Supervisors ratify donations to Wilderness Gardens and Live Oak Park

Joe Naiman

Village News Reporter

During the period from Jan. 1, 2023, to June 30, 2023, the San Diego County Parks Society made donations totaling $47,492.17 to the county’s Department of Parks and Recreation. Because the society made total donations of over $5,000 to the county during the six-month period, the donations needed to be ratified by a San Diego County Board of Supervisors action.

The supervisors’ 3-0 vote Wednesday, Oct. 25, with Terra Lawson-Remer absent and one vacant seat, approved the donations. The total amount includes $703.53 for Wilderness Gardens Preserve in Pala and $450 for Live Oak Park in Fallbrook.

The San Diego County Parks Society is a nonprofit organization which was established in 1980 to support and improve the county’s park system. The donations help to maintain and operate county parks and assist with ongoing and expanded programming.

Between Jan. 1, and June 30, the San Diego County Parks Society made 15 donations to specific parks and another four donations for activities involving multiple parks. In 1973, Wilderness Gardens became the county’s first open space preserve, and the San Diego County Parks Society donation helped the 50th anniversary event to occur April 15.

Live Oak Park is owned by the county and maintained by the nonprofit Live Oak Park Coalition. In December 2014, the county supervisors approved a funding agreement with the Live Oak Park Coalition for the first Department of Parks and Recreation off-leash dog park. The county now also has off-leash dog parks in Borrego Springs, Julian and Spring Valley, as well.

An annual Bark in the Park fundraiser supports the maintenance and operation of the dog park, and the San Diego County Parks Society made a donation for this year’s Bark in the Park event which was held March 18.

Joe Naiman can be reached by email at [email protected].