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Visalia council tables Pearlwood park pending cost details, approves Elliott park design
Summary
Council tabled final action on the Pearlwood neighborhood park to get more precise costs for a botanical garden, artwork and a possible mini-pitch, and approved conceptual design No. 3 for the Elliott property (fully funded) while discussing reductions and internal transfers to close park funding gaps.
The Visalia City Council paused decisions on the Pearlwood neighborhood park to allow staff to return with more detailed cost information and to refine options, while approving the Elliott property conceptual plan.
Parks staff said Pearlwood outreach produced three conceptual designs and community dot-voting; the combined Pearlwood/Elliott preferences included walking-path lighting, pickleball courts, restrooms, a botanical garden and a mini-pitch among top amenities. Staff estimated a $77,567,000 budget for Pearlwood in its full scope but reported current funding of roughly $3 million and multiple park shortfalls across projects. To reduce the Pearlwood gap, the Parks & Recreation Commission recommended removing Musco field lighting ($600,000), restrooms ($250,000) and parking ($47,000) to save about $897,000, and staff proposed transfers totaling about $3.6 million from other park projects to fund a reduced project of about $6.67 million.
Council members raised concerns about neighborhood impacts. Councilmember Nelson said a neighborhood park should be walkable and not invite large numbers of nonlocal users, asking whether four pickleball courts and restrooms could create parking and noise impacts; Parks staff estimated botanical-garden maintenance at roughly $38,000 per year. Several councilmembers asked for precise construction and maintenance costs for the botanical garden and any public art before committing to reductions or relocations.
Public commenters who had participated in the outreach urged the council to honor residents'votes (supporting pickleball courts and restrooms) and noted substantial turnout at meetings. After debate, the council moved to table the Pearlwood item so staff could return with the botanical garden and art cost estimates, implications for a potential mini-pitch, and revised configurations; that tabling motion passed 5-0.
Separately, the council approved conceptual design No. 3 for the Elliott property (a 4-acre site adjacent to Central Valley Christian High School), which staff said is fully funded with an estimated cost just under $4.8 million. Council voted 5-0 to advance the Elliott design; staff estimated a groundbreaking in fall 2026 with a 12'16 month build window.
Next steps: staff will return with detailed cost breakdowns for Pearlwood (botanical garden and artwork), options for a mini pitch, and proposed funding transfers and timelines.
