Jan Park Position Statement
By: BHNA
The Barrett Hills Neighborhood Association was formed, in part, to respond to the Carmichael Recreation & Park District’s proposal to sell approximately 4 acres of Jan Park for development of the site. The proceeds from the sale would go to develop the remaining park site and to pay for improvements (e.g. drainage, grading, sidewalks, etc.) precipitated by the proposed development. The association is committed to preserving and maintaining Jan Park‘s unique character by maintaining it as natural open space. The District claims that the Barrett Hills neighborhood lacks the availability of a park, since the site, which was purchased in the 1970’s, has not been developed. This ignores the fact that citizens have used the site extensively for hiking, walking pets, and children’s play in the dry creek. Children relish such natural areas for unorganized play activities which are largely absent in our developed suburban settings. We recognize that any development of the site, even minimal, could trigger costly, mandated improvements and thus necessitate the sale of portions of the park site to provide funds for the improvements.
At the Jan Park Neighborhood Workshops held in 2008, the majority of the 75-100 attendees overwhelmingly opposed selling park land. The more than 60 members of the Barrett Hills Neighborhood Association agree.
Currently, Jan Park is a 13.6 acre open space area with a seasonal drainage basin. According to the Sacramento Tree Foundation, there are Heritage Oaks on site and the park has been used for outdoor classroom instruction because of its natural state.
The park district has designated Jan Park a neighborhood park, meaning that it is intended to serve the residents within a half mile radius. Approximately a quarter of a mile from the park, are two large apartment complexes totaling more than 200 units, Crestview North and Crestview Town Homes. This is significant to note, because as state and county budget problems threaten to close parks such as The Effie Yeaw Nature Center, or increase fees for their usage, the accessibility to natural settings for children and older residents would decrease. The nearest natural park site which is free to use is the Schweitzer Grove Nature Area, a 17.2 acre site with walking trails and a disc golf course which is approximately two and a half miles from Jan Park .
Except for the proposed sale of park land, the park district’s Preferred Development Plan and the Neighborhood Association’s plan for Jan Park is in agreement in many areas. Notable exceptions are the small turf area and accent planting proposed by the park district. California has a long history of multiple year droughts and is currently in its third year of the most recent drought. In addition, as previously noted, there are Heritage Oaks and many other smaller Oaks on the Jan Park site. Planting turf and accent plants which require watering is irresponsible in drought conditions and potentially threaten the multiple oaks on the site which require little to no supplemental water.
The association’s vision for preserving Jan Park as open space has the added benefit of reducing on-going maintenance cost at a time when park districts are struggling. In its natural state, with limited development, watering, chemical use and other such maintenance costs associated with more traditional parks are eliminated. Further, it allows for the schools which have accessed it in the past for educational purposes to continue to have a venue to teach and expose children to nature at no cost.
When public lands are sold the public lands are lost forever, and rarely is it the public that benefits. The neighbors surrounding Jan Park are respectfully asking for the time to develop a plan that would not result in the sale of any portion of Jan Park. Given the current real estate climate and the fact that the park has sat undeveloped, though not unused for decades, there would appear to be no reason to deny our request to stop any and all efforts towards development of the Jan Park site and afford us the opportunity to explore alternatives.
By: BHNA
The Barrett Hills Neighborhood Association was formed, in part, to respond to the Carmichael Recreation & Park District’s proposal to sell approximately 4 acres of Jan Park for development of the site. The proceeds from the sale would go to develop the remaining park site and to pay for improvements (e.g. drainage, grading, sidewalks, etc.) precipitated by the proposed development. The association is committed to preserving and maintaining Jan Park‘s unique character by maintaining it as natural open space. The District claims that the Barrett Hills neighborhood lacks the availability of a park, since the site, which was purchased in the 1970’s, has not been developed. This ignores the fact that citizens have used the site extensively for hiking, walking pets, and children’s play in the dry creek. Children relish such natural areas for unorganized play activities which are largely absent in our developed suburban settings. We recognize that any development of the site, even minimal, could trigger costly, mandated improvements and thus necessitate the sale of portions of the park site to provide funds for the improvements.
At the Jan Park Neighborhood Workshops held in 2008, the majority of the 75-100 attendees overwhelmingly opposed selling park land. The more than 60 members of the Barrett Hills Neighborhood Association agree.
Currently, Jan Park is a 13.6 acre open space area with a seasonal drainage basin. According to the Sacramento Tree Foundation, there are Heritage Oaks on site and the park has been used for outdoor classroom instruction because of its natural state.
The park district has designated Jan Park a neighborhood park, meaning that it is intended to serve the residents within a half mile radius. Approximately a quarter of a mile from the park, are two large apartment complexes totaling more than 200 units, Crestview North and Crestview Town Homes. This is significant to note, because as state and county budget problems threaten to close parks such as The Effie Yeaw Nature Center, or increase fees for their usage, the accessibility to natural settings for children and older residents would decrease. The nearest natural park site which is free to use is the Schweitzer Grove Nature Area, a 17.2 acre site with walking trails and a disc golf course which is approximately two and a half miles from Jan Park .
Except for the proposed sale of park land, the park district’s Preferred Development Plan and the Neighborhood Association’s plan for Jan Park is in agreement in many areas. Notable exceptions are the small turf area and accent planting proposed by the park district. California has a long history of multiple year droughts and is currently in its third year of the most recent drought. In addition, as previously noted, there are Heritage Oaks and many other smaller Oaks on the Jan Park site. Planting turf and accent plants which require watering is irresponsible in drought conditions and potentially threaten the multiple oaks on the site which require little to no supplemental water.
The association’s vision for preserving Jan Park as open space has the added benefit of reducing on-going maintenance cost at a time when park districts are struggling. In its natural state, with limited development, watering, chemical use and other such maintenance costs associated with more traditional parks are eliminated. Further, it allows for the schools which have accessed it in the past for educational purposes to continue to have a venue to teach and expose children to nature at no cost.
When public lands are sold the public lands are lost forever, and rarely is it the public that benefits. The neighbors surrounding Jan Park are respectfully asking for the time to develop a plan that would not result in the sale of any portion of Jan Park. Given the current real estate climate and the fact that the park has sat undeveloped, though not unused for decades, there would appear to be no reason to deny our request to stop any and all efforts towards development of the Jan Park site and afford us the opportunity to explore alternatives.
