Hollister
– City and county officials are considering applying for state
funds this week to build a large-scale river parkway and recreation
area near the San Benito River that could drastically reshape the
local landscape.
Hollister – City and county officials are considering applying for state funds this week to build a large-scale river parkway and recreation area near the San Benito River that could drastically reshape the local landscape.
The San Benito County Public Works Department is leading the efforts, but little is known about what the project would entail, Public Works Director Jerry Lo said Thursday. The department is hoping to get widespread public support for the project and is inviting citizens to attend planning sessions in the coming months. The Public Works Department will hold an open meeting from 10am to 12:15pm today at City Hall designed to generate interest in the project, inform the public and toss around ideas, Lo said.
Lo said the project would start small, but could end up encompassing nearly 400 acres along the banks of the San Benito River. But the first step is securing funding for what could be a multi-million dollar project. Lo said the Public Works Department, working with city officials, is considering applying for state grants, available under Proposition 50, to finance the project. The proposition, passed by voters in 2002, made $100 million available for river parkway projects statewide. During the next round of applications, $32.5 million is up for grabs. Lo said he wasn’t sure how much the city and the county would be able to get from the state, but said it was worth trying for at least some of the available dollars. Grant applications are due by Oct. 17, and the state is expected announce funding recipients in May or June of 2007.
In the meantime, Lo is working to get the community, local businesses, schools and others interested in the project.
“We’ll see what the community wants and then we’ll put together a project,” he said Thursday. “And if we’re lucky enough to get a grant, it will be up to the community to decide what they want for this project.”
The project could entail any number of facilities, from equestrian, biking and hiking trials, to science labs and park benches, Lo said.
“Nothing is solid yet,” he said.
San Benito County Supervisor Reb Monaco said Friday’s meeting would be a jumping off point for the grant application process.
“This is a preliminary meeting, the first step in the application process,” he said. “But this could be a very big thing for Hollister and San Benito County.”
Supervisor Anthony Botelho said more park and recreation areas could prove beneficial to the entire county.
“It could be a nice addition to our county, if we can do it right,” he said. “Any place for recreation, especially near the river, could be an asset to our community.”
Any future project would be a joint effort by the city and the county, Lo said. Hollister Mayor Robert Scattini said he is interested in learning more about the project and the city’s role in future development.
“What I’ve heard being talked about sounds good,” he said. “I’m looking forward to see how this will develop on how the city can benefit.”
Brett Rowland covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or br******@fr***********.com.
