Future path for city parks is approved

A master plan for renovation and revitalization of Garden Grove’s parks and recreation services was approved by the city council at its meeting Tuesday night.

The vote was 6-0 with Councilmember Thu-Ha Nguyen absent.

Under the master plan – if funded and implemented – residents can expect better parks but not additional parkland.

Consultant Richard Fisher – who worked with the city’s Community Services Department on the plan – said that a survey of nearly 1000 residents told him that “people don’t want more parks, they want improved parks.”

The master plan doesn’t call for trying to reach a former goal of 400 acres of parkland – the city now has 124 acres – but to upgrade the existing 19 parks.

Key priorities listed in the plan and emphasized by council members included:

• improved irrigation, especially at Garden Grove Park
• better park lighting
• keeping restrooms open longer and more consistent hours
• replacing outdated playground equipment.

All the proposals are contingent on funding, mostly from grant sources. The master plan document includes a lengthy list of potential financial resources from the state, federal government and non-profit organizations.

Among the standout proposals in the plan are:

• creating the city’s second dog park at Hare School Park (Magnolia Street and Chapman Avenue).
• working with the Garden Grove Unified School District to increase use of school playgrounds by providing fencing that would provide a separation between the classroom buildings and open space for public access.
• a major makeover of Garden Grove Park (Westminster Avenue and Deodora Avenue, next to Bolsa Grande High School) that would move and increase the number of arena soccer fields, create two full-size football/soccer fields, replace picnic shelters and add meandering walkways all across the facility.

The complete plan is expected to be available at the city’s website – www.ggcity.org – on Wednesday.