SIMI PARK GRANTS TO BUY TREES, ACCESS.

Byline: Terry Kanakri Daily News Staff Writer

With an infusion of $53,300 in county and federal grants, the park district will plant 233 trees in Simi Valley and Oak Park, and make improvements to Santa Susana Park.

The trees will be planted in two golf courses, an equestrian center and 16 parks, while Santa Susana Park will be made more usable for people with disabilities.

"I'm very excited about (the grants)," said Jim Meredith, Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District board member. "I'd love to be able to do more things in our parks, but it's just impossible at the present time with our budget restraints. These grants will make it easier."

The district has been awarded a $23,300 grant from the federal Small Business Administration to buy and plant new trees. Under the agreement between the SBA and the district, all of the trees are to be purchased from and planted by local small businesses.

The federal grants aim to help small businesses and foster job opportunities in local communities such as Simi Valley and Oak Park, which are covered by the park district.

The trees, in 15-gallon containers and reaching 6 to 7 feet, will be planted by July 31. They will include eucalyptus, pine, acacia, magnolia and jacaranda. The total cost of the planting is $65,818, and the district will provide matching funds for the balance of the bill.

The district also has been awarded a $30,000 grant in federal community development block grants from the Ventura County Board of Supervisors. That money will be used to refurbish Santa Susana Park in the Knolls area to bring it in line with the federal government's Americans with Disabilities Act.

The project will add a walkway from restrooms to the play area, replace sand from the play area with fiber surfacing to improve traction for wheelchairs, install a drinking fountain adapted for disabilities; resurface an asphalt path to a picnic shelter and install a walkway from the parking lot to the picnic shelter.

Developed about 65 years ago, Santa Susana Park is the district's oldest.

TREE PLANTINGS

Following are the Simi Valley and Oak Park sites where 223 trees will be planted through contracts with local small businesses:

Rancho Simi Community Park, Rancho Tapo Community Park, Arroyo Neighborhood Park, Chaparral Neighborhood Park, Eagle View Neighborhood Park, Houghton-Schrieber Neighborhood Park, Knolls Neighborhood Park, Arroyo Neighborhood Park, Mae Boyar Neighborhood Park, Mayfair Neighborhood Park, Simi Hills Neighborhood Park, Valley View Neighborhood Park, Sequoia Neighborhood Park, Verde Neighborhood Park, Rancho Santa Susana Community Park, Oak Canyon Community Park, Sinaloa Public Golf Course, Simi Hills Public Golf Course, and the Arroyo Simi Equestrian Center.

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Box TREE PLANTINGS (see text)