Council renames two parks: new Olson‑Chandler park becomes Creekside Park; Oak Creek Park becomes Paso Robles Veterans Park

The City Council voted unanimously on March 18 to rename two city parks. The council approved a resolution to rename the new park in the Olson‑Chandler Ranch specific plan from “Turtle Creek Park” to “Creekside Park,” and approved a separate resolution renaming Oak Creek Park as “Paso Robles Veterans Park.”

Community Services Director Angelica Horton presented the recommendations, citing the council’s park‑naming policy and the potential for confusion with an existing Turtle Creek Park in another neighborhood. The new park — a passive facility with four publicly accessible pickleball courts, a restroom and picnic area along a rehabilitated creek — is expected to be completed this calendar year and will connect to Royal Oak Meadows Park.

The nut graf: the Oak Creek Park renaming was requested by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10965 to recognize veterans in Paso Robles and to allow the post to fundraise and develop a veterans memorial public art installation at a city‑owned site adjacent to the Veterans Memorial Building. Post commander Leo Castillo described the post’s intent to select an artist and to seek private funds for a memorial and said the post was not asking the city for money at this time.

Council members asked about the specific name form; members suggested “Paso Robles Veterans Park” would be acceptable to the post. City staff noted there is currently a vacant circular sandbox area behind the Veterans Memorial Building that could be considered as a site for a memorial if funding and a concept are developed. The Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee had recommended both renamings.

Ending: The council’s action included support for the VFW’s efforts to develop a concept for a veterans memorial. Any formal design and any public art installations would return to Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee and council for review under the city’s Arts and Public Places policy.