Town Hall Amenities Meeting

30.5 % of the CCHOA members participated in the Amenities Survey (on-line, in Newsletters, hand-outs at the pool, door-to-door, and by direct mailings).

In Park West, we had 41 homes turn in a survey out of 140 homes that are currently occupied.

Judging from the all time high level of responses to the Circle C Amenities survey, it was ironic that only 24 people showed up to hear the board?’s report. Never the less, the CCHOA President, Quentin Fennessy lead off with a high level overview and summary of the amenities that you asked for. He was followed by Ed Scruggs, who use a PowerPoint presentation to go over the Master Plan, the Amenities Fund, the Survey process, and the open space we have to work with. His presentation will appear on the new Circle C web site shortly.


There was a considerable amount of background information that helps to explain why we have relatively few amenities today, other than the pool, a huge park that was donated to the city, and several miles of hiking trails today. Ed brought some photographs of amenities in other neighborhoods as examples of what they expect for Circle C Ranch. He showed us two good sized new lots that were zoned for houses, but have now been donated the HOA at each end of Barstow (Circle C North).

You can check the PowerPoint presentation for the numbers, but Playscapes was clearly the most desired amenity. The second highest request was for a Community Center, which many of us have been expecting and told over and over, would come with a second pool around 2007. The good news is that both of these items are affordable.

The Recreation committee (formerly the Pool Committee), already has some ideas on upgrades to the current pool and has some RFP that look promising. Ed feels that the board is ready to move forward with choosing a 5 member task force, that will include 1 or 2 board members. They will choose a Land Use Planner, who will study and report on what we can do, with regard to space, regulations, and available funds. Once we have a concept and a plan, we can go to the Phoenix Holdings to show what we want, and with their approval and advice, move forward to fund the projects. (the current board will bid out anything over $10 k, that is likely to be the next step).

There were 8 distinct amenities requested: PLAYSCAPES (53%) and COMMUNITY CENTER (48% were clear priorities, the next 5 were closely matched (29-39%) NEW AMENITIES for the existing Pool (upgrades), HIKING TRAILS, PAVILION, SPORTS COURTS, SMALL PARKS, and AMPHITHEATER/STAGE came in at 15%


In Park West, we have only one amenity - the 2 trailheads into Circle C Park, which are accessible, but undeveloped and too dangerous for everyday use. I have hiked in and out of both, and I don't recommend it to anyone. Both could be ADA compliant without a great deal of expense and a little volunteer work. There are grants from the city, state, and federal goverment for just this sort of project.

Also, the next Circle C Ranch trail will pass directly behind Park West from LaCrosse, so why not connect to it this year ?

Trails

It would be convienent to be able to get to the CircleC Trails from Parkwest. However, I doubt if there are more than 25 residents that would ever take advantage of it. FYI I count 164 occupied homes in Parkwest

Trails - now or never

I think that if we build out the trailheads in Park West, our neighborhood will look complete, it will be more attractive to use, and potential home buyers (i.e. Trailheads will increase our property values). I also think that the trials will get used by a lot more people than are currently interested in walking the streets and sidewalks around here.

Trail use, from what I have observed, has actually declined, after the last house along the greenbelt was completed. It was just too easy to walk directly back onto the butt-ugly retention ponds and then on into the park.

I do agree that 25 is about the right number for people I see everyday, walking, running, or pushing a baby buggy around Park West. But, I also think that even more neighbors would come out, if they knew that they could hike directly on the trails, rather than along the roads.

I'm one of those people who doesn't enjoy walking on sidewalks along roads with cars and trucks zooming past me. I'd much prefer going through the park behind us, on trails that were wide and clear. I think our extended familiies and visitors would enjoy it, too.

One of the things I learned this year at the American Trails National Symposium, was that people enjoy trails, even if they are only 100 feet long. If just the trail head and first few yards are ADA compliant (wheelchair accessible), even the most emcumbered people will be motivated to just check it out. We see this at many of the karst preserves nearby. People will stop, read the information and maps on the kiosk, and then venture in, even if it's only 10-20 yards. We don't have to bulid miles of trails to make a significant difference.


But, if we don't move forward on getting these trailheads built out this year, I fear it will never get done at all. (Heck, we couldn't even convince 4 propery owners to allow the builder to put in FREE sidewalks for them last year.) Is this all there is to Park West ??

How much would it cost ?

How much would it cost to build a Trailhead in Park West ?

SInce it's highly unlikely that we will ever be able to preserve even one of the handfull of undeveloped lots in Park West, I'm very interested in making sure we get access to our Cirlce C Trail system, directly from Park West.

Obviously, I can't do this alone. Is anyone else interested at all ?

What I'm proposing is a Trailhead in two places - one at the original Mail Center, which would include completing the fencing, a 4' gate, a kiosk with a trail map and rules posted. That trail would have to be cleared for about 150 yards to the west, a reasonable distance from the existing homes (50-75') and at least 18'' wide (preferably, 48'' wide).

The second place would be in Phase II, where a drainage easement current exists. That space is much narrower (30 feet ?), but it requires more work to establish a raised trail, and again, go west for about 150 yards to the retension ponds. At that point, you have access to two existing trails that are in good shape.

CCHOA is considering buiding up a new trail along that drainage and powerline easement, on well into to Circle C West, possibly ending in the new elementry school.

Why all this, now ?

1) I want Wilshire and Hammands homes to build the trailhead. We will have to pay for it from our HOA fund, but it should be a considerable discount. It's a win-win for the builders and for our property values.

2) CCHOA is planning the new amenities for Circle C right now. They are budgeting projects and trails are the most likely to get funded right away. Trails are realatively inexpensive, low risk, and high use for the broadest demographics of any amenity we have.


3) Money has been provided to begin building trails on Prop 2 land (that;s the land fenced in west of us. Hundreds of acres of unspoiled land.

The city has just released it's policies for use, and the Prop 2 land next to Circle C is likely to get the most attention.

There is a catch - they want to insure that that land is protected and not abused. In order to do that, access may be limited to FM 1826, through a gate. Circle C might be able to negotiate another entrance from La Crosse Ave, IF WE CAN OFFER SOMETHING IN RETURN - like an enforcement plan.

This is where Park West comes in.... we live close to the trails and we would be a natural place to seek resources to monitor and maintain these trails in Circle C, as well as the Prop 2 land. (also, there are still some ranch families that will contiue to live on the Prop 2 land.)

What do you think ?