43 replies to this topic

[xlr8]

I am a resident of Empire Ranch in Folsom. My home is adjacent to the Open Space & Park area which is to be developed into Nisenan Park (entrance is off Golf Links Drive in Empire Ranch). Ironically, the Maidu Indians inhabited this area and not the Nisenans. There are some Indian grinding stones in the area.

I have seen the proposed plan for what the City of Folsom wants to do with the beautiful natural landscape and it does not does not sit well with me.

The city is planning to build the following into Nisenan Park:
1.) A 150 car parking lot
2.) Youth Soccer Field
3.) Lighted Adult Softball Field
4.) Lighted Basketball Courts
5.) Lighted Tennis Courts
6.) Volleyball Courts
7.) A Relocated Barn
8.) Youth Campground Area (holds 25-50 youths)

I don't see how they can fit all of the above and more into the proposed Nisenan Park site. I would prefer that the city leave the entire park as Open Space. However, I know that is unrealistic and there must be a compromise.

I would prefer that the city DO NOT PUT ANY LIGHTS in the proposed park and that they DO NOT BUILD ANYTHING WITHIN DIRECT VIEW OF ANY HOMES, especially along the side of the park where the bike path already exists.

The community is mostly comprised of families in their 30's & 40's with small children. The majority of my neighbors don't want Nisenan Park to be developed. The city plans to put basketball and tennis courts (I think they are lighted) along the existing bike path. There will be plenty of basketball courts and tennis courts at the future 2nd Folsom High School less than a quarter mile away.

I attended a Park & Recs Commission meeting (7 p.m. every first Tuesday at City Hall) and learned they are using old data (environmental impact reports, public polls, etc.) from 1996 and 2000. These studies were done without input of the residents in the communities near the proposed park. The homes weren't even built at that time. The City Council should push back any decision dates and take a new community poll after all of the homes adjacent to the park are built. Developers don't care and won't tell you anything. They just want to sell homes. It's the residents that are stuck with any decisions made by the city. I hope that the Empire Ranch communities can come together and influence the planning of Nisenan Park.

Only about 70% of the Empire Ranch assessments and Mello Roos stay within Empire Ranch. The rest of the funds are used to pay for projects in the rest of the City of Folsom.

I'm interested to hear what you have to say, especially if you are a resident of Empire Ranch.

[camay2327]

The city may start building the park, but don't hold your breath while they
ever get it finished.

With all the parks presently in Folsom, there are a lot of them that were never
finished and may never be finished

[BodenMaddox]

So, basically, you're one of the NIMBY folks, eh? Not in my back yard.

I live in the Woodside development in Empire Ranch (at the end of East Natoma), and the idea of this part excites me, including the lighted features. They're building a major road behind me with a new raised elevation that can look down into our yards. I'm not upset, because I did the research when I moved in and knew they'd be building this road.

I have no sympathy for people who move in and then expect new development to come to a halt or at the least adapt to what *they* want. This was a planned community, so if you didn't want to live near a lighted park, you shouldn't have moved in there.

[motherof2]

Thank you BodenMaddox --- I live in The Classics as Tim Lewis and I agree with you.....we were told when we bought our house that the large road would be going in and about the park. We made the decision to buy our house regardless.

I don't understand how people can want an area to build so that they can move there but once THEY get there all other development should stop...HELLO people there are others in this world besides you.

[kanda]

I agree with both of you. We live at the other end of ER (Renaissance Foothills), but also did our homework before we bought, and learned about the road and development going in behind us. Sure, the homes going up now are blocking our nice views of the foothills, but we knew when we bought that that would happen.

What irks me is the people who buy in communities such as this, with fairly strict CC&Rs, and then act as if the rules don't apply to them. They pretend to not know about them (which if true, is only their fault for not having read them), and knowingly disregard them. For example, we've seen a boat parked in the street, 24 hours / day, for a week or more.

Oh, well. What can ya do? Sorry for getting so off-topic.

[sully]

Well, all of the replies are rather nasty in my opinion. Unfortunately, many of the home owners in the Centex development were told that there was a park going in yet they were told that it would be kept natural, hiking trails etc. When calling the park and rec dept they were quite vague, what more research can be done especially when the plan is still up in the air as far as I know. What I do not find "exciting" is that all of the wild life which is mostly noctrunal will be replaced with night time lights and noise. Fortunately Mayor Niclos has agreed to an environmental impact report. I believe that this is the only park which is a wildlife habitat to begin with. The noise polution will more that likely also invade your quiet evenings when you want to keep your windows open as sound does carry. Another element that you might find most pleasing is that fact that there is a great likelyhood of inviting gambling basketball right into the neighborhood. This will prove to be a most promising spot as there will be no one to disrupt them. Make sure those garage doors are closed as mentioned in the CC&Rs.

[NRB]

What's gambling basketball and why do you think it will be coming into your neighborhood? I have been a member of this forum pretty much since the beginning and I do not find these posts to be nasty at all. Obviously there's a difference of opinion here but that's to be expected. Personally, I find it difficult to accept the perserve the wildlife habitat bit because, in all honesty, what do you think all of our houses were built on? However, I am guilty as well. Despite being a nature lover I jumped at the chance to own a brand new home knowing full well that the nature I loved had to be displaced to accomandate my new house. Anyway, since I do not live in your neighborhood I wont chime in on the park issue. The good news, I guess, is that you still have a couple of years to figure it out since they wont break ground untill 2005!

[Dude]

I myself am all for preservation of natural landscape and wildlife.

Regardless of existing plans, it is never too late to do what we can to preserve what is left. Hypocritical, maybe so, since I am a resident of Empire Ranch myself. But, like I said, it's never too late.

After all, we're talking about an area of Folsom where there are natural artifacts of Maidu-Nisenan Indians, the first known residents of the Folsom.

Realizing our growing population has to be accommodated, I can only hope for maximum preservation and would be willing to do all I can to support it.

[parklady]

This sounds pretty typical. Just take a drive by Willow Springs and see the planning nightmare at Livermore park football field - especially on a weekend from late July to the end of November. Same thing - homes less than 15 feet away from the lights, press box, loudspeakers - lots of future plans for the remaining land but no land or parking! And yes, old environmental reports and little to no concern about traffic safety. Good luck!

[jfitzoz]

Call or write your Parks and Recreation Director before it's too late for Empire Ranch residents to help formulate the planned community park tentatively called Nisenan Park, at the corner of BroadStone and Golf Links Blvds.

Attend meetings and write to the mayor if not satisfied with the response you get from Folsom's "Director" of Parks and Recreation.

TARRY SMITH DOES NOT RETURN EMAILS OR TELEPHONE CALLS regarding Nesenan Park! The park has been configered without Empire Ranch residents involved. Thank you Tarry! We have to live here, but you don't.


City of Folsom Parks and Recreation Department
Tarry Smith - Folsom Parks and Recreation Director
50 Natoma Street, Folsom, CA 95630
Phone: (916) 355-7285 Fax: (916) 951-5931

Meetings:

Calendar of Local Government Meetings
December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004



Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 2•Library Commission
3•Regional Transit Public Meeting
•Parks and Recreation
4•Historic District Commission
•Planning Commission
5•Sacramento Metro Cable Television Commission
6 7
8 9•Multifamily Design Guidelines Ad Hoc
10•City Council
11•Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District
12•Architectural Review Commission
•Criminal Justice Cabinet
•Regional Water Authority
•Sacramento Groundwater Authority (SGA)
•Sacramento Transportation Authority+

13 14
15 16 17•Utility Advisory Committee
18•Historic District Commission
•Planning Commission
19•Sacramento Area Council of Government (SACOG)
•Landscaping and Lighting Dist. Advisory Committee
20 21
22 23•Multifamily Design Guidelines Ad Hoc
24•City Council
25•Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District
26•Architectural Review Commission
•Sacrmaneto Metro Air Quality Management District
•Traffic Safety Committee
•Redevelopment Agency Citizens Advisory Committee
27 28
29

The City is providing this calendar of meetings as a public service. Every reasonable effort has been made to provide up-to-date information. We suggest you verify meeting information with the liaison. For questions regarding this calendar, contact: Christa Schmidt[B]

[BodenMaddox]

Well, I guess I'm unusual then... the noise of families and kids playing in a park would be soothe my nerves at night. But, then, what do you think night means here? That park is not going to be active and lit at 2am... it will close down and the lights won't be allowed on after a certain time (and someone with the keys has to turn them on anyway). I don't see light or noise coming from the park much later than 8pm and only that will happen on game nights for little league.

Bring it on. I'll even go watch.

[parklady]

Boden - You say you don't mind living near a lighted park based on your perception and reasoning that lights will only be on until approx. 8PM. I would advise you to check out some other parks in town that have lights going till well close to midnight. The parks dept. also has a way of expanding usage. So what you're told today, and what becomes can be two very different things. Even if you do all your homework and get all the facts, (the city, your builder) you will never be prepared for the likes of what these facilities, coupled with money backed sports leagues and poor planning impose on residential neighborhoods. Check out the football field (Livermore Park) during football season. It's a disaster from the lighting, the sound equipment, the traffic safety issues, parking nightmares, litter, and the drainage issues into hearby homes. Don't count on much concern for your rights to safety or quiet enjoyment. They'll say - so why'd you move near a park? And some day, you'll be saying, I moved near a nice city park with reasonable expectations, not something on the order of a Candlestick Park (or is that SBC Park?)! Then there is the issue of attractive nuisance. Sorry, but parks tend to attract juvenile drinking, fighting, etc. and petty vandalism. I speak from experience.

[tessieca]

jfitzoz: Tarry Smith is no longer working for the city.

[BodenMaddox]

I was trying to please others with 8pm. Lights on in a park until midnight doesn't bother me, even if I did live right next to it. But, then, I support local sporting leagues.

[dave]

Empire Ranch residents may not like it, but Nisenan Park is not your own private park. It belongs to all Folsom residents.

The city has a general park plan that it follows when designing elements of parks according to studys and a working knowledge of trends and people's recreation needs. If the city waited until all the residents were moved in to poll them regarding what they want, several things will happen.

First, people would complain that the park isn't done. Then, the loudest people will get their way. Then, eventually they move and the newcomers may want something else.

It is troubling to read some people's posts. They just sound like they're whining with absolutely no effort to try to understand the challenges involved. Maybe that is this forum's purpose.

People complain of poor park planing, but I disagree. A municipality has an extensive list of things that must be done in the planning of anything that gets developed.

The ultimate problem is the one that almost all of us face. (Bill Gates and others excepted). That is, a lack of sufficient funds to do everything exactly the way everyone would like them to be done.

Developers do their best to pay as little as possible in the way of fees. The park and school fees per home are still less than what they should be.

A huge open space buffer between homes and parks would be nice, just not feasible. Then, some people will just post complaints about all the bad things that happen in the open space. No matter what, people just like to whine.