Canyon Country facility kicks off construction of anticipated new features.

 

 

This afternoon, the City of Santa Clarita broke ground on a $25 million expansion to the Santa Clarita Sports Complex. Already a popular community asset featuring an aquatic center, gym and skate park, the facilities will be expanded dramatically in the next 18 months.

 

“This is a major expansion to the park,” said Rick Gould, Parks and Recreation Director for the city of Santa Clarita, referring to the 15 acres of land that will be developed. 

 

New features of the park will include a much larger skate park, designed with input from local skaters and industry personnel. A massive free-play field will add opportunity for personal recreation as well as organized games like soccer or football.

 

[view:node_ad=5]One feature sure to please animal lovers is an interim dog park that will allow residents to let their dogs run and play off-leash.

 

Other popular aspects for some underserved sports include grass volleyball courts and basketball courts that can be converted to roller hockey areas.

 

In the later portions of the expansion, another gymnasium will be built alongside the existing one, effectively doubling the site’s gym complex.

 

The new skate park is set to open in the spring, followed by the opening of most of the other park’s facilities next summer.

 

Spirits were high at Thursday’s ground breaking, as park commissioners, city council members and residents reflected on when ground was broken at the existing site 10 years ago.

 

Council member Laurene Weste was amazed at how fast the project has moved along.

 

“We thought it was just something we needed to do for future generations and I never thought we’d get here this quick with a 25 million dollar project, so its just an amazing gem for the community and it will always be something the community will treasure and use,” she said.