Agoura rec center chooses Forest Cove

Forest Cove Park in Agoura Hills has been selected as the best location for the city's new recreation center, Amy Brink, director of community services, announced.

The rec center is currently renting space from a church on Thousand Oaks Boulevard.

A year-long study conducted by CWA Inc., a San Diego-based architectural firm, identified 21 potential sites for the new center. The firm examined the feasibility of placing the facility at various schools, parks and commercial areas within the city, but chose Forest Cove Park as the best site.

Each site's potential as the final destination was evaluated on a point system that examined cost, traffic, hillside grading, impact on oak trees, zoning compatibility and other factors.

"In order for a recreation center to not only serve a purpose, but to be a destination for residents, it must have many unique characteristics," Brink said.

"The goal is to create a facility where all recreation components come together to create a wonderful destination and form a sense of community," she said.

Forest Cove Park fit the bill.

The park, which is divided into two sections, offers a baseball field, play equipment and basketball courts on its lower elevation. The upper section is used for "passive activities," including parties and small gatherings.

The rolling topography of the upper portion prevents sports activity, making the area "somewhat underutilized" Brink said.

"By comparison, if a recreation center was going to be placed at a park such as Chumash Park, there are several programs, including football, softball tournaments and baseball leagues that would have to be relocated," she said.

The new recreation center will span 17,500 square feet and cost approximately $6 to $7 million. The location provides enough room for future expansion, CWA president Steve Finney said.

City Engineer Ramiro Adeva said the Forest Cove site provides better traffic circulation than other sites.

"The upper level is just an ideal spot," said Councilmember Denis Weber. "It (will) take the business away from the street (and) it's a really lovely setting."

But according to Mayor John Edelston, "One group that has not participated in the study was the public. . . . We ought to have the opportunity for those in the community to provide input. We may find information that we might not otherwise have considered."

Councilmember Bill Koehler said a town hall meeting to discuss the site would be appropriate, but not for the purpose of comparing it to other locations. Koehler hoped residents would instead contribute ideas about architectural style and design features.

Councilmember Harry Schwarz said, "The public needs to see something on which to comment."

Edelston said he was not opposed to the site, but voted against its approval because he wanted to see more public input.

"We don't know what we don't know," the mayor said.