Commissioners forward Barberdanes Park playground plan to City Council after debate over lighting and basketball court placement

Assistant City Manager Jerry Hill and landscape architect Matthew Lockwood presented a conceptual rehabilitation of Barberdanes Park to the Mission Viejo Community Services Commission on June 16, asking the commission to review the design and recommend it to City Council.

The conceptual plan calls for improved ADA access at the park entrance, two distinct play areas (ages 2–5 and 5–12) separated by a physical barrier, custom shade structures, bench pads, new water‑efficient irrigation, rubberized ADA surfacing, a dry stream bioretention swale to manage drainage, and relocation of the basketball court to expand usable playground area. Lockwood said directional, downward‑facing LED park lighting is shown ‘‘about every 100 feet’’ to improve safety and that the fixtures match the city’s standard bell style used in recent renovations.

Residents who spoke at the meeting expressed mixed views. Andrea and Chris Salmon, whose written comment was read for the record, asked the city to preserve sight lines between play areas to allow caregivers to supervise multiple children and urged limiting park hours because the proposed plan would keep parks open until 11 p.m. Brian Zahn, a neighbor who lives behind the park, supported the renovation and suggested lodgepole fencing built with volunteer groups to keep balls from rolling down the slope. Ron Roof also supported renovation and advised the commission to consider limited lighting hours. Albert Hagrani said he opposed the plan because of long‑standing late‑night noise issues and worried the relocated court would increase disturbance for adjacent neighbors.

Jerry Hill told the commission staff had mailed notices to nearby homes, hosted a June 8 meet‑and‑greet attended by about 35 residents, and that staff planned to return to City Council with plans/specifications for bidding on Aug. 25, 2026 and with a construction award recommendation on Oct. 13, 2026; staff anticipates construction could start in fall 2026 and finish in spring 2027.

Commissioners pressed staff on details of planting buffers, sight lines, lighting timing and whether the basketball court could be relocated to a different corner to reduce noise impacts. Lockwood said the planting at the basketball court would include an approximately 8‑foot shrubbed buffer, additional seating and a depressed dry stream bed that would act as a physical barrier. He said parents sitting in the group seating area would be able to see both playgrounds and that the plan is drafted to scale.

After discussion, a motion to forward the Barberdanes Park Play Area Rehabilitation to City Council as presented was made and seconded. A proposed amendment to request additional study about relocating the basketball court was withdrawn, and the commission voted unanimously (7–0) to send the plan to City Council.

The commission’s recommendation is advisory; final design approval and any budgetary decisions will be made by City Council during the scheduled CIP and contract actions.