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Carlsbad commissioners recommend Robertson Ranch Park master plan to City Council
Summary
The Parks and Recreation Commission on July 15 unanimously accepted a recommended master plan for the 11.2‑acre Robertson Ranch Park — including a multisport field, six lit pickleball courts, a community garden and a 1/3‑mile track — and voted to send the plan to City Council for consideration; staff noted a preliminary construction estimate of about $28 million and $1 million appropriated for permitting.
The Carlsbad Parks and Recreation Commission on July 15 voted unanimously to accept the recommended Robertson Ranch Park master plan and to recommend it to the City Council for approval.
Director Lancaster, who introduced the item, described the 11.2‑acre site at El Camino Real and Canon Road and said the plan responds to community input gathered through three phases of outreach. "This is a milestone moment for us," Lancaster said as staff presented the final recommended concept prepared with Schmidt Design Group.
The recommended plan blends the community's preferred concepts into a two‑tiered park with a main plaza and promenade off Trailblazer Way, both traditional and nature‑based playgrounds, a splash pad, six lit pickleball courts in the northeast corner, a roughly 35‑bed community garden adjacent to parking, and a lower‑tier multipurpose athletics field with a baseball diamond, dugouts and bleachers. Designers also included a dual‑surface walking and jogging track (one third of a mile) and decomposed‑granite trails to connect passive open‑space areas.
Mark Moss of Schmidt Design Group described the layout as "equal access to park amenities" and said the plan intentionally places pickleball courts away from nearby residences.
On cost and schedule, Lancaster told commissioners the City has appropriated about $1,000,000 to cover permitting and entitlement work; staff's preliminary construction estimate is just under $28,000,000. He said that, if City Council directs staff to proceed, environmental permitting and entitlements could take roughly eight months, followed by a conditional use permit process and targeted City Council consideration of final plans and authorization to bid in 2025.
During public comment, Diane Wolke, a retired public‑health nurse and board member of Safe Healthy Playing Fields, urged disclosure about the toxicity of plastic products used in playgrounds and synthetic turf and raised concerns about PFAS, heat effects and runoff. "We call for disclosure on the toxicity of plastic products," Wolke said. Staff responded that the current staff intent is to use synthetic turf and a rubberized track to meet high demand for field use and playability, and that environmental permitting will examine materials; Lancaster said the council could direct alternatives during later phases.
Commissioners asked about operational and safety details: staff estimated roughly 129 parking stalls (including five ADA stalls) and described a secondary ingress/egress intended to mitigate concerns about a nearby fire station. Lancaster said the fire chief and police chief had reviewed earlier conceptual plans and were "very content" with inclusion of secondary access.
Chair Winston moved to accept the recommended Robertson Ranch master plan and to recommend it to City Council; the motion, seconded by Commissioner Aleman, passed unanimously.
The commission's action is a recommendation to the City Council, which is scheduled to consider the item the week following the commission meeting. If Council approves direction to proceed, staff will pursue environmental permitting and entitlements and return to planning and permitting milestones before seeking construction funding.
