LAKEPORT— The city of Lakeport held the first of three community meetings at City Hall Monday to kick start the process of applying for a grant to fund the creation of a new park area at the Natural High School property.
This property area is located on 6th Street and 9th Street off the shore of Clear Lake at 810 North Main Street..
The meeting was facilitated by Lakeport Community Development Director Kevin Ingram and the Public Health Advocates, which is a nonprofit organization that is based out of Davis helping city staff to write the grant.
“It is a competitive process so there is no guarantee that we will get it, but we are upping our input and everyone here tonight will definitely get us a leg up on that process,” Ingram said.
During the meeting there were small group discussions that focused on topics like health and wellness in the community,safety, cultural events and other relevant issues.
Some of the ideas talked about for possible implementation in the area during the meeting included the possibility of funding an aquatic center, a swimming pool, dog parks, walking trails, an amphitheater, art related events and community gardens.
“It’s the intent of the city to submit an application for this Proposition 68 funding. It is going to be due in August,” Ingram said.
This plan falls in with the Lakeshore Lakefront Revitalization plan that the city of Lakeport has already in place.
“We want to hear everyone’s ideas and get everything out on the table,” Ingram said.
According to city officials, the process has been made possible due to the passing of Proposition 68, the Parks and Water Bond Act, which contains an item that would fund parks for under served communities.
Officials noted that this grant cycle will offer $254 million and there will be future future cycles that will offer $720 million.
The next meeting in the process is scheduled for April 18 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. where discussion of a budget to fund the projects the city is looking at completing is planned, including what can fit in the proposed space.
According to the city’s official Facebook page, residents unable to attend the meeting can still provide their thoughts on recreational opportunities they would like to see made a part of this new lakefront community open space area by completing a quick survey online: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RLZVLWL
