Update on Our Local County Parks

By Zach Friend, 2nd District Santa Cruz County Supervisor

Over the last few years the Santa Cruz County Parks Department has faced significant cuts. The department was consolidated with Public Works to save money and staffing numbers have been reduced. Even with these cuts, the Parks staff has continued to work with our office on improving parks in our district. I wanted to give you a quick update on two such parks, Seacliff’s new park and the Polo Grounds.

Seacliff Neighborhood Park

First let’s look at the proposed park in Seacliff. My Parks Commissioner, Kate Minott, provided this specific update: “An application for a Development Permit to build the first phase of Seacliff’s long-anticipated neighborhood park is likely to be submitted to the Santa Cruz County Planning Department this summer. Plans to build the park at the corner of Searidge Road and McGregor Road have been on the drawing board since 2007 when the County purchased the 1.25-acre site from South County Housing Corporation, the nonprofit developer who has nearly completed building the Canterbury Park housing project adjacent to the park.

“Phase I of the Park’s construction will include installation of a playground for young children; a picnic table area; a permanent turf lawn; a portion of the park’s walkway; drought-tolerant landscaping; and a temporary restroom. A new sidewalk will connect the corner of Searidge Road to the Canterbury Lane-McGregor Road intersection. To complete the park’s Phase II installation of the permanent restroom, skate-able art piece and corner amphitheater, private donations will be needed to augment public financing.”

Our office has been actively working with Parks Department staff to help see the Seacliff park project through to the finish line.

Aptos Polo Grounds

Now let’s look at the Polo Grounds. Each year, thousands of local residents enjoy the over sixty acres that make up the Polo Grounds County Park in Aptos playing baseball, soccer fields, using the fenced dog park or bike jump area – or possibly walking around the perimeter. But one thing that has been significantly missing at the Polo Grounds are permanent restrooms. Even though this facility is part of the Park Master Plan, adopted 25 years ago, the only available restrooms are inadequate portable restrooms.

At our recent budget hearings, I asked that the Board of Supervisors allocate $60,000 in seed funding toward the development of permanent restrooms. In addition, I requested that Parks staff look into the possibility of a small snack shack as well. The $60,000 request passed unanimously. Parks staff have obtained bids for pre-fabricated restrooms (similar to what you see at state parks or other regional parks) and they estimate the cost to be somewhere between $220,000 and $250,000. The Parks staff is very supportive of both of these improvements and is looking for all possible funding mechanisms.

I’ve been working with community groups to help get the word out about helping raise the funds in an attempt to help expedite the funding. The Santa Cruz County Parks Commission and local little leagues have all offered to help and we’d love to have your help as well. This seed funding can be rolled over in future Parks budgets so that we can start building up funds to hit our goal over multiple years. However, our kids deserve to have restrooms at the park and it’s important to see this portion of the Master Plan through as soon as practical. The $60,000 in seed funding is a key first step.

If you would like to get involved with helping raise funds for either park, please call Supervisor Friend’s office at 454-2200. www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/Government/BoardofSupervisors/District2