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Escalon council earmarks west‑side site for phased skate park, asks EPF and staff to draft MOU
Summary
After years of discussion the council designated a west‑side location consistent with the Hogan‑Ennis master plan for a phased skate park and asked city staff and the Escalon Parks Foundation to return with a draft MOU and budget figures for responsibilities, lighting, ADA access and maintenance.
The Escalon City Council voted to designate a west‑side site adjacent to the Hogan‑Ennis master plan expansion as the preferred location for a phased skate‑park project and instructed staff to work with the Escalon Parks Foundation (EPF) to produce a draft memorandum of understanding that includes concrete budget figures and responsibility assignments.
Councilmembers debated two candidate locations and ADA‑access options before the motion. City staff told the council EPF has raised "over a 125,000" and proposed delivering a standalone bowl feature in phase 1 while EPF and the city consider who will cover sidewalk, fencing, lighting and cameras. The staff report warned that the master‑plan location would need an estimated $13,500 for a short sidewalk and parking adjustments while the parking‑lot site would need a longer ADA connection ($18,000) or lower‑cost matting (~$4,500).
Representing EPF, Mr. Leggero said EPF’s donors committed a firm construction budget and asked the council to minimize long‑term, permanent costs the nonprofit would be asked to fund. "This is what our budget is. What can we do with it?" Leggero said, adding that EPF would focus on delivering a compact concrete bowl first and seek donors for additional fixtures such as fencing or lighting.
Councilmembers exchanged competing priorities: some urged a conservative approach that requires a full line‑item budget before committing a location; others argued a modest, site‑specific sidewalk extension (25–30 feet) would lower initial city costs and allow EPF to begin construction. The council ultimately moved to pick the west‑side site and then separately approved a motion to have staff and EPF return with a formal draft MOU that includes dollar amounts before final approval.
Next steps: staff and EPF will meet to refine design, firm up line‑item costs from Dreamland (the vendor) and prepare a draft MOU showing which entity will pay for sidewalks, access, fencing, lighting and ongoing maintenance. The council requested the parties return with the draft MOU and specific budget numbers at the next available meeting.
