PALMDALE MAPS OUT PARK PLAN : $4.7 MILLION OUTLAY PROJECTED.

Byline: Jim Skeen Daily News Staff Writer

A grassy park lawn bordering Sierra Highway downtown, an equestrian center, and continuing development of a soccer complex are among the park improvements being considered for Palmdale's 1997-98 budget.

City officials project there will be $4.7 million available to spend on parks in the fiscal year which will begin in July. Continuing the development of the Anaverde soccer complex at Tierra Subida and Rayburn roads is expected to take $2.5 million of that total.

``Anaverde is going to be a priority for the upcoming budget,'' said Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford. ``It'll take care of our needs and facilitate soccer tournaments.''

The Anaverde complex is estimated to cost $10.75 million when completed and will include 10 soccer fields, picnic areas and hiking trails. During storms it will serve as a flood basin.

The $2.5 million projected for the complex in the 1997-98 fiscal year will come from the Los Angeles County parks act in 1996, which charges a tax of about $6 a year on the typical home to develop parks.

Palmdale also plans to apply for a $375,000 grant under the same parks act to develop a 15-acre equestrian facility for undeveloped Tejon Park, east of Sierra Highway south of Avenue S. The equestrian facility would tie into the recently completed Barrel Springs rail.

For the 4.5-acre park along Sierra Highway in downtown Palmdale - part of the city's downtown revitalization project - the city is looking at a number of possible funding sources, including seeking a $1.5 million grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to develop the park.

Another project that is on the city's near-term list is to provide an access road and parking and develop trails and campsite for the Warnack Park.

Palmdale developer A.C. Warnack donated 132 acres on Ritter Ridge near Godde Hill Road for the park. City officials estimate it will cost about $445,000 to make the necessary improvements.

Also among the items being considered for the 1997-98 budget are skateboard facilities at Kerr and Massari parks. Each is estimated to cost $175,000.

Further down the line, Palmdale's five-year parks development plan includes building swimming pools at Massari and Marie Kerr Park, and developing 5-acre parks on the city's west, east, and south sides.

The swimming pools are projected to cost $3 million each. The 5-acre parks are projected to cost about $1 million each.

PARK POSSIBILITIES

Palmdale park projects under consideration for funding in 1997-98:

Marie Kerr Park skateboard facility $175,000

Domenic Massari Park soccer field lights $180,000-$250,000

Domenic Massari Park skateboard facility $175,000

McAdam Park playground equipment replacement $250,000

Marie Kerr Park softball lighting $32,000-$40,000

Palmdale Sports Complex, Phase 1 $2.5 million

Palmdale Sports Complex, Phase II $1.5 million

Courson Park playground equipment replacement $150,000

Manzanita Park playground equipment replacement $150,000

Warnack Park access road and parking lot $260,000

Warnack Park trails and campsites $185,000

Tejon Park 15-acre equestrian facility $375,000

Sierra Highway 4.5-acre greenbelt park 1.5 million

Buy baseball field next to Desert Sands Park Unknown

Buy baseball field next to Palmdale High School Unknown

Civic Center public plaza Unknown

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Chart: PARK POSSIBILITIES (See text)