On Friday March 22, 2024, the City of Vista Parks & Recreation conducted a workshop to provide community input into the Courthouse and Matagual Park Projects. I was present at the workshop due to South Vista Communities interest in the Matagual project. The workshop was directed, on behalf of the City of Vista, by consulting firm RHA.
Summary points from the discussion are shown below:
- Special attention to senior needs is a top priority.
- Safe trails with flat grading, good visibility with no blind areas, and use of rails were appropriate.
- Benches and sitting areas suitable for use by seniors.
- Shade areas with sitting spaces for “cooling off” and protection from rain.
- Bathroom facilities with modifications for use by seniors and individuals with disabilities.
- Exercise equipment/facilities compatible with use by seniors.
SVC will follow periodically with Parks & Recreation to monitor the progress of this project which will add green and recreational space to an area in much need of such improvements.
On September 5, 2024, the City of Vista Parks & Recreation Master Plan presented a workshop again conducted by consulting firm RHA Landscape Architects Planners Inc. Highlights of the report include the following:
- 49% of Vista residents live within 10-minute walk of a park (national median: 55%)
- The 55+ population is expected to increase from 24% (2023) to 29% (2038)
- Among general sports, soccer (139), basketball (117), volleyball (114), and baseball (114) are practiced above the national average (100).
- Among fitness activities, zumba (132), pilates (115), aerobics (110) & jogging/running (105) are practiced above the national average (100).
- Among outdoor activities only rock climbing (107) and mountain bicycling (101) are above the national average of 100. Road bicycling (98), saltwater fishing (97) and hiking (96) are close to the national average.
- The three largest barriers for using Vista parks are lack of time, safety concerns, and lack of restrooms.
Of particular interest to SVC was the assessment scores of the Shadowridge area parks. The assessment scores are calculated by Parks & Recreation using specific criteria, and are defined as Great (4-5), Good (3), Fair (2), or Poor (0-1). The scores for the 4 Shadowridge area parks in descending order are: Thibodo Park (Fair to Good @2.60), Shadowridge Park (Fair @2.49), Buena Vista Park (Fair @2.32), and South Buena Vista Park (Fair @2.24). The Buena Vista Ballfields scores are yet to determined. Of note, the City of Vista has 18 parks listed in the Park Assessment Score sheet. Of these, 3 parks have scores that need to be determined, and 4 parks have a Good score, 13 have a Fair or Fair to Good score, and 1 has a Poor to Fair score. I have no information at present as to the state of development of improvement plans for the parks.
Francis Dumler
President, South Vista Communities
