Oroville Parks Commission hears Hewitt and Bedrock park updates; minutes approved

The Oroville Parks Commission on March 11 heard progress reports on Hewitt Park and a two‑phase plan for Bedrock Park that would add irrigation and turf, repair a rock wall, improve ADA access and explore a rental kiosk at the lagoon, city staff said. The commission also approved minutes from its Jan. 14 meeting by a 4-0 vote with one member absent.

Tim Caber, project manager and senior civil engineer for the city, told commissioners he is preparing Hewitt Park construction and construction management contracts for city council consideration next week and said, "they're inching closer and closer and closer to actual turning dirt." Caber said R and R Horn, a contractor from Chico, is the prospective winner for the Hewitt Park work pending council approval and that the city plans a groundbreaking as soon as the contracts are signed. He said the pavilion at Hewitt Park "will be powered."

The Bedrock Park plan (referred to in the presentation as Red Rock/Bedrock Park) is divided into two phases. Caber described Phase 1 as work to get the park into use: a new irrigation system, turf in the lower area, taller fences to deter after‑hours access, repairs to a rock wall and solar security lighting. He said the city is considering using an existing kiosk footprint for a staffed rental kiosk for kayaks or stand‑up paddleboards, and that the kiosk design shown is an artist's rendering open to changes.

Phase 2 would include trail surfacing and accessibility upgrades along the riverfront, enhanced lagoon access and vegetation planting that avoids compromising levee structure. Caber said the lagoon "needs to be dredged out and deepened," and warned that dredging and other work in the lagoon will require permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and state wildlife authorities. "We'll work through those requirements as we progress," he said.

Caber described timeline estimates: the initial tasks (site award, site analysis and base project development) would take about four months — placing completion of those early tasks in an August–September timeframe if the project is awarded in April. He said design to 50 percent and subsequent construction documents would add roughly five months, and the city would advertise the phase‑1 construction contract for about three months.

Caber identified several unresolved issues staff will study before construction documents: whether a lower‑area restroom is feasible because the site lies in an inundation zone (which could require a pump station to tie into the city sewer), how a rental kiosk would be operated (vendor, city concession or other arrangement), and safety staffing for water use. He said he did not know whether the city currently employs lifeguards and that arrangements for vendor operations and any lifeguard requirements remain "to be determined."

Commissioners and members of the public asked about additional park features. One resident asked whether the kiosk would be run by a vendor and "will we have lifeguard stations or that sort of stuff?" Commissioners discussed possible reuse of existing restroom footprints, the idea of a removable restroom during flood season, a stage or raised platform for amphitheater performances, and a possible boat ramp for a police boat as a future consideration. Caber noted the project team is also exploring funding opportunities, including possible Department of Water Resources (DWR) river enhancement funds and other grants; he said the project team is continuing to seek grants after a previous, larger Feather River Parkway grant effort did not secure funding.

Milton Design Group (MDG) is the consultant referenced for design work and for prior grant work; Caber said MDG will prepare designs and cost estimates. Caber also said the city expects to meet with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in early May, though he warned that travel for federal staff is currently restricted to mission‑critical travel and that the meeting remains subject to administrative approvals.

Votes at a glance: - Motion: Approve minutes from the Jan. 14, 2025 meeting. Outcome: approved, 4 yes, 1 absent (Commissioner Rich absent). The commission recorded the tally and moved on to regular business.

The commission had no public presentations on non‑agenda items and received no public commenters who signed up to speak on items outside the agenda. The commission's next regular meeting was announced as May 13.