A Word From Supervisor Bill Horn
Posted by: Mighty Thor | 05/06/2008 12:02 PM
From Supervisor Bill Horn:
This month we expect to take another huge step forward in creating the largest park in San Diego County by acquiring a 143-acre parcel of land located along the San Luis Rey River on State Route 76. The parcel is within the proposed boundaries of the 9-mile, linear San Luis Rey River Park and would more than double the amount of land for the park owned by the County.
Ten years ago, it was my vision to create the San Luis Rey River Park and at the same time make good on my promise to widen Highway 76.
The parcel is currently owned by the Vessels family and will cost approximately $5 million. The land features a southern cottonwood-willow riparian forest with areas of mulefat scrub, southern willow scrub and coast live oak woodland. The County currently owns 116.56 acres of open space purchased from San Luis Rey Downs in December 2005 and with this purchase, the number of acres now stands at nearly 260 acres. The area lies entirely within the draft North County Multiple Species Conservation Program boundaries.
The park will ultimately extend from Oceanside to Interstate 15, parallel to State route 76 along the San Luis Rey River. Plans call for Highway 76 to be widened to four lanes from Mission to Interstate 15.
In 2003, at my request, the Board of Supervisors initiated the San Luis Rey River Park project and authorized the creation of a master plan for the park. Work on the master plan has now progressed to the point where additional acquisitions have been identified for inclusion in the park. All purchases have been coordinated with Caltrans to ensure compatibility with future improvements to Highway 76, and my staff and I are working closely with community groups to gain their input.
This is great news for the entire County and especially those of us "up North."
This month we expect to take another huge step forward in creating the largest park in San Diego County by acquiring a 143-acre parcel of land located along the San Luis Rey River on State Route 76. The parcel is within the proposed boundaries of the 9-mile, linear San Luis Rey River Park and would more than double the amount of land for the park owned by the County.Ten years ago, it was my vision to create the San Luis Rey River Park and at the same time make good on my promise to widen Highway 76.
The parcel is currently owned by the Vessels family and will cost approximately $5 million. The land features a southern cottonwood-willow riparian forest with areas of mulefat scrub, southern willow scrub and coast live oak woodland. The County currently owns 116.56 acres of open space purchased from San Luis Rey Downs in December 2005 and with this purchase, the number of acres now stands at nearly 260 acres. The area lies entirely within the draft North County Multiple Species Conservation Program boundaries.
The park will ultimately extend from Oceanside to Interstate 15, parallel to State route 76 along the San Luis Rey River. Plans call for Highway 76 to be widened to four lanes from Mission to Interstate 15.
In 2003, at my request, the Board of Supervisors initiated the San Luis Rey River Park project and authorized the creation of a master plan for the park. Work on the master plan has now progressed to the point where additional acquisitions have been identified for inclusion in the park. All purchases have been coordinated with Caltrans to ensure compatibility with future improvements to Highway 76, and my staff and I are working closely with community groups to gain their input.
This is great news for the entire County and especially those of us "up North."
It was one of my greatest pleasures when working with Lee Atwater in Senator Thurmonds reelection campaign race...