ARTIST’S VIEW of an illuminated new Garden Grove Police facility.

By Jim Tortolano/Orange County Tribune

Construction of the new police facility in Garden Grove is on schedule and within budget, but the biggest news to come out of a status report given to the city council on Tuesday was more green than blue.

After hearing details about the $132 million project now under construction at the northeast corner of Acacia Parkway and Euclid Street, several council members brought up the issue of adding a water element in the new park to be located near the multi-story police facility.

During the construction of the building, the former small lake and waterfall that had been located behind the main city library was torn up and the ducks dispersed.

Councilmember George Brietigam said, “I’ve gotten some feedback from the community is, hey they lost their lake, and that was a pretty special lake for a lot of people and they would like to see a water feature incorporated into this new park space.

“I think we should do that,” he continued. “I mean we took away a major water feature from the community and I think we should, at minimum, give them back something.”

He was joined by other councilmembers in advocating for something to replace the lost lake.

Councilmember Cindy Tran voiced her support for the water feature and said “I know it might be expensive, but we don’t have to do a gigantic thing.”

The council was then told that “A water feature is part of the design conversation. We’re looking at how best to integrate that, and what those options and costs look like … we will make a decision on costs and how it would work in the park design.”

A main feature of the planned feature would be a permanent stage that would serve as a centerpiece for concerts, graduation ceremonies and other events.