By Brandon HENSLEY

A short Crescenta Valley Town Council meeting on Oct. 18 brought some news about a picnic shelter project that will eventually come to Two Strike Park.

Henry Ling, project manager for County Parks and Recreation Dept., told councilmembers and the audience about plans for a picnic shelter that will use funds from Measure A, which was part of Proposition 68, a measure that passed allowing money to be borrowed for environmental restoration projects.

Ling said there was no start time on the project because of some potential legal issues facing Regional Park and Open Space District. Ling said his team would get the okay from the district, whenever that might be, and then begin, most likely in 2019.

“There are strings attached to the Measure A funds being released. There are potential challenges … legal ramifications,” he said.

If approved, funding will come at $60,000 per year for five years, if needed.

Ling said there are several study areas within the district that have their own priorities. He mentioned that Superintendent Katheryn Barger is “very active and involved” at moving things forward, but “until the legal questions have been answered … we’re still waiting for that start date.”

Ling was at the CVTC meeting in August when he spoke about other projects going on at Two Strike. Upgrades for that project will include a resurfaced tetherball court, new accessible parking along Rosemont Avenue and new accessible ramps near parking. There will be a new path that will go along the outfield of the baseball field and run through to the basketball courts.

Construction will begin in early 2019 and be completed in the spring. The picnic area is another question, and Ling acknowledged some may wonder why progress for the upgrades is ongoing, while this project isn’t.

“It’s a different discussion than a practical one saying, ‘Why don’t you lump this together?’”

Ling explained there are different funding sources for each project.

Once everything can move forward, there will be community outreach to gauge interest and to take input for how the design will look.

“We want to make sure every voice is heard when coming together,” Ling said.

For more information, visit the Regional Park and Open Space District at rposd.lacounty.gov, or call the open space hotline at (626) 588-5060.

The next CVTC meeting will be held Nov. 15 at the La Crescenta Library community room, 2809 Foothill Blvd., at 7 p.m.

  Brandon Hensley