Sierra Park North close to coming to fruition
“We take a useless and under-utilized piece of land and turn it into a family park amenity,” Canyon Lake POA General Manager Eric Kazakoff said at the monthly POA Board Meeting Tuesday. He speaks of Sierra Park North, a new $1.5 million-plus park that’s about to cross the finish line and begin construction.
An overview of the project was presented at the board meeting as a final step before requests for bids go out to determine the actual costs. Eric said the estimates are between $1.5 and $2 million to build the new park.
<<< Vacation Drive
All of the permits, approvals and plans to build the park have been completed. The park’s main feature is a bicycle pump track which is being designed with a looped sequence of rollers and berms for bike riders and skateboarders. The track is designed to maximize the rider’s momentum, so it can be traversed with minimal pedaling.
Adjacent to the pump track is a playground and picnic table area, both of which are shaded. Restrooms and barbecues are part of the project as are a pedestrian path that goes through the park. Loop trails with fitness stations are also incorporated into the design.
The only obstacle to the immediate fulfillment of the park and its rapid completion is a Canyon Lake POA bylaw that only allows the board to spend $800,000 every two years on a capital improvement project. Hence, the board is looking to obtain approval through a measure on the annual election ballot in May.
The featured amenity at the new Sierra Park North is the bicycle pump track where bicyclists and skateboarders use the course for jumps and tricks. It is designed to make it so the momentum of the dips and curves creates enough motion to not need to pedal. The entire park will feature natural landscaping, including an abundance of trees.
“We’re trying to get around the $800,000 in two-year period hurdle in the bylaws,” Eric said. “There’s been a lot of interest and a lot of support for this project.”
The measure on the ballot asks the membership to approve spending immediately for the project. If approved, Sierra Park North would be able to begin construction this summer and be completed under a single contract within one year. Otherwise, the project would need to be turned into a multi-phase endeavor that could take up to six years to complete because of the bylaw funding restrictions.
Covered playground and picnic tables are adjacent to the pump track in the new Sierra Park North plans. Barbecues are accessible there as well.
Also on the ballot is a measure to change the bylaws permitting the board to spend up to $2 million every two years on a capital improvement project, increasing the amount from the $800,000 that was approved decades ago. Approval of this measure would also give the board the permission necessary to spend what it would take to finish Sierra Park North with a single contract.
The new park will be located off of Vacation Drive and opposite the current Sierra Park. It will extend through currently undeveloped land to the Giant Fir cul-de-sac.
Members of the community approached the Canyon Lake POA approximately four years ago about developing the park, according to Recreation Committee Chairperson Alex Cook, who spoke at the meeting. The Recreation Committee has been working on the project ever since.
Incorporated throughout the park will be fitness stations located alongside the paths that meander from one end of the park to the other.
“In my 20 years living in Canyon Lake, this is by far the largest capital improvement project undertaken here,” Alex said. “We want it done right.”
Alex said the park is designed for families of all sizes to utilize its different amenities.
“Being a family park, I see birthday parties taking place there,” he said. “I see lots of families hanging out doing different things. Smaller brother or sister can play on the playground while the older brother or sister is riding a bike on the pump track. There’s something for everybody to do.”
Canyon Lake POA President Chris Poland said funding is already in place.
In addition to the various installed structures and amenities in the park, natural areas planted with a variety of landscape are a big part of the park’s attraction.
“We’re good to go,” he said. “The money is in the bank. It’s the authorization to spend the money that is at issue.”
With capital improvement funds set aside for the project, it’s the bylaw restricting more than $800,000 be spent every two years that is the obstacle Chris is talking about.
A great deal of the work involved with transforming the rough terrain into the park will be in preparing the land area with significant grading and then adding substantial retaining walls, storm water retention and utilities. Additionally, the project includes adding a new access drive and parking area off of Vacation Drive.
Natural landscaping with a variety of plants and trees are being installed throughout the park to create a serene atmosphere.