Fairview Park Committee To Attack Serious Issues

COULD BE AN INTERESTING MEETING
Wednesday evening, July 2nd, the Costa Mesa Fairview Park Citizens Advisory Committee - guided by Chairman Dr. Richard Mehren and Vice Chair Steve Smith and after months and months of discussions, will finally begin to get to the meat of the issues that a few of them have waited for - a chance to actually consider placing playing fields somewhere in the park.

WEDNESDAY AT 6:00 P.M.
The meeting, which will be held in the Victoria Room at the Neighborhood Community Center, 1845 Park Avenue (Lions Park) from 6:00 - 8:00, will find the committee finishing up the discussions of the final eight (8) issues being considered for the Northeast Quadrant - see map - and then begin discussing the Southeast Quadrant.  You can read the agenda HERE.

TWO PRESENTATIONS PLUS PUBLIC COMMENTS
Early in the meeting there will be two presentations, as listed on that agenda, followed by Public Comments, where members of the public may use three minutes to address the committee on issues they feel are important about Fairview Park.  Speakers will also be given a chance to address specific items on the agenda later, if they choose.

FINISHING UP THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT
As they finish the Northeast Quadrant they will discuss, and take comment from the public on, the following possible used in that segment of the park:

• Improve/Designate Bike Paths
• Lawn Bowling/Bocce Ball
• Retain the Elements of the Master Plan as it Reads now
• Dog Park
• Skate Park
• Nature Center-Bird Watching Platforms
• Marked Running Courses
• Archery Area

SEE WHICH, IF ANY, MAKE THE CUT
Those items are what remain from their previous discussion on this quadrant.  You will recall that, early in their deliberations, the committee listed thirty-five (35) items, elements or activities that they felt MIGHT be worthy of consideration for some segment of the park.  Included in the list was that one shown above - "Retain the Elements of the Master Plan as it Reads now".  The committee will discuss these and either agree to forward them for further consideration to the Parks and Recreation Commission or not.  At the last meeting none of the first eight were moved forward.

THEN THE SOUTHEAST QUADRANT
Following THAT discussion the committee will start the conversation about the Southeast Quadrant - that area which includes the Orange County Model Engineers trains - recently renewed for five years - and the big parking lot.  Some members of the committee have been salivating over this space for most of the last year, so it will be interesting to see how this conversation evolves.  The following is a list of the twenty-two (22) items the staff extracted from the list and feel MIGHT be appropriate for this segment of the park.  Read the appropriate portion of the staff report HERE.

1.  Dry Land Wildlife Viewing Area

2.  Baseball/Softball Facilities

3.  Recreate Heritage/Native American Village

4.  Vernal Pool Preservation with Cables, Signage, and delineation

5.  Soccer/Football Fields

6.  Multi-use Athletic Fields

7.  Retain the Elements of the Master Plan as it Reads Now

8.  Install a Two-tier Building that includes an Interpretive Center and Terrace/Viewing Deck

9.  Westside grass area/sprinkler system improvements

10. Basketball/handball Courts

11. OCME Track Expansions/Improvements

12. Trail Exercise Stations

13. Improve Placentia Avenue with Cable and Post Delineation

14. Roller Hockey Surface

15. Improve/Designate Bike Paths

16. Concrete Path from NW Traffic Signal to SE Traffic  Signal at Estancia

17. Dog Park

18. Expand Concert Area

19. Skate Park

20. Nature Center-Bird Watching Platforms

21. Archery Area

22. Marked Running Courses

THE FIRST SLICE AT THIS SEGMENT
Typically, the committee will discuss these items, winnow then down to a practical few, then staff will return at the next meeting with detailed presentations on each for the committee to consider and either recommend or discard.  As I mentioned above, at the last meeting they recommended NONE of the proposed options.

DOWN TO THE NITTY-GRITTY NEXT TIME
We presume the serious discussion of the Southeast Quadrant will take place at their next meeting - presently scheduled for August 6th, unless vacations will preclude a quorum being attained.

TRY TO ATTEND...
The turnout has been sparse at these meetings and they are no longer televised by Barry Friedland at Costa Mesa Brief, so if you want to see what's happening to your park you must attend in person - or read my report later.  I encourage you to attend - it's an interesting process.