Politics & Government

Windsong Park On Life Support: Residents To Decide Its Fate

Mayor Ben Benoit said he would like to "give the citizenry one more opportunity."

Windsong Park in Wildomar is getting one last gasp, and it might be up to residents in the neighborhoods surrounding the closed facility to decide whether they want to pay to keep it alive.

During Wednesday night’s Wildomar City Council meeting, Assistant City Manager Gary Nordquist told council members they needed to determine what to do with the shuttered property. that, if passed, would have charged Wildomar property owners a special tax to maintain the parks.

As a city park, Wildomar still carries responsibility for the locked site. Without funds to maintain it, the park could become an eyesore and a target for vandals. One resident who lives in the area expressed concern Wednesday about the city’s ability to keep crime down at the Windsong site.

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Nordquist said any options of what to do with the property could be considered, including selling or leasing the property.

Mayor Ben Benoit suggested instead working toward putting an initiative on the ballot that would let residents in the area surrounding the park decide whether they want to pay a special tax to keep the facility open.

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

Benoit said he would like to “give the citizenry one more opportunity.”

But Councilwoman Marsha Swanson cautioned against using city funds to bring an initiative forward given last year’s failure of Measure D. She said she wanted confirmation from the community that there is interest.

Wildomar’s voter The certified count showed 4,160 voters cast a ballot.

Through discussion Wednesday night, the council members ultimately directed staff to draft a letter that would be sent to residents of the Windsong Park neighborhood asking them to reply to the city about their level of interest in the park and whether they are willing to pay to keep it open.

The council members also acknowledged that homeowners in the area might be willing to form an association to collect dues for Windsong Park maintenance. Council members were open to that idea, but said any plan would have to come from the residents – not the city.


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