Hollister
– Community members and officials met Friday to discuss
tentative plans for a large-scale park and recreation area near the
San Benito River, the first major step toward applying for several
million dollars in state grants needed to fund the river parkway
project.
Hollister – Community members and officials met Friday to discuss tentative plans for a large-scale park and recreation area near the San Benito River, the first major step toward applying for several million dollars in state grants needed to fund the river parkway project.
The San Benito County Public Works Department, which is spearheading efforts to get state funding for a river parkway project, brought officials from throughout the county together with community members at City Hall to discuss plans for the park. After a brief slide show presentation, the meeting was opened up to get suggestions on facilities that could be included in a grant proposal, which is due Oct. 17. Before being submitted to the state, the proposal will have to gain approval from both the San Benito County Board of Supervisors and the Hollister City Council, since the land proposed to be used for the park lies within both jurisdictions.
Several community members and local
officials expressed support for the project. Many people also suggested ideas for the project.
County Superintendent of Schools Tim Foley suggested the park include facilities for outdoor education programs and school-maintained science labs.
“I would like to emphatically endorse the idea of science labs,” he said. “We would be active partners in the development of this resource; sign us up.”
Other suggestions included overnight camping facilities, a public amphitheater, barbecue and picnic areas, wildlife viewing areas, interpretive hiking trials and physical fitness trails.
County Sheriff Curtis Hill, a member of the YMCA Board of Directors, pledged his support for the project and suggested an alliance between YMCA and the Public Works Department in planning for the river parkway project.
Local Boy Scout leaders, Chamber of Commerce officials and others also submitted design suggestions and discussed the possibility of public and private partnerships.
Plans for the park, which could eventually encompass up to 400 acres along the San Benito River, are still tentative. The first step in the process is to create a grant proposal for the funding, Public Works Director Jerry Lo said. Lo also said a linear park theme, incorporating both city and county lands, could eventually produce hiking, walking and horse-riding trails stretching from San Juan Bautista to Bolado Park. While plans for future development of the park are limitless, Lo said the county and city will work together in the short term to come up with between $2 million and $4 million in state funding to get the project going. Initial plans would involve about 100 acres of land along the river, he said.
While plans for the project progress, Lo made it clear Friday that nothing would be able to happen without state funding. Final applications for the grants, available under Proposition 50, to finance the project will also have to get approval from the City Council and Board of Supervisors. The proposition, passed by voters in 2002, made $100 million dollars 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.
Brett Rowland covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or br******@fr***********.com.
