July | 2015 | Wildomar Connected

Lest you think I forgot, the deficiencies in Wildomar’s Premier Sports Park they are numerous with some of them down right dangerous.
This 9.007 acre park is located at 20505 Palomar St. Wildomar CA 92595.

During the previous 2 fiscal years the city has spent: $2967,269.00
FY 2013-14 $140,412.00 as certified in the Measure Z Annual Report
FY 2014-15 156,857.00 as of May 31, 2015 per City of Wildomar 4th Quarter Expenditure Status Report page 488 of 491 of 06-24-15 City Council Agenda.
Projected expenditures are: (Per the City Council Agenda of 06-24-2015 Biennial Operating Budget Fiscal Years 2015-16 & 2016-17 page 232 of 491)
FY 2015-16 $179,600
FY 2016-17 $189,200
This brings the 4 year total to $665,799.00
Links can found below.

Despite the cities claim of this park being 9.6565 acres it is only 9.007 acres in size.
Claim can be found at http://www.cityofwildomarparks.org/#!marna-obrien-park/c210
It contains 3 baseball fields, which can accommodate 2 soccer fields when not being used for baseball, its one or the other not both at a time. It also contains two full courts for basketball at Tot-Lot and 3 gazebos. There are restrooms and parking for approximately 150 cars.

This park is not staffed, the ballfields nor the soccer fields are marked (except by the leagues currently using them)nor are there any bases

or soccer goals, the city has no equipment. Contractors provide mowing, emptying of trash cans and the cleaning of restrooms.

Opening Day in April April of 2014 one found a monument to thirst which has only most recently been made partially whole.

This picture was taken a couple of days after opening day.

There is no water being dispensed, the structure coming apart between the two faucets and the push button covers are missing.

Water is present

The push buttons are still missing and there is still a separation.

Other items that have been fixed over the many months are

The bucket used for a lamp pole base.

A brand new base.

This occurred after the Parks Master Plan photo shoot, so the bucket will live in infamy on the Chapter 1 Introduction page of the Wildomar Parks Master Plan.

Agenda Item #3.2 beginning on page 648 of 780. Picture in question is on page 663 of 780. (The whole page is the picture)

http://www.cityofwildomar.org/uploads/files/minutes/04-08-15-cap.pdf

The chimes now tinkle rather than thunk.

Trash cans were missing for months after opening day which cost less than a 100 bucks total to replace.

January saw the new cans 8 months after opening day. A place to put the trash wasn’t a priority.

The storm drain system is to this day not maintained despite a document on file with the regional water board requiring it, along with a Project Specific Water Quality Management Plan with cost the taxpayers thousands of dollars to prepare.
First two pages (of 359 pages) are pretty clear, this plan applies to this park and the plan will be implemented by whomever owns the park in perpetuity.

This is a common site when looking at any of the 8 field drains that are required to be cleaned on regular basis by qualified personnel.

Rather than continue explaining the history of it below you will find deficiencies as they exist over a year after this park opened. These problems are only going to get worse unless this city starts to spend our money wisely.

Its not an illusion the fence is two different colors. White and Off-white

Notice that the caps are missing as well as the color being off.

All the boards have been in need of a paint job and now replacement for over a year

A year ago these pipes were straight, note the bottom one.

An accident waiting to happen. Maintenance was told of this months ago.

Another accident waiting are the exposed screws were the missing end caps (cost about 4 bucks ea) are a year later.

Water polo anyone?

This could go on for pages, to see what this park really look like take a walk through it with an open mind.

Before I forget we do have the graffiti under control.

With city sponsored graffiti.

As we enter the 3rd Fiscal Year of the Measure Z Parcel tax (having spent $633,345.00 as of May 31,2015) this is a look at where we have come.
With the most recent passage of the latest 2 year budget this city will have spent a projected 1 1/4 million dollars over a 4 year period on these 3 parks.

The focus of this article will be Regency-Heritage Park with some mention of Marna O’Brien and Windsong. In the days to follow will be a more detailed report on the other two parks.

At the main entrance off of Autumn Oak Place used by school children daily during the school year.
On December 21, 2013

One can’t help notice the gaping hole in the fence. A year and a half later!!!

The hole is still there only a little larger.

Right next to this spot lies a backflow device that is inspected regularly. Along with this device is another hole

Same condition and graffito a year and a half later

Graffito: a single example of graffiti.

A look at the railing over the dam in this park shows how fast rapid decay can occur because this city lacks funds to clean its storm drains

Notice the base of the railing where it meets the concrete. This was taken in February of 2014

A year and half later

One reason for this decay

Picture taken February 3, 2014 after “Great Day of Service” and before opening day.

Looks pretty much the same all those thousands of dollars later. To date just over $80,000 has been spent of just this park alone.

This post has remained broken despite over $10,000 being spent installing new fencing around the dog park.

Opening Day April 2014

Even the Owls aren’t immuned from the elements or the neglect of the city.

Look closely at the open sun-roof in May of 2014

Maybe its a seasonal thing, or it was a feel good moment when this was introduced as Wildomar’s way of pest control.

Back to the dam and the seen and unseen problems it creates.
Seen

Unseen

What lurks in the $13,806.00 + material (BOG)
This picture was taken 1 1/2 months after new Engineered Wood Fiber was added to the Tot-Lot in haste

Not surprising as this Tot-Lot still lacks the State of California required signage with warnings about choke and burn hazards.
Our sign

Front and Rear

A proper sign
Rear

The two additional parks Marna O’Brien and Windsong have no such signage what so ever.

After several months past the parks opening an inspection of the Tot-Lots was completed. This identified several deficiencies, over an above the signs, which have yet to be corrected.
One is a slide which is to steep per the guidelines

The graffiti (black splotches) was also called into question in that report.

Not all is bad though, after many months we noticed some improvement

New trash cans to replace

The opening day decor. Notice the missing BBQ, its still missing. This along with 2 tables that were taken to another park.
Which someone using Regency-Heritage Park noticed

We also went from this

To this

Even though the hoop is still bent you now get the swoosh sound.
The premier park Marna O’Brien not only got new nets but also new hoops.
Regency-Heritage and Windsong Parks also got a bulletin board which might last till the end of the year.

A little over three weeks later

The bulletin board at Windsong is only usable on the top half as the bottom gets wet when ever the grass gets watered.
I called Marna O’Brien the premier park but it has its share of issues. Namely the Tot-Lot which went from ADA accessible to not.

See the wheel chair ramp

Now you don’t

This after another wonderful project brought to you by the 2 council members that have brought forward many of the additions that contain a rural flavor (on the cheap). Beware coming soon is a project to add shade covers over at least one Tot-Lot (this will be designed in house and constructed by volunteers) see pad above for one such project.

City of Wildomar 2 year budget projections found on page 232 of 491
http://www.cityofwildomar.org/uploads/files/minutes/06-24-15-cap.pdf

Found in the same agenda as above is:
City of Wildomar 4th Quarter Expenditure Status Report page 488 of 491

The Measure Z Annual Report FY 2013-14 can be found @
http://media.wix.com/ugd/28672a_0c8d622872cb4492bd14c318dd5f0d72.pdf

Rules for California Playgrounds can be found @
http://www.cprs.org/user_media/pdfs/California_Playground_Regulations.pdf

and @
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=hsc&group=115001-116000&file=115725-115735

Wildomar Connected

Bringing together the community through conversation

Monthly Archives: July 2015

MARNA O’BRIEN PARK THEN AND NOW

PARKS IN WILDOMAR THEN AND NOW