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Group proposes city park upgrades By Chris Strunk Last Updated: April 18, 2019 A new or refurbished swimming pool, another splash pad, lighted walking paths. Those were just some of the amenities a citizens advisory group would like to see in Valley Center some day. The Parks and Outdoor Spaces Board, made up of residents appointed by the city council, delivered a capital improvement plan to the council earlier this month. Robert Wilson, the board's vice president, said the group has been working on the requests for close to a year. "These items can add benefits to our current residents and gain new families," Wilson said. Wilson presented three recommendations for 2020. Wilson started with lighting along sidewalks on Fifth from the Public Safety Building to the Fiddler's Creek neighborhood and on Ford from Meridian to the Prairie Creek neighborhood. The second recommendation involved phased-in improvements to Lions Park, including playground equipment and a new pavilion. The first phase — a new community center — has already been complete. Wilson said a new pavilion could be used for weddings, a pop-up park for food truck rallies and other community gatherings. Wilson said the third recommendation involved improvements to Wetlands Park, which is a wooded nature trail west of West Elementary. For 2021 and into the future, the board gave several recommendations. The first was a fourth phase of improvements in Lions Park — work on the existing swimming pool and a new splash pad. Wilson said the pool needs to be refurbished or replaced. Another recommendation centered on the city cemetery on North Meridian. The board wanted to have a designated burial area for military veterans, a flag pole and a reflection area with a water feature. Other recommendations included the development of a smart phone app to promote parks and city attractions, development of city-owned property south of Ford and east of Meridian, lighted pathways starting with Emporia between Main and Fifth and a lighted water feature in McLaughlin Park. The recommendations will help as the city council develops the city's 2020 budget and its long-term capital improvement plan. |
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