City of Agoura Hills Upgrades Parks

Agoura HIlls, CA, June 24, 2009 --(PR.com)-- The city of Agoura Hills announced that many of its popular parks will be seeing improvements to the landscape, parking lots and equipment during general maintenance work being conducted over the next six months. City officials stated that the parks, some of which were developed over 40 years ago by the county before city incorporation, are in need of more public- and environmentally-friendly improvements. The work being conducted over the upcoming months will include:

Reyes Adobe Park: As part of the Park Clean-up Project, six Poplar trees have been replaced with eight trees: four majestic red oaks (Quercus rubra), which have a 200- to 300- year life span and four Tulip trees (Liriodendron tulipifera), a deciduous variety with a 200-year life span. Replacement of the trees was a proactive measure taken by the city, as the Poplar trees were experiencing declining health and their exposed root structures had prompted calls from park users over tripping concerns. The new trees were selected because they will provide lovely canopies and integrate well into the current park setting. The city will also be improving the drainage at Reyes Adobe Park to prevent water pooling at low levels in the field which results in the loss of ground use after rains.

Old Agoura Park: Re-working the parking entrance to remove potholes and replacing the asphalt with stamped concrete for better wear, appearance and public accessibility. The park is home to the local Pony and Little League programs.

Morrison Park: Removing bushes and brush that obstructs views of park activity and provides potential havens for rattlesnakes.

Chumash Park: Re-grading the large turf area used for sports and special events, such as the Concerts in the Park series. The area will be leveled with sand followed by the laying of new sod to improve grounds for sport activities and ease of access.

Sumac Park: The playground equipment is being replaced this summer, and the public will soon be invited to suggest the type of equipment they would like to have in the park.

In addition to these specific projects, some parks will also be receiving other upgrades. Park monuments located at Reyes Adobe, Chumash, and Forest Cove parks will all be receiving colorful landscaping. Volunteers have begun to work with the city to help plant New Zealand (Phormium ) Sundowner and Yellow Wave, known for their variegated leaves, and red carpet roses. Also, all park playground areas will all be inspected for receiving new fibar and equipment repairs.

The 6-month park maintenance and improvement project will have minimum impact on the city’s general fund. Much of the costs have been raised trough the Quimby Act (funds collected from developers to help with open space preservation and park improvements) and outside donations.

A recent survey conducted by the state’s department of recreation indicated that 98% of families use public parks within their community. “Agoura Hills offers residents a variety of parks for both passive and active use. They have been heavily used for decades, and we are taking proactive measures to enhance them for our community’s active outdoor lifestyle,” stated Community Service Director Amy Brink for Agoura Hills.

###