Demolition first step in rebuilding Marna O'Brien
By: LAURA MITCHELL - Staff Writer | ∞
A 'closed' sign is mounted in front of Wildomar's Marna O'Brien Park, where demolition work and construction is scheduled to begin soon in anticipation of opening the park by the end of the year.
STEVE THORNTON Staff Photographer
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WILDOMAR ---- The demolition of old buildings to make way for rebuilding Marna O'Brien Park was delayed but should start next week, county officials said Tuesday.
The demolition had been scheduled to begin March 1 on the site at 20505 Palomar St. A Tustin-based contractor, U.S. Construction, has been selected, but the county needs to get additional information before the job can begin, county Economic Development Agency specialist Gloria Perez said Tuesday.
Members of the Wildomar Parks Formation Committee said the delay should not affect the park's opening by the end of the year.
The delay should not hurt the committee's tight time line because the demolition and construction are under separate contracts, committee member Bridgette Moore said Tuesday. The construction contract is still on schedule, Moore said.
Perez said the contractor is due to be hired next month. The construction contract includes all four parks ---- Marna O'Brien, Windsong and Heritage Regency parks in Wildomar and Perret Park in Lakeland Village, she said.
The four parks were closed when voters rejected a $25 annual maintenance fee in 1999. The vote came after allegations that funds were mishandled by the former Ortega Trails Recreation and Park District. The money to reopen the parks, a little more than $110,000 a year, came from property taxes set aside for the former park district.
Windsong, Heritage and Perret parks are expected to be open in spring 2007, Moore said.
Perez said Marna O'Brien is the only park that needs demolition work because it is the only one of the four sites that has buildings. Two structures need to be razed because their materials contain asbestos and lead-based paint, she said. In addition, they are very dilapidated and not repairable, Perez said.
Marna O'Brien, the largest of the four parks at 9 acres, is planned to have two soccer fields, three baseball diamonds, two basketball courts, a fitness course and a concession and restroom building, according to the proposed plans.
Committee member George Cambero said Tuesday the group hopes to ask voters in the Wildomar and Lakeland Village area to approve a parks maintenance fee in August. The fee amount is as yet unknown, pending the results of a study due later this month, Cambero said.
He said he will be happy to see work start at Marna O'Brien.
When residents see that work is being done, "they (will) know we are serious about parks in Wildomar," Cambero said.
Moore said that when the results of the assessment study are available, the committee is planning to hold a big parks rally.
Proposed plans for the four parks are available online at: www.wildomarparks.com.
Contact staff writer Laura Mitchell at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2621, or lmitchell@californian.com.
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marlene wrote on Mar 15, 2006 2:47 PM:I remember when this park was open and could never take my two small daughters to it because there was baseball teams etc... using the entire facility and the parking was a joke! Most cars had to park along Palomar in the dirt. I too, voted against the taxes and will do so again.
John wrote on Apr 7, 2006 1:43 PM:Marna O'Brien Park is being completely remodeled. I know there are concerns that the problems that existed before will continue once the park reopens ---- that will not be the case. The parking has been expanded to nearly double the previous parking and the park is no longer designed just for playing baseball. There are picnic areas and open grass areas, a walking path as well as a nice playground, all designed into the new park. There is another change as well. The Little League has opened a Little League ballfield next to the cemetery. Marna O'Brien Park will not be the soul supporting location for Little League. The assessment being presented in August is not just for the support of the previous parks, either. Our community has grown. The assessment is to maintain additional parks beyond Marna O'Brien. By adding more parks to the community, we can make parks friendlier and less crowded. The problem before wasn't the park, it was not enough parks. Please vote yes on this August's parks assessment. Help us bring to the families of Wildomar the parks our community needs.
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