site Plan provides for several new amenities, including: group picnic shelters, a children’s water plaza, reflection/meditation garden, walking/exercise trail, and improved park entryways. The Site Plan also addresses a number of space conflict issues, such as the relocation of the existing children’s play area from next to the basketball courts to a more user friendly and expanded area; relocation of the softball field to maximize field space and field orientation; and relocation of the park restroom to serve both park and greenbelt users. In addition to Central Park, other parks, schools, and the Edison right-of-way were identified for possible future improvements. The Conceptual Site Plan was reviewed by the City Council in January.
In addition to facility needs, programming was also reviewed and addressed. The Master Plan needs assessment concluded that La Palma residents enjoy a variety of recreation activities, programs, and services. The Master Plan recommends that leisure service programs offered by the City continue to be developed, designed, and delivered so that they provide the following benefits: unique sense of place, sense of belonging, healthy lifestyles, advance lifelong learning, personal growth, safety and security, youth development, strong family units, cultural expression, enjoyable senior years, fun, and celebration.
The City recently applied for a grant from the California State Parks Department to fund the improvements contemplated in the Master Plan. For more information and to review La Palma’s Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan and the proposed Central Park Site Plan, please visit www.cityoflapalma.org or call La Palma Recreation and Community Services at (714) 690-3350.
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