Elsinore park receives funding, Alberhill Boys & Girls Club set to open

A downtown Lake Elsinore landmark is about to receive some TLC. A construction bid to revitalize the nostalgic City Park, built by volunteer labor in the 1970s between Library Street and Limited Street on the Main Street thoroughfare, was approved by the city council at its October 24 meeting. The total cost of the project is about $615,000.

A total of five bids were received by the city on October 11 ranging from the lowest at $496,032 from 4-Con Engineering, Inc. of Riverside (which the city chose) to the highest at $594,841. The city’s engineering department estimated the project cost at $501,000.

Currently, the park is equipped with a restaurant with a kitchen, outdoor seating area, restroom facilities, gazebo, picnic tables and playground. The modernization of the restaurant and restroom buildings and access areas will bring the buildings into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for handicapped persons. The area of the park, less than an acre, will also be expanded onto neighboring city-owned properties.

Funding will be provided from the city’s allocation of $209,921 from the California Clear Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks and Coastal Protection Act of 2002; $84,079 from a block grant program; and $321,000 from the City Park Capital Improvement Project fund.

In addition, construction of the Boys & Girls Club of Southwest County facility at the Alberhill Ranch development off Lake Street is completed and the council approved the necessary legalities in preparation of the club’s grand opening celebration on Thursday, November 16, at 3 p.m.

The community housing branch of developer Castle and Cooke constructed the new Boys & Girls Club building on community parkland and donated the building to the nonprofit youth service group. In return, the Boys & Girls Club will lease the land for 40 years, with an option to renew for another decade from the city. The nominal annual $1 payment will be made to the city in exchange for the services for the local youth. The Boys & Girls Club will be responsible for building maintenance, utilities, insurance and costs of their operations.

To improve driving access on Spring Street due to cars parked on both sides of the road, a “no parking” zone was approved on the west side of Spring Street from Flint Street to Minthorn Street and on the east side of Spring Street from Minthorn.

The next city council meeting will be November 14 at 7 p.m. at the downtown Cultural Center at 183 North Main Street. To learn more, visit the city’s Web site at http://www.lake-elsinore.org on Friday, November 10, and click on the “cc agenda w/staff” icon for the meeting agenda, staff reports and relevant information.