About a year ago, the North County Surf blog
reported the former Hall Property had only 1/2 the funds to complete the Encinitas Community Park- our version of Golden Gate Park, Central Park, heck- even Orange County's forthcoming Great Park. The Encinitas Community Park is 44-acres on the west side of I-5 between Santa Fe Drive and Birmingham Drive. The park will include recreation areas, multi-use athletic fields, a children’s play area, a walking/jogging path, a skate park, a teen center, a dog park, an aquatic center, restroom facilities, an amphitheater and of course lots of parking.
Earlier this month, the Encinitas City Council voted unanimously to approve funding for the park. Originally the city had set aside $7.8 million for the park, which will cost just under $20 million. To make up the shortfall, the city will reallocate around $7 million from various capital improvement projects. Council members will decide which capital improvement projects to reallocate funds from at a later date. Shoot first and ask questions later! The city originally planned to build the park in phases, or a “pay-as-you-go” approach. Higher than expected costs for Phase 1 led the city to favor building the park in its entirety. While building the whole park requires a loan, the city seems to be financially stable, citing the city’s solid credit rating (says city managers) and a low bonded-debt ratio, which is under 10 percent. And because of low interest rates, they also argued the timing of the loan is ideal. Kind of cool to mortgage our children's future so they can have a park now! Regardless, the current 44 acres in an eyesore and I'm glad it won't be turned into a 2nd Walmart or 8th Starbucks in town. Look for the park to be completed towards the end of 2013.
