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City parks update: resurfacing, new dog park, regional aquatic complex near completion
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Summary
Deputy Director Pat O'Mara provided a wide maintenance and capital update including court resurfacing and pickleball conversions, gate hardening to limit after‑hours access, Rancho Oakey Dog Park ground breaking, and a regional aquatic complex expected to open before summer.
Deputy Director Pat O'Mara presented parks and grounds maintenance updates at the Feb. 3 Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission meeting, outlining completed work, design‑phase projects, and construction timelines across the city.
O'Mara said recent completed items include resurfacing at several sites and converting one tennis court at Bob Baskin into four pickleball courts. The department completed deep‑clean and renovation work at JC Levitt Park — including tree plantings, replaced playground shade covers and removal of a vandalized bike maintenance station — and has hardened gates to reduce after‑hours access. "We have actually hardened all the gates at this park now ... it is significantly more difficult to get in after hours when the marshals come and shut it down after 11:00," O'Mara said.
On projects in design or construction, O'Mara said Rancho Oakey Dog Park received a notice to proceed in mid‑January on an approximately nine‑month schedule, Sister Cities Park is under construction and expected to finish in the next three to four months, and the regional aquatic complex is approaching substantial completion with an anticipated opening before summer. He said a regional pickleball complex broke ground in early January with an expected 12–14 month construction window and that Centennial Hills Park playground, play structure and splash pad have been put out to bid for complete replacement.
O'Mara also noted design work on the Doolittle Complex master plan (community center, senior center, art center and park) with a public meeting expected in March; ADA improvements to Charleston Heights Art Center; and a planned conversion of a former asphalt rink at Ethel Pearson into a futsal court. He said developer‑built parks (including Igor Soldo Park) are in permitting and will be turned over to the city after construction.
Commissioners thanked staff for the detailed progress report. No budget actions or formal votes were taken at the meeting on these projects.
