New Sepulveda Dam Sports Complex in Lake Balboa to Open Early 2012
Construction is in the home stretch of Phase 1 on the 68-acre Sepulveda Dam Sports Complex, a new recreational facility in Lake Balboa. Although the park was slated to open this December, “it’s looking more like January” according to Abel Perez of the Department of Recreation. A little late is better than never and I simply can’t wait for the grand opening.
The Sepulveda Dam Recreation Area is about to get a little bigger. Sometimes referred to as the “Central Park of the Valley”, the Sepulveda Basin is a sprawling recreational area and wildlife habitat overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
It includes a remote-controlled airfield, golf courses, animal habitats, a lake and more.
The Sepulveda Dam Sports Center will have a synthetic grass soccer field, lighted baseball/softball fields with bleachers, restrooms, and a walk or bike path. Of course there will be parking. My favorite part of the parking lot? The trees! Anyone who has ever parked in the valley in the summer knows that the shady spot under the tree is the best one and this parking lot is loaded with them. Oh, look at me, a typical L.A. freak going on and on about a parking lot when there’s so much more!
This is a few of the parking lot as of November 2011.
Landscaping at the facility is made up of native plants, which will help reduce water consumption, permeable paving, solar lighting and bioswales, landscape elements designed to filter dirt and pollution from runoff water in urban areas. If that’s not green enough, the landscaping will be irrigated with reclaimed water. I just love this! This is how all homes should be built in Los Angeles, not just public facilities.
Since there is lighting, there’s a good chance the facility will be open after dark (unlike most of the other parks in the Sepulveda Dam area), but I was unable to confirm that information.
Phase II and III will likely take another few years, but the plans include large swaths of open grass area and more soccer fields. The project is funded by a 30-year citywide property tax assessment for parks and recreation improvements that was approved by L.A. voters in 1996 (prop k) and state bond measure (prop 40) that allocated funds for park projects.
When the Sepulveda Dam Sports Center opens, there will be a grand opening celebration and the public will be invited. It has not been scheduled yet. I’ll be covering this of course, so subscribe to my blog to stay up to date on this park and many other great things in the San Fernando Valley.
Comments(1)