The Wrightwood CSD was awarded a California Per Capita Grant for $181,475 to be used for Parks and Recreation.
In August, the general manager of the WWCSD gave a list of her recommendations for the grant. The list included new playground equipment at the cost of $80,000-$100,000, ADA improvements for $40,000, a water fountain at the cost of $4,500, stage curtains and lighting at the cost of $700-$2000, a new refrigerator for $2500, a new ice maker for $1000 and ADA toilets at the cost of $2000. Other items to be considered would be updating the HVAC, adding new urinals, toilets, no-touch faucets, new flooring, and a new septic system. In a later meeting, she expressed the need to replace some leaking windows and correct a water runoff issue damaging a building used to store park equipment.
The board decided to form an Ad-Hoc Park committee to hold meetings, open to the community, and hear ideas of how the grant funds should be used. Board members Natalie Lopiccolo and Michelle Schneider were assigned to this committee. Meetings were held via zoom, and members of the community responded had some of the same ideas as the General Manager and other great ideas of their own. The community requested an online poll so additional residents could give their input on what to do with the grant money. Agreeing, the Ad-Hoc committee put out a survey. The survey was based on community outreach meetings that had already been conducted and with management input. Three hundred ten surveys were received from the community.
The survey result revealed that 59% of the respondents felt that creating road access for a future new park was necessary. 51% felt there is a need to add park equipment for all ages, 24% asked for a sports field, 23% for a dog park, 20% for an amphitheater, 20% for a walking trail, and 11% for a BMX Park. Other suggestions included retrofitting the stage and improving the electrical at Vivian Null Park, purchasing a portable stage, upgrading the lighting on the stage, and adding playground equipment that is ADA compliant.
The Hollis Stewart Children’s Park, Vivian Null Park, Community Building, Wrightwood Veterans Memorial, public bathrooms, and the parking lot all qualify for improvements under this grant. The funds could also be used for the possibility of a future park on the east side of the Village and road access for the future development of that park.
