Positive Changes Coming to Aptos Parks

By Zach Friend, County Supervisor 2nd District

As we head into budget time I wanted to give you an overview of the great improvements coming to parks within our district in the coming year.

Polo Grounds

Decades ago the original Master Plan for the Polo Grounds called for restroom facilities. Decades later we still don’t have them. I believe in the coming year this will change. I worked to put $60,000 into the budget two years ago to seed the funding for this project.

Since then, I’ve been working with County Parks staff and the County Administrator’s Office to see if this year we can add even more funding into this fund to make this reality. As we head into budget hearings in a few weeks I will be advocating for additional funding for this purpose.

In addition, the Cabrillo Host Lions have agreed to help fundraise for the restrooms as well as a concession facility. They have created a website, www.gogopolo.org and are very committed to working with my office to make this a reality. The public/private partnership is key toward having this under construction within the next year.

Also at the Polo Grounds the Parks Department have partnered with the local bike community on improving the bike jumps. The jumps will have a beginner, intermediate and advance jump series with a small pump track surrounding it.

This should be a great improvement to the local jumps and it’s another great example of a local public/private partnership at the park!

Seacliff Village Park

After over a decade of work by neighbors, parks staff, Supervisor Pirie and now my office the new Seacliff Village Park will finally break ground this year! Over the last year we were able to add funding in the budget and obtain a grant that helped make this a reality. The park, located at the corner Searidge and McGregor in Seacliff, is a 1.4-acre park that will feature a number of great elements. In the first phase a play area (with five play structures including swings, a climbing net and lighthouse themed play area) will be constructed. In addition, a small plaza area, multiple walkways, a picnic area with ADA picnic tables, drinking fountain, bike rack, benches, a sidewalk along McGregor and drought tolerant landscaping throughout the park will be added.

Over the last six months the County has finalized the landscape design, received the permit for development of the park and initiated the bidding process for the construction phase. The construction bids are being opened this month and the selected bid is expected to be awarded in July with construction beginning after that point. The bid requires completion of this phase within 144 days of construction commencing.

In addition, at our May 19th Board of Supervisors meeting we approved local artist Kathleen Crocetti’s public art proposal for Seacliff Village Park. The Santa Cruz County Arts Commission reviewed proposals for a public art component and recommended Ms. Crocetti’s proposal, which includes 38 stained concrete pylons with mosaic tops that feature local Seacliff imagery. The pylons will be cast in place along the park pathway and vary in height from 18-26”. Our office is working with Ms. Crocetti and the County Parks Department on holding a community meeting to select imagery for the mosaics. Ms. Crocetti also intends to work with local residents on the creation of the art on-site at the park. More information about the community meeting will be posted on the County Parks website at www.scparks.com

Hidden Beach

Local metalworker and sculptor, Rigel Hunter, will be installing a public artwork at the Hidden Beach Pump Station this fall. Mr. Hunter’s artwork consists of two integrated elements: metal fencing will be installed atop the pump station and at the bottom of the retaining wall adjacent to the stairway that will feature bronze kelp accents. The other element of the project includes a number of hand-forged bronze sea stars, sand dollars and barnacles, which will be attached to the concrete fence posts adjacent to the service road and pathway.

Youth Camps

At Aptos Village Park this summer, in addition to the 28th year of Renaissance Camp, Parks staff has created four new and exciting weeklong day camps. Participants can learn the science of fitness, discover essential techniques to create unique art with polymer clay, expand their creative horizons at a DIY multimedia art camp, and explore the science behind food and cooking. Find more information about these and other summer programs for youth check out the Parks website at www.scparks.com

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As always I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to reach out to me at 454-2200.