Workshop on Saratoga Park Slated for April 8

Saratoga Park before the demolition of the old buildings and the beginning of construction of the new 3 story condos.

The Ocean Beach Community Development Corporation is sponsoring the first of several public meetings and workshops on their proposed improvements for Saratoga Park, this one to be held on Tuesday, April 8th.  It will be at the OB Rec Center.

According to the OBCDC press release, the workshop purpose is a discussion on conceptual improvements, which include:

• a small children’s playground,
• fitness stations and
• individual seating
• and related improvements

Saratoga Park is located located at the foot of Saratoga Avenue, west of Abbott Street immediately north of the parking lot at the Lifeguard Station.  It will abut the condos that are currently being constructed.

The OBCDC is a private, non-profit organization that often receives federal monies (CDBG) via the City of San Diego for improvements in the OB community – due to parts of OB being in low-economic zones that qualify for aid.  Here are the particulars:

• Date: Tuesday, April 8, 2014

• Time : 6:45 pm

• Workshop Location:  OB Recreation Center, 4726 Santa Monica Ave

Below is the rest of the press release:

Please join the community for a Public Meeting and Workshop #1 at the Ocean Beach Recreation Council to discuss proposed conceptual improvements at Saratoga Park including a small children’s playground, fitness stations and individual seating located at the foot of Saratoga Avenue, west of Abbott Street immediately north of the parking lot at the Ocean Beach Lifeguard Station in the Community of Ocean Beach.

• PROJECT SCHEDULE AND COMPLETION: Based Community Review process, permitting and community fundraising. A project budget will be determined based on the design.

• PROJECT FUNDING: Primarily Private Contributions and Grants

PROJECT BACKGROUND

The Ocean Beach Community Development Corporation (OBCDC) is proposing to develop a small children’s playground, fitness equipment, individual seating and related improvements at Saratoga Park, located at the foot of Saratoga Ave immediately north of the parking lot adjacent to the Ocean Beach Lifeguard Station. The project is supported by the Ocean Beach Town Council, the Ocean Beach Main Street Association and the Ocean Beach Community Foundation and is consistent with the proposed Ocean Beach Precise Plan. The OBCDC intent is to seek approval for a “Right of Entry” permit from the City of San Diego to develop the project for the benefit of the Ocean Beach Community. This project will be primarily a private community fundraising effort.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING?

This is the first of at least two public meetings with the Ocean Beach Recreation Council to review park concepts. The purpose of the Saratoga Park Community Workshop is to obtain public input and ideas on the initial concept and return in two months for a follow up community workshop. Following the workshops, a final design concept will be submitted to the City of San Diego for processing through the Park and Recreation Area and Design Committees, Park and Recreation Board and Development Services Department. In addition the OBCDC will seek input from the various Ocean Beach civic and planning groups and the general public. We look forward to hearing from you.

FOR QUESTIONS:

For information please contact Ocean Beach CDC Saratoga Park Committee co-chairs:

Jane Gawronski jgawronski@att.net or Byron Wear at wearstrategies@aol.com