Ground breaks on new
Oak Park Community Center
By John Loesing
Acorn Staff Writer

TURNING THE TURF-Members of the Oak Park Park and Recreation Planning Committee, the Municipal Advisory Council and boardmembers of the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District (above) break ground for the future Oak Canyon Community Center and Gardens (below) which will be located near Kanan Road at Oak Canyon Park. It's scheduled to open in the spring of 2003. PAUL TABLADILLO/The Acorn

Work gets underway Feb. 1 on the long-awaited million Oak Canyon Community Center and Gardens in Oak Park.

The $3.5 million building off Kanan Road was delayed more than a year because original construction bids were too high, according to officials.

G-2000 Construction Inc. of Agoura Hills won the final contract.

"We’ve re-packaged it and we were able to take care of it," said Rick Johnson, a spokesman for Rancho Simi Parks and Recreation District. "There were some concessions by the bidders."

Oak Park Community Center and Gardens

The 11,500 square-foot community center includes a 1,100 square-foot outdoor nature center overlooking the picturesque botanical gardens and distant hills.

The complex is part of the Oak Canyon Community Park, which opened in 1997. Considered one of the Rancho Simi district’s most beautiful settings, the park features 40 acres of ponds, trails, open space and picnic areas.

The park at 5600 Hollytree Drive also has an amphitheater.

Park district, school district and local government officials assembled at the site for a groundbreaking ceremony last week.

"We have to give people credit for being patient," Johnson said. "They expected something a little sooner."

The community center also includes a 2,500 square-foot recreation room and a 2,500 square-foot multipurpose room for private functions such as weddings, parties and bar mitzvahs. Other amenities include a full catering kitchen, a lobby and reception area, administrative offices and restrooms.

Officials said income from classes and rentals will help pay the center’s $55,000 a year in operational expenses, but they don’t expect the facility to break even.

The community center also will be the new headquarters for the Oak Park Recreation Program. Until now, the district has relied on a small 35-year-old building at Mae Boyer Park and portable structures at Oak Hills Elementary School and Red Oak Elementary School for classes, activities and after-school programs.

Roger Chikhani of the Los Angeles-based Luckman Partnership is the community center’s principal architect. Nestled on a hill adjacent the park, the community center will contain materials such as brick, stones and copper to emphasize a back-to-nature approach.

When construction is finished in April 2003, the highly acclaimed Oak Park park system will be completed. No further facilities are planned.

"In our master plan, this was the pinnacle and crown jewel of our park system," said Kyle Carmona, chairman of the Oak Park Park and Recreation Committee.

Said David Chatfield, chairman of the Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council, "It’s been a long time coming. We can’t wait for a year from now."

Oak Park added Deerhill Park in 1999, the community’s ninth and final park.

See related story on page 10.