Folsom holds groundbreaking for new park, fire station

The Folsom Ranch Plan Area welcomed its two newest additions to the neighborhood, Prospector Park and Fire Station 34, on June 29. Prospector Park will be located at 4578 Sparrow Dr., with the fire station at 3255 Westwood Dr. The sites are one mile apart. The station is planned to open next spring and the park in two years. The groundbreaking ceremony began with introductions of Mayor Rosario Rodriguez, Vice Mayor YK Chalamcherla, Parks and Recreation Director Kelly Gonzalez, City Manager Elaine Andersen, Parks and Recreation Chair Commissioner Brian Wallace, Park Planning Manager Brad Nelson and Principal Landscape Architect Keith Wilson from Wilson Design Studio, Landscape Architecture. As attendees sipped on complimentary coffee and kids played with soapy bubbles, they learned about the plan for the park, how long it has been in the making and why it's a significant milestone for the Folsom Plan Area. Gonzalez announced this will be Folsom's 49th park and thanked the public for coming out to support the teamwork, determination and efforts of those involved in its development. "This milestone is 20 years in the making. A park on this site was first envisioned in 2003 at this Folsom Plan area, as it was quickly developing," Gonzalez said. "Thirty percent of the total land in the Folsom Plan Area will be maintained as natural, open space for preservation of oak woodlands and sensitive habitat. In addition, we have preserved over 130 acres which will be dedicated to park land." Andersen explained the significance of its name and what hope it brings for the city and its future. "Prospector Park, what a wonderful name. That is a nod to our city's gold-mining heritage and the adventurous spirit of those that came before us, Andersen said. "A prospector is someone who searches for hidden treasure. That's exactly how I think of the many spectacular parks I've come across in my lifetime, nationwide and even worldwide, and particularly, Folsom's parks. I think of them as treasures." Prospector is one of nine parks planned in Folsom Ranch and will be a unique space for locals to gather and children to make lasting memories. The area where they broke ground is the future parking lot. Nelson said the park will be host to "a multi-use field, a lighted ball field, children's play area, (two dog parks), lighted tennis courts, lighted basketball court, lighted synthetic-turf volleyball courts, there's an open-space area, walkways around the entire perimeter around the park through the center area of the park, we have a group picnic structure, restroom building and a parking lot, of course." Nelson shared the 12-acre park will cater to practices that help protect the environment, as only 3 1/2 acres will be irrigated and mowed turf. It will also be home to 275 trees, the parking lot will have bioretention swells and there will be a spot in the middle of the park that is designed to filter water before it goes into the storm drains. It was said neighbors shouldn't stress about the lighting, as the LED lights are motion sensored so as to reduce energy and keep them from constantly shining throughout the neighborhood. The field's light source will be a uniform light looking down on the entire field and has been designed in a way that should significantly reduce glare. Also featured is a rope climbing structure 19 feet tall and side-by-side dueling zip lines to promote healthy competition and cultivate friendship. Residents expressed the neighborhood has severely lacked a playground in the Folsom Plan Area. Parents revealed local kids would normally swarm to Mangini Ranch Elementary School, as there are no other locations on the south side of Highway 50 for youth to gather and have fun. Mangini Ranch Elementary is just more than a quarter-mile from the park construction site. Following the ceremony, attendees could either walk or ride their bikes to the fire station, where the public could learn about another Folsom Ranch milestone. Fire Station 34 will be one of two planned fire stations in the area. The second isn't planned to open for another five years, depending on how smooth the construction process goes. The second will be further south and toward the west end of the Folsom Ranch area. Fire Chief Ken Cusano noted they can adjust the services and apparatus they provide at these two stations to cater to community needs. Asked why Folsom Ranch residents should look forward to a new station opening, Cusano said, "It's a rather large area right now, the Folsom Plan Area, Folsom Ranch. And there's already about probably a little over 6,000 residents out here. Our closest fire station is on the north side of the river, Station 37. Right now, it's a little bit of an extended response time to get out here, so having a station out here … we'll just be able to meet our standards within Folsom for response times." When all had arrived at the fire station site after the parade through the neighborhood, Cusano introduced the city's plan for the station and how it impacts the area south of Highway 50. This site will be home to Folsom's sixth fire station, enabling fire personnel to help protect the community in a much quicker and more effective manner. Cusano expressed gratitude for the support the station has received from local dignitaries, El Dorado Hills Fire District and the Sac Metro Fire District, all of whom were present at the groundbreaking. "I'd also like to thank you, our community, for joining us here today," he said. "This station will be more than a workplace for our firefighters but an integral part of our community, a hub for education and prevention for all those we serve. The single-story station can have up to five personnel and will sit on three acres while anticipated apparatus and vehicles include Type 1 and Type 3 fire engines and an ambulance. The station was designed by CH&D Architects and will be constructed by D L Falk Construction Inc.