Second public meeting held for Rio Prado Park

San Diego County Parks and Recreation held a public meeting regarding one of the San Luis Rey River Park active recreation sites, the Rio Prado Park, formerly known as San Luis Rey Dulin, at the Browers Auditorium at James E. Potter Junior High School in Fallbrook Oct. 2, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. The second public meeting regarded the new Rio Prado Park. The first public meeting regarding the SLR River Park active recreation sites was held April 29, at the Bonsall Community Center, and both SLR River Park sites, the Rio Prado Park, formerly San Luis Rey Dulin, and the Bonsall Community Park, formerly San Luis Rey Downs, were discussed at the initial meeting. The San Diego County Parks and Recreation held a separate public meeting regarding the Bonsall Community Park at the Bonsall Community Center Oct. 3, from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Following first public meeting April 29, the Department of Parks and Recreation determined that there was community support for multi-use trails, fitness stations, picnic areas, dog park, play area, sports fields, multi-use courts, skate features, bicycle course and an amphitheater. An online survey was available for residents who were unable to attend the public meeting, from May 24 to June 4, and it garnered 672 responses from the community. Online survey results showed the community desired shaded play areas, picnic areas, sports fields, dog park, restrooms and multi-use trails.

The second public meeting was held to gather additional community input on concepts for the Rio Prado Park and to finalize concept plans. Local residents were invited to provide input and fill out a survey on concept designs for the new park site. Brian Albright, the county Department of Parks and Recreation director, presented two park concept designs, Concept Plan A and Concept Plan B to residents, and explained that the amenities provided at the Rio Prado Park will reflect the desires of the community. Albright also thoroughly described the eastern, middle, and western areas of both concepts to residents during his presentation.

The key elements from the first concept presented, Concept Plan A, were seven soccer fields, four basketball courts, three baseball fields, six tennis and pickleball courts, a dog park, a community center building, a community garden and a playground. The key elements from the second concept, Concept Plan B, were two basketball courts, four tennis/pickleball courts, a 9-hold disc golf course, a dog park, a community center building, a community garden and a playground. Both concept plans also had equestrian staging areas so local residents can access trails surrounding the San Luis Rey River and RV parking for the volunteer overseeing the park.

On the survey provided to all of the attendees, residents were asked to pick with concept plan they preferred, to choose which amenities they most preferred, and to choose which amenities they least preferred. The survey also asked residents if there were any amenities missing from the concept plans. Residents learned that the final concept plan for Rio Prado Park will not in fact look exactly like Concept Plan A or B, and that the final concept will be a combination of what community members like the most from both concept plans. Residents were also informed that the park design, as well as environmental analysis of the site will be completed in spring 2020.

The Rio Prado Park site is a 68-acre parcel located off Old Highway 395 and Dulin Road in Fallbrook in which San Diego County acquired in 2009. Park visitors will access the park through Dulin Road, which is pubic road that is maintained by San Diego County. After the preliminary design of Rio Prado Park is completed, a traffic study will be done to determine safety needs, as Dulin Road is also the road that Rancho Monserate County Club residents use to access their homes. The Rancho Monserate Country Club is a 55-plus resident-owned mobile home park with a 9-hole golf course.

Rancho Monserate County Club residents have been told that safety is a top priority for the San Diego County Department of Public Works, and that the San Diego Club Parks and Recreation will be working closely with the Public Works Department so that appropriate safety measures are established for all members of the community. The first public meeting regarding the San Luis Rey River Park sites was heavily attended by Rancho Monserate residents and most shared concerns about the Rio Prado Park being accessed through Dulin Road. The Oct. 2 meeting was also heavily attended by Rancho Monserate residents, who were continuing to voice their safety concerns and protest community member access to the Rio Prado Park via Dulin Road. Many Rancho Monserate residents who attended the meeting held signs that read “Dulin Road” with a red circle with a red diagonal line through it.

There were many interruptions and yelling from upset Rancho Monserate residents throughout the public meeting, and the San Diego County Parks and Recreation staff and presenters attempted to calm the crowd. Attendees were politely informed that it was not the appropriate forum to argue about the park entrance. They were asked to write down their comments and concerns, instead of interrupting, as this meeting was held for the community to provide their input on concept designs for the Rio Prado Park.

According to the San Diego Parks and Recreation website, the October public meeting will likely be the last formal public meeting for the park design for the Rio Prado Park.

For more information about the park plans and amenities, contact the park project manager Nina Pisano at (858)-966-1353 or [email protected].

To learn more about Rio Prado Park and the Bonsall Community Park Active Recreation Sites, visit http://www.sdparks.org/content/dam/sdparks/en/pdf/Development/SLR%20Bonsall%20and%20Rio%20Prado%20Park%20FAQs.pdf.

Concept designs for the park can be viewed at http://www.sdparks.org/content/dam/sdparks/en/pdf/Development/RioPradoPark_ConceptsA&B_October2019.pdf.