PALMDALE, CA - City staff began meeting with architects immediately after Palmdale property owners approved an assessment to construct new recreation facilities on both the east and west sides of Palmdale. The design process, which included two public input workshops and was reviewed by members of a citizens advisory committee, is completed. The projects went out to bid in late December and early January and construction began last spring with completion expected in summer 2005.

"This project is really unique," claims City of Palmdale Parks and Recreation Director John Lasagna. "Cities may build a park or a softball complex or even a recreation center, but to build 60-acres of facilities is unbelievable. We’re doubling and in some cases, tripling the number of facilities we have. It’s amazing."

The project began in 1998, with the $41 million bond issue passing in 2002. "They approved the funding for development of the vision projects knowing the value the projects would return by enhancing their quality of life and adding value to their City," added Lasagna.

The City will construct a variety of recreation amenities at a new 33-acre park located at 40th Street East and Avenue S, and as part of a 40-acre expansion of Marie Kerr Park located at 30th Street West and Rancho Vista Boulevard (Avenue P). "We’re building seven softball fields, two 17,000 square-foot recreation centers, an amphitheatre, two enclosed swimming pools, a water park and athletic fields. The Best of the West Softball Complex is unique. We’ve targeted girls’ softball by building four fields with 210-foot fences. We’ve added three slow-pitch fields (300 foot fences) to go with an existing field on site. Each championship field will feature stadium seating," added Lasagna. The Starlight Amphitheater will have a 7,000-person capacity, a 60’ x 40’ covered stage and an 800-square foot dressing/restroom building.

The east side site will feature a six-acre western-themed aquatic park with a 900-foot lazy river, three 35-foot water slides with splash pool, 6,000 square-foot children’s water playground, food and beverage snack bar with patio area, a merchandise stand, covered picnic area, large grassy area for group outings, a community room and a storytelling/performance area. This site will also have a 4.5-acre landscaped area designed for community events and a landscaped 12-acre flood detention basin that will be used for soccer and football activities.

"While the City anxiously awaits the completion of the various facilities, it is Palmdale residents that should be extremely proud," emphasizes Lasagna.