Wildomar Parks' Efforts Continue

CORRECTION: City Manager Frank Oviedo confirmed that Marna O'Brien Park is not inside redevelopment area, but lies just outside.

ORIGINAL POST: Hope remains for Wildomar parks, thanks to volunteer efforts and community support.

During the regularly scheduled Wildomar City Council meeting Wednesday night, Assistant City Manager Gary Nordquist provided an update on the city’s three parks.

Marna O’Brien Park has been taken over by Wildomar Pop Warner and Wildomar Little League temporarily, Nordquist said, although the city is looking at a longer, one-year lease with the sports’ leagues for the park.

Nordquist also said that the city would entertain lease offers from other interested parties, but “they need to come forward immediately.”

The city is no longer paying for utilities at the park, and is investigating the possibility of installing a well at the site, he said.

Councilman Tim Walker obtained a rough bid from one contractor for $70,000 to install the well, but he clarified that the project would need to go out to bid if the city moved forward on installment.

Walker said he is also in discussion with Riverside County Supervisor Bob Buster regarding Marna O’Brien. The park is situated in redevelopment area and there is hope that RDA money might be available to help fund maintenance at the 9-acre facility.

“He sounded hopeful, so we’ll see what happens,” Walker said.

While Heritage Park has been closed off to public access, the city is hopeful that an agreement might be reached with the Lake Elsinore Unified School District, Nordquist said.

Heritage is located next to William Collier Elementary School and although the park may remain closed to the public indefinitely, the city and school officials are in preliminary discussion about providing park access to students for entry to and from school.

Over at Windsong Park, Adams Landscaping has donated its maintenance services for 30 days while the city works with nearby residents on a long-term solution. Nordquist said a July 23 barbecue and movie is planned at the park. The purpose of the event is to bring out local residents and raise awareness about the park’s plight, Nordquist said. The event is scheduled to begin around 6 p.m., Nordquist said.

At the request of Councilman Bob Cashman, Nordquist said he would bring back to the next council meeting current costs to maintain the city’s parks. Cashman asked Nordquist to also consider possible supplemental funding from the city for Marna O’Brien to help subsidize a lease situation there.

The parks’ closure has loomed since June 7 when Measure D was defeated by Wildomar voters. The ballot initiative had asked city property owners to incur a $28 annual special assessment to pay for the three city parks. Without funding, city officials have maintained there is no funding available for the parks.