Local parks will reap the benefits from two California State
Park Bond Acts, one passed in 2000 and the other in 2002, but San
Benito County will not rush to write checks on any improvements
just yet.
Local parks will reap the benefits from two California State Park Bond Acts, one passed in 2000 and the other in 2002, but San Benito County will not rush to write checks on any improvements just yet.
Although many parks desperately need repairs, the county has the next seven years to spend the $184,000 and $1.2 million share of the revenues from the bonds passed by California voters. In fact, assistant director for Public Works Pete Corn said none of the money will be budgeted until a new director of the department is hired.
Nonetheless, Corn said the county is happy to receive the improvement money – something that has been historically lacking in park budgets.
“There has been a problem with funding for a while,” he said.
Corn said the county plans to formulate a list of potential parks and facilities that could benefit from the funds.
According to the Board of Supervisors, funds can be spent on the following: joint projects with the cities of Hollister and San Juan Bautista, improving county-owned parks, including Veterans Memorial Park, the Historical and Recreational Park and San Justo Reservoir, purchasing land for future park development and joint projects with local schools.
Supervisor Pat Loe said the potential of new park development in the county is exciting and could meet the increased public demand for recreational facilities.
“We are busting at the seams in this county with different activities who need the recreation area,” she said. “Whether it’s soccer fields or ball fields, children and adults will all benefit.”
The funds from the 2000 bond will be available until 2008, and the 2002 bond funds are available until 2011. Before the county can receive the funds, they must identify eligible projects, and have them approved by the Department of Parks and Recreation.
Supervisor Ruth Kesler would like to see more parks built in San Juan Bautista and Aromas.
“I would really like to see the money divided equally,” she said.
The cities of San Juan Bautista and Hollister will have their own money to make repairs with as well. Proposition 40, the 2002 Bond Act, which secured the county’s $1.2 million, also provides each city with an additional $220,000.
Hollister City Council Member Robert Scattini said the city hasn’t discussed how they will allocate the funds, but he foresees the money going toward repairs rather than building new parks.
“$220,000 isn’t enough to build a new park, so chances are we’ll use the money to make repairs to the ones we already have,” he said.
Although the next step in the process won’t happen anytime soon and the facilities have not been chosen, Loe said, the board will talk with the cities and local organizations sometime in the future to do an assessment of the communities’ needs.
