Waterfront Park has received several makeovers over the years. Now the northeast corner of the park will get its own transformation into a sports park. On Wednesday, the County Board of Supervisors got a step closer to making that a reality as they put the project out for construction bids.
Chair Nathan Fletcher said this is a big step forward. "We’ve been working on this for a long time and it’s really exciting to begin to see it come to fruition and ready to start seeing some dirt moving so really really excited about that," he said.
Fletcher said he got the idea when his office used to overlook the parcel. He said he noticed a contrast between that end of the park and the other side that was buzzing with activity.
The plan for the bare one-and-a-half acre parcel on Pacific Coast Highway and Grape Street is packed with recreational spaces that include basketball and pickleball courts, a T-ball field, table tennis, fitness equipment and a dog park with agility equipment.
Some people who live there and use the park regularly think this will be a great addition to what the park already offers.
Kelly Miller, who was enjoying the park with his new friend Benny, said he’s especially looking forward to the dog park.
"Oh, I think that will be a great move for the community, even today walking around I see so many dogs out here and people enjoying the park here and I can see this being advantageous for just about anybody that I see out here," he said.
Lexee Hutchens, who also lives near the park and has a degree in recreation administration with an emphasis on healthy communities, said this is exactly what the park and community need.
"There’s not a lot of things to do with your friends so being able to play like, bocce ball or pickleball, basketball, it kind of creates a better community around healthy activities," she said.
And parents like Ryan Rillera may be the most excited. He said he can’t wait to bring his son Logan there to run and play when it’s finished.
"It’s hard find get my son’s attention," he said. "we have to keep moving around because he gets bored and all that stuff so I think it will be a great place to take him over here and just get rid of a lot of his energy."
Construction is expected to start this spring and be done by late summer.
