CARD gets first look at revised master plan

Chico >> There’s still some work to do on the master plan update for the Chico Area Recreation and Park District before the public sees it.

Even so, a couple of people had comments about changes that CARD should consider, including Sycamore Park bathrooms and pickleball courts.

Dave Donnan, local adult softball advocate, also suggested the board reach out to organizations that use CARD facilities for input as well.

Donnan asked the board to consider putting a bathroom at the Sycamore Field softball field at One-Mile Recreation Area. He said the city does not allow the softball players to use the nearest bathroom, which is inside Caper Acres playground, so they have to hike to the one at Sycamore Pool. He said the softball players are willing to help with projects and have a history of donating to CARD to help with field upkeep and other assistance.

Also at Thursday’s meeting were two tennis players who said local enthusiasts are disturbed by CARD’s actions to replace tennis courts at the Community Park with pickleball courts. Pickleball advocates have been after CARD to build them a new facility or continue transforming tennis courts into pickleball courts. One court has been rebuilt for pickleball, and CARD authorized another one to be temporarily remodeled to accommodate the racquet sport.

The players noted that Community Park’s courts are the only public ones, besides the high school courts. They said high school players use the park’s courts too, although both high schools have tennis courts.

The board agreed to place both issues on a future agenda, but likely not September when a consultant is expected to talk about the revenue measure the board has been discussing.

CARD board members took their first collective look at the draft document on Thursday, and had a variety of comments, both positive and negative.

But all agreed there was more work to be done to make the recreation plan more clear.

Comments ranged from questioning why more trails needed to be built in CARD parks to the layout of maps in the draft document.

The first draft will go back to the ad hoc committee revising the 2008 master plan, and then will be discussed with the city and Chico Unified School District because they are impacted by the master plan.

Only after it comes back from those screenings will it be shared with the public, but it will be put on CARD’s website as well as taken to scheduled meetings for public opinion.

CARD also plans on taking the document to neighborhoods hosting CARD-owned parks to get their input during announced meetings.

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The document is formatted like a coffee-table book, with pages of text, suggestions for changes, drawings, and maps of CARD parks and facilities. CARD is paying no more than $19,500 to Melton Design Group of Chico for the master plan update.

The board also approved spending $48,615 for construction drawings, permitting and a bid package by Northstar Engineering to replace the roof and aged air conditioning/heating system at the Community Center on Vallombrosa Avenue.

Contact reporter Laura Urseny at 896-7756.