LA PALMA : Design Work OKd on Park Features

The City Council voted 4 to 1 Tuesday to finish designing several improvements for Central Park that would include a terraced amphitheater, a gazebo, a volleyball court, a restroom and more landscaping.

The council discussed preliminary plans for the changes Tuesday evening and voted to move forward with the final design work. When the work is finished in about two months, the City Council will consider whether to seek bids for the work, City Manager Pamela Gibson said.

Councilman David Lim voted against continuing the design work. He said he was concerned with replacing current grassy areas at the park with new structures.

Upgrades to the seven-acre park are estimated to cost $600,000, Gibson said. But the work should actually cost less, she said, with contractors in general submitting lower bids because of the recession. The city budgeted $460,000 in redevelopment funds for the park work. If the cost turns out to be higher, Gibson said, the council will probably delay portions of the work.

The small, terraced amphitheater and the new gazebo will allow concerts to take place at the park, Gibson said. Improvements are also expected to include new playground equipment and new handicapped accesses.