City to Prioritize Park and Rec Projects

As the city begins to craft its official budget for the next fiscal year, officials realized there are way more park repair and improvement projects than funding to complete them.

So the San Clemente Beaches, Parks and Recreation staff has asked the citizens commission of the same name to prioritize which projects should come first.

Sharon Heider, the department director, put together a list of 16 potential projects for the year, some of which are underway, and others that will be bid out or started in 2014, according to a staff report.

They've been ranked by staffers, but officials also want input from the commission.

The biggest item on the list is the Ole Hanson Beach Club renovation. The San Clemente City Council has had two lengthy discussions on what it wants in the final design. Cost estimates ballooned from an original $2.5 million to $3.7 million, with further increases expected as officials ask for more from designers ARG.

Other projects include fixing the Bonita Canyon tennis courts, adding or replacing lighting at various parks around town, adding a corporate event/picnic spot at the Vista Hermosa Sports Park, fixing and replacing playground equipment, upgrading beach and park restrooms and other projects, according to staff reports.

The Beaches, Parks and Recreation Commission meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Vista Hermosa Sports Park's Aquatic Center, 987 Avenida Vista Hermosa.