Politics & Government

Wildomar To Formally Request 22-Acre Park Site From County

At the time of Wildomar's incorporation, there was an "expectation" that a 22-acre parcel of land east of the 15 Freeway on Porras Road adjacent to Ronald Reagan Elementary would be transferred to the city.

Wildomar wants its parkland back from the county and now the city is putting it in writing.

During Wednesday night’s Wildomar City Council meeting, council members voted 4-0 to authorize staff to draft a letter formally requesting acquisition of a now-vacant 22-acre park property from Riverside County.

According to a March 23 staff report from City Manager Frank Oviedo, at the time of Wildomar’s incorporation in 2008 there was an “expectation” that a 22-acre parcel of land east of the 15 Freeway on Porras Road adjacent to Ronald Reagan Elementary would be transferred to the city for the development of a future park.

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“The property was specifically purchased for that reason as residents from the surrounding neighborhood were informed a park would be built near their housing tract,” the staff report stated.

The park property, however, was never transferred to the city.

Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“To my knowledge, a formal request has never been made,” Oviedo said during Wednesday’s meeting.

In the letter to the county, the city will also ask that the county “provide the necessary improvements and/or cleanup of the property on a recurring basis.”

The empty lot has been a continued target of tagging and illegal trash dumping.

If and when the county hands over the 22-acre site, it’s unclear where the city will get the money to pay for the park’s construction.

During last night’s meeting, Councilman Bob Cashman recused himself from the vote because he lives less than 500 feet from the parkland site.


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