City opens new parks

The city of Lincoln hopes to become greener in the new year - literally.At least four parks are in line to open in 2008.And as Lincoln deals with construction costs that have skyrocketed, coupled with development that's come to a near-standstill, city planners hope a new approach will keep the parks coming."We're trying to be proactive, without getting the city in a bad place financially," said Mandy Walker, Lincoln's assistant director of recreation. "We're working on finishing up what we've already started and hopefully the economy will be swinging around sometime sooner than later, so we can pick up where we left off."Park construction in Lincoln will have cost $34 million by March, not including the expense of maintaining the city's 1,240 acres of open space. Parks pending completion by 2012 will bring the total price tag to $50 million.Foskett Regional Park, which is nearly finished, alone will cost $13.2 million.Like most fast-growing communities, Lincoln currently collects fees from developers to put towards the park construction. But that might change.The city could rely on developers to build future parks, said Rodney Campbell, community development director. "It really has to do with being able to bring parks online fast," he said. "When the city builds parks, we're required to put together plans and specifications and go through the bidding process - it's quicker and sometimes less expensive for developers to do it."Lincoln was fortunate enough to pull the Foskett project off just before building slowed, said John Pedri, Lincoln's director of public works.Foskett Regional Park appears finished, but is in the warranty stage and will likely open in April, Pedri said.Set on 42 acres and flanked by open space wetlands, the area's first regional recreation area is designed to draw tournaments and other large events."This is our jewel," Petri said. "I think it's one of the prettiest parks we have."Amenities include four soccer fields and four softball fields, all lighted. Future phases include an aquatics center and possibly tennis courts.Neighborhood park Machado and 0.8-acre "pocket" park Pete Demas, both in Lincoln Crossing, will debut in 2008.Other proposed facilities haven't been as lucky."There are a few (parks) in Lincoln Crossing that have been affected by the slowdown," Pedri said.Casualties include Nathan Dubin Park and the joint-use Robert Jimenez Park, put on hold until 2010-11."The joint-use parks are interesting because they're tied to the school district," Pedri said. While Lincoln has a say in design and maintenance, development of joint parks is up to Western Placer Unified School District. And financial woes amid a growing student population have led WPUSD to place some of its proposed schools - and therefore parks - on hold.An exception is 5-acre Peter Singer Park in Lincoln Crossing, which is expected to open in early 2008.Park costs aren't simply limited to construction of ball fields and playgrounds, Pedri said. The city also maintains the parks, as well as most landscape corridors - such as the trees that line Joiner Parkway and roads in Twelve Bridges - and the city's considerable amount of open space.Lincoln's new general plan will mandate 35-40 percent be maintained as open space, Pedri said.The goal is to one day link the entire city through pedestrian and bike trails."Eventually they would connect all the way out to the annexed areas," he said.In Coyote Pond Park in Twelve Bridges - scheduled to open this winter - a trail winds past a pond, picnic tables and tot play area and up through the undeveloped hills."Down in Rocklin and Roseville, you just don't see this," Pedri said.At $300,000 a mile, trails aren't cheap to build. But some funding comes from grants and private donations.A wooden bridge behind a planned movie theater that will carry pedestrians, bikes and electric vehicles along a trail into downtown has been mostly grant-funded. So were recent updates to older facilities, such as restrooms in Markham Park and a gazebo and pool in McBean Park.After 2008, the outlook for parks becomes less certain. But the city will keep looking at alternatives, Pedri said."There's really no development going on right now," he said. "But when the next push hits, we want to be ready."Sidebar (if room):Parks/trails scheduled to open in 2008Coyote Pond Park - JanuaryMcBean Park Phase I Trail - January Peter Singer Park - March Foskett Regional Park - AprilMarkham Park Trails - October Machado Park - October Auburn Ravine Park (dog park and trails) - October Quail Meadows Trail - October Future/extended parksRobert Jimenez - 2010 Emmet Murch Park - 2010Nathan Dubin Park - 2010/2011Scheiber Park, Phase II - 2010 Foskett Aquatic Complex - 2012 Expected cost of parksAs of March 2008 - $34 millionBy October 2012 - $50 million