By: Jeff Biebuyck

As many Calabasas residents would’ve expected, the proposed plan to build a water park next to Juan Bautista De Anza Park was shot down entirely by the Calabasas City Council. However, they will consider building a swimming pool if the city’s parks, recreation and education commission find a need for one.

Mayor Barry Groveman commented that he was not in favor of any water park that would clutter the beautiful park. Community services director Jeff Rubin presented 4 options for a proposed Swim Center West in Calabasas. Although no decision has yet been made, Council member Mary Sue Maurer explained that most of the feedback from community members suggests ample concerns.

“Ninety-eight percent of the feedback I’ve received, the e-mails, the stops in the grocery store, have been, ‘What are you thinking,’” she commented.

In light of obvious concerns, the City Council will begin research on the need for a pool and where to build it.

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

By: Cindy Nexon

EARLY PLANS—An artist’s rendering places the new Calabasas water park next to the existing roller hockey rink (the large light blue square to the left) at De Anza Park. El Encanto homes are across the street. A hillside in the foreground would need grading. The Calabasas City Council has taken the first step in developing a water park at De Anza Park on the west side of town, although some members were disappointed with the initial design and said it looked like a “Las Vegas resort.”

In 2003, when the city’s community services department was updating its parks and recreation master plan, a survey was sent to residents soliciting their ideas.

“The consistent theme that came back was an aquatics complex on the west side of Calabasas,” said Jeff Rubin, the city’s community services director.

The master plan, adopted by the City Council, called for an approximately $8-million water park.

Rubin said that last year Mayor Jonathon Wolfson approached him to discuss the water complex, and after meetings with Dan Huncke, recreation services manager, and Tony Coroalles, city manager, the planning for the project began taking shape.

Conceptual designs depict a water park complete with water slides, splash pool and a miniature river shaded by large palm trees. Also proposed are an eight-lane swimming pool, locker rooms, an office complex and a concession stand. Initial layouts show parking at the corner of Las Virgenes and Lost Hills roads.

“I’m a little concerned with the visual aspect,” Councilmember James Bozajian said at last week’s City Council meeting. “I’d prefer it not look like a resort. I’d like it to blend more. I would hate it to be an eyesore. . . . It looks like a Las Vegas hotel rather than what it should look like, which is a natural area.”

“I share Councilmember Bozajian’s concerns about the landscaping and the look,” Councilmember Mary Sue Maurer said. “It does look like Las Vegas.”

“These are just conceptual drawings to kind of bat around what it might look like,” Coroalles said. “We didn’t spend a lot of money on this. Before we went much further (we wanted to see) if there was council consensus, to see if this might be an idea worth pursuing.”

Mayor Wolfson agreed.

“I think these were meant more to show pieces of the project, not how it would be laid out,” he said. “There are things we can do and still retain all these great features. There’s no reason why it shouldn’t look like it belongs in Calabasas.

“I think that we definitely need to make sure whoever works on the design understands that we don’t want it to look like a standard water park,” Wolfson said.

Rubin said he met with Coroalles and the city’s chief financial officer Gary Lysik and the three were able to reduce the cost estimate to less than $7 million.

“I’m very concerned with the affordability concept,” Bozajian said. “I didn’t see any maintenance costs included (in the estimate), and that would influence my decision.”

Bozajian said he wants to see the cost of maintaining the area, refilling the pool and hiring security guards. He was also worried about noise and lighting factors and other wear and tear on the park.

“Citizen input is very important to me,” Bozajian said. “I distinctly remember proposing a skate park and opposition came out. There may not be opposition, but I think if you showed this to the community it would draw some concerns. I’d be supportive, but I’d have to see some alterations here.”

After the updated designs are created, community meetings and public hearings will be held to gauge community feedback. City staff will also look at similar facilities and study pricing structures to determine how much the park might cost to operate.

“I’m conflicted. . . . I use this park almost every weekend,” Maurer said. “And what I’m looking at is the removal of the baseball field and the largest grassy area, where I’ve flown kites and thrown paper airplanes and really enjoyed that wide open expanse. It’s such a dramatic change for me.

“But for the community, I think there could be great value here. This could really be the family center for the community.”

Maurer also suggested putting a teen center at the facility.

Rubin said he expects updated designs to be ready by next month.

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.