The Santa Clarita City Council is pleased to welcome the community to a special grand opening event for the 25-acre Discovery Park, at 10 a.m. Monday, July 12. The park is located on Calla Way, off Camp Plenty and Soledad Canyon Rd.

Located along the banks of the Santa Clara River, Discovery Park is a “passive” river park designed to encourage barrier-free interaction with the natural environment.

The park is comprised of 25 acres, the majority of which will remain natural and safe from development. a “groundbreaking” was held earlier this year, with City Council and parks commissioners wielding shovels. For a link to that story, click here.

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The park’s construction is funded through the $1.8 million Los Angeles Regional Park and Open Space District and its Proposition A grant program, which encourages projects with sustainable landscaping and irrigation practices.

Before construction for Discovery Park began, non-native species, illegal dumping and off-road vehicle use plagued the site, which is recognized as a Significant Ecological Area (SEA). The park’s natural design will help to reverse ecological damages caused by misuse, while encouraging further environmental protection and growth.

Modeled after the area’s natural landscape, Discovery Park aesthetically enhances existing wetlands while minimizing stormwater runoff and improving wildlife habitat and bio-diversity. The natural park offers opportunities for education about Santa Clarita’s native wildlife, scenery and environment.

Designed with sustainability in mind, Discovery River Park includes many environmentally-friendly features, such as drought-resistant plants, native and native-adapted landscaping, low volume irrigation and permeable surfaces meant to improve water retention and decrease water consumption. A state-of-the-art computerized irrigation management system will adjust the park’s water supply based on its plant needs and local weather information, preventing excessive or wasteful water use.

The City completed Phase I of the Discovery Park in 2006, linking the park to the City’s existing trail system through the construction of a class I bike trail connecting the site to the Camp Plenty Trailhead. Phase II adds a paved bike path, bike racks, benches, picnic areas, open play areas complete with fun climbing boulders, a grassy meadow, parking lot and other amenities to the site.

“Discovery Park is perfectly suited to numerous forms of passive recreation, including yoga, tai chi, landscape painting, photography and more. Because its natural design was specifically created to minimally impact the surrounding environment, Discovery Park will also offer excellent opportunities for wildlife observation and education,” commented Mayor Laurene Weste.

“Local equestrian enthusiasts will also get a kick out of the new park, which features a hitching post and connection to a nearby equestrian trail and the Lost Canyon Trailhead,” added Weste.

Discovery Park is not only another place for residents to enjoy fantastic outdoor recreation; it is the first of what the City hopes to be many sustainable parks lining the local Santa Clara River. The innovative design strikes a true balance between recreational opportunities and environmental preservation. For more information or to RSVP for the grand opening event, please call the City at 661.255.4939.