PARKS NEED RESTROOMS, SECURITY SURVEY: MOST RESIDENTS HAPPY WITH FACILITIES, WANT MORE PROGRAMS.

Byline: JIM SKEEN Staff Writer

LANCASTER -- City parks get high marks from residents, but they need more restrooms, security, arts programs for kids, and health and fitness programs for everyone, according to a consultant's survey.

In a survey of more than 600 residents, 73 percent said they were either very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with Lancaster city parks and recreation programs. Residents also gave high marks for park maintenance and the quality of sports fields, according to the consulting firm Godbe Research.

Three-fourths of residents had used a park or a recreation program within the past year. Among those who did not use a park, the highest-ranked reasons given were lack of time, other interests and feeling unsafe at the parks.

``The main opportunity for improvement is with residents' perceptions of the sense of safety and security at facilities,'' the consultants wrote. ``Overall, this finding seems to be more of an overall feeling than a problem at a specific facility.''

The survey was prepared as part of an effort to develop a parks master plan that will guide city officials in developing parks through 2025. City staff members hope to present the plan to the City Council in March, said Lyle Norton, the city's director of parks, recreation and arts.

``It's not set in stone,'' Norton said of the plan. ``It will be a guideline. We will need to update this as we go along.''

The plan is expected to be a guide for the city in terms of what general areas of the city need parks and in what sizes.

``It'll be a guideline for the types of amenities to put in the parks,'' Norton said.

In regards to the safety question, Norton said the city is working with Sheriff's Department officials on a three-pronged effort. The first is a park patrol with a sheriff's team, the second is the use of city park rangers to act as eyes and ears for deputies, and a third effort, just starting, is the installation of security cameras.

Security cameras are being installed at Jane Reynolds Park in downtown and at Eastside Park, where in July someone shot at a couple sitting in a car with their baby, shattering a window and cutting the man with broken glass.

One survey finding was that only 23 percent of households had participated in one of the city's recreation programs during the past year. The city will look to see why that number is low, Norton said.

Residents also indicated the need for more restrooms. During weekday afternoons, when few people are in parks and city staff is not around, restrooms are locked to reduce vandalism. The city will look to see how they can better balance that issue, Norton said.

Residents also indicated they wanted more arts programs, both visual and performing arts, for youth; health and fitness programs; trails for hiking, running, and biking; more festivals; and more areas set aside as open space.

One of the items the master plan will determine is about how much acreage in parkland the city should have by 2025. The city has a goal of five acres of parkland for every 1,000 residents.

At present, the city has just under 3.5 acres of parkland for every 1,000 residents. The city has about 460 acres of parkland, of which about 365 acres are developed.

``We're growing tremendously and we need parkland,'' Norton said. ``We are making a strong effort to identify parkland and lock it up when we can.''

The city will also need to place parks further away from the city's core. For example, Rawley Duntley Park, near 35th Street West and Avenue K, is the furthest-west park, but new neighborhoods have been built miles beyond there.

The city has three major parks in development -- a baseball field complex going in at the former fairgrounds at Avenue I and Division Street; Whit Carter Park near Sierra Highway and Avenue H-8; and James C. Gilley Park in downtown.

The city had hoped to be under way with the first 10 fields of the baseball complex, but contractors' bids came in more than double the city's $5.8 million estimate. A much-stripped- down phase one, possibly with three fields, could go forward this fall.

The higher prices are the result of the building boom that is keeping construction companies busy and raising costs across California, officials said.

Eventually, the city wants the former fairgrounds to contain a complex of 13 ballfields, permanent concession stands, restroom buildings, lighting and a batting cage.

The city also hopes to start the first phase of Whit Carter Park, which will involve 21 acres of the planned 60-plus acre park. The city estimates the first phase will cost about $5.2 million, and a state grant will fund $3 million of that amount.

The park is expected eventually to contain baseball fields, picnic areas and tennis courts.

Gilley Park, over 12 acres, is slated to include two soccer fields, two softball fields, basketball and handball courts, and a walking path. A school gymnasium and classroom building, already on the site, will be renovated. Rough preliminary estimates indicate the park will cost about $5.6 million, city officials said.

The park, to be named after the man who was city manager from 1981 to 1988 and from 1991 to 2004, will be developed on the blocks bordered by Kettering Street to the south, Fern Avenue to the west, Jackman Street to the north and Date Avenue to the east.

City officials hope to move fairly quickly with the park because it is also a keystone for efforts to revitalize Lancaster's north downtown area. Norton said he is aiming to have the park fully funded this fiscal year, which ends in June.

james.skeen(at)dailynews

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