New $30 million park gets go-ahead for Carlsbad (original) (raw)

A new $30 million park with pickleball and basketball courts, a sports field, community garden, playgrounds and more at the corner of Cannon Road and El Camino Real is on the way in Carlsbad.

The Carlsbad City Council signed off on a conceptual design Tuesday and authorized staffers to proceed with preliminary plans for the park, which is at least four years from opening.

The biggest concern voiced by a resident and some council members was that the sports field and a running track could have artificial surfaces, which can get uncomfortably hot, release toxic chemicals, and eventually end up in a landfill.

However, city staffers said it’s early in the park development process, and the proposed surfaces can be changed if the council wants when a final plan is brought back for approval in about a year.

“There are still debates on a variety of issues related to synthetic turf,” said Parks and Recreation Director Kyle Lancaster. “We continue to monitor those, and we also look at alternate … materials. There are certain natural materials such as walnut shells and other products that can be used instead.”

The project could require a citywide vote if construction requires more than 1.5millionfromthecity’sgeneralfund.CarlsbadvotersapprovedPropositionHin1982,whichrequiresacitywidevotetoapprovespending1.5 million from the city’s general fund. Carlsbad voters approved Proposition H in 1982, which requires a citywide vote to approve spending 1.5millionfromthecity’sgeneralfund.CarlsbadvotersapprovedPropositionHin1982,whichrequiresacitywidevotetoapprovespending1 million or more on capital projects such as a new park. A measure the City Council placed on the ballot for November, if approved, would raise the minimum to $3.1 million.

However, money may be available from other sources such as grants or developer fees that would not require a public vote.

The 11.2-acre park will be on a corner of the recently completed Robertson Ranch master-planned community. City officials have met with area residents several times to discuss what they would like in the park.

One change that resulted from those meetings was the addition of a second park entrance. Instead of only one access point on Trailblazer Way, the park will have another entry and exit where vehicles can make a right turn into the park or out of the park at Cannon Road.

Another concern raised at earlier meetings was the likely noise from the six proposed pickleball courts. Lancaster said Tuesday the courts will be placed in a corner of the park along Cannon Road farthest from any homes to reduce the effects of noise and lights.

Restrooms, shaded pavilions, picnic areas, outdoor exercise stations and a parking lot with electric vehicle charging stations also are in the plans.

The size of the Robertson Ranch park falls into the city’s “tween” category, Lancaster said, meaning it is between the larger community parks and the smaller neighborhood parks.

Carlsbad has 14 of the larger community parks and 28 “special use areas” ranging from off-leash dog parks to the Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park, as well as a city trail system.

Robertson Ranch is a master-planned community approved by Carlsbad in 2006 for more than 1,100 homes on nearly 400 acres east of El Camino Real between Tamarack Avenue and Cannon Road. Toll Brothers Inc. built the first homes there in 2010 and the final homes were approved for construction in 2016.

The new park will be next to Fire Station No. 3, which opened in 2000 and replaced a station that for years occupied a former home on Catalina Drive.

Originally Published: July 28, 2024 at 5:30 AM PST