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VOLUME 172 • ISSUE 40 | $1.00
mtdemocrat.com
MONDAY, APRIL 10, 2023
Costs sink Cameron Park splash pad project Jana Rossi Staff writer A very full Cameron Park Community Services District Board of Directors meeting adjourned after nearly four hours with the board establishing changes that will impact activities at Cameron Park Lake. A record number of Cameron Park residents attended the March 28 meeting, with the intention of making themselves heard on two controversial topics.
Splash pad a no-go A splash pad proposed in place of the Cameron Park Lake swimming lagoon has been met with mixed reception. Construction cost has
swelled to $1.6 million, double the original projected amount when the splash pad was approved in 2020. Projected annual operations costs are at least $16,000 plus $1,000 in annual repairs. The plan was to use Proposition 68 funds totaling $128,182 plus park impact fees to cover the balance. So far, $105,000 of non-refundable money has been spent on landscaping and many residents asked the board to cut its losses and use the remaining dollars on other lake projects, such as adding a launch pad to allow paddle boats and kayaks back into the lake. A few residents spoke out in favor of moving forward with the project, stating it was good for the next ■ See CAMERON PARK page A6
Mountain Democrat photo by Eric Jaramishian
Funding for swimming lagoon operations at Cameron Park Lake was eliminated in 2019. Plans to place a splash pad at the lagoon site are no longer moving forward.
Funding comes AFTERNOON DELIGHT together for inclusive play Sel Richard Staff writer The El Dorado Hills Community Services District has just announced plans to fund renovations for an inclusive playground at Jackson Elementary School, but put new facilities for Peter Bertelsen Park on hold. Jackson Elementary “It’s about recently made inclusivity — significant strides toward funding the meeting the needs improvement of of everybody its playground and surrounding furnishings, within the a project anticipated community.” to cost approximately $509,000. Principal — Noelle Mattock, Michele Williamson El Dorado Hills Community reported the PTO has Services District board committed $150,000 president with the expectation of a further $50,000 for amenities in ensuing years. Rescue Union School District has committed 14 new accessible-designed benches/lunch tables, shade, $50,000 toward the playground and pledged $88,000 next year for additional playground shading. With funding for the project still falling short by $250,000, the El Dorado County Office of Education entered into discussions with the CSD seeking to supply the remaining amount equally.
PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE
■ See PLAYGROUND, page A6
Mountain Democrat photo by Krysten Kellum
A red bud blooms along the trail around the pond at Town Center in El Dorado Hills. Local flora is showing off its colorful petals across El Dorado County’s rolling hills and its just getting started with poppies, butter cup, Ithuriel’s spear, shooting star and paintbrush, in addition to the red bud, dotting the landscape.
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