Imperial seeks community input for future regional park
Adrik Vargas
IMPERIAL, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The City of Imperial is in the early stages of planning a brand-new regional park, and the parks and recreation department want the public’s help shaping it.
The future park site spans 143 acres of open space along LaBrucherie Road, between Ralph and Larson. Right now, it’s just an undeveloped field near the new Cambria Hotel, but officials hope it will eventually become a hub for recreation and community events.
The city’s Parks and Recreation Department held a town hall meeting to hear directly from residents about what they’d like to see developed at the park.
“No idea is a bad idea, so any ideas are valid. We will give those ideas to the design firm we select to move forward to the next phase of this project,” said Anthony Lopez, Imperial’s Parks and Recreation Director.
This kind of community engagement is part of phase one in the park’s planning process. Lopez says the city has seen increased demand for athletic fields and outdoor gathering spaces, and the new park could help meet that need.
“Over the last few years, we’ve had a growing demand of use of specifically our athletic fields, and we just don’t have the space anymore, so this is an opportunity to expand the resources we have here,” he said.
Although the park is still in development, the city says it’s committed to including the community every step of the way, and they’re still welcoming feedback.