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Published on 06/16/1999 All articles from this issue

Simitian works to keep park use free

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By Jeff Eisenberg

Special to the Town Crier

Visitors to Rancho San Antonio County Park may not be subject to a $4 entrance fee if Supervisor Joe Simitian gets his way.

At the May 25 meeting of the county board of supervisors, Simitian cast the sole dissenting vote against a Parks Department plan which would require drivers to pay a $4 fee for county parks use. The Parks Department currently collects entrance fees to 11 of its 12 county parks.

Rather than accept his defeat, Simitian pledged to "get creative" with his local park, Rancho San Antonio. Simitian has proposed leasing the park to the MidPeninsula Regional Open Space District, which controls neighboring San Antonio Open Space Preserve. A spokesperson for Simitian said the open space district could absorb Rancho San Antonio County Park's maintenance costs within its large operating budget, thus keeping park use free.

In Simitian's plan, the county would pay $1.5 million to the district over 10 years to maintain the park. Both the MidPeninsula Regional Open Space District and the Parks Department have expressed tentative support for this proposal.

Simitian wants to "make the parks available to those who would be least able to manage paying the fees."

Not everyone agrees with Simitian's proposal, believing vehicle entry fees are a critical revenue source for the Parks Department. They are willing to pay a fee to maintain the quality of the park.

However, Simitian maintains there will not be a noticeable difference in the park if his proposal is accepted.

Terms of the lease to the MidPeninsula Open Space Preserve are still in negotiation.