Park Site Improvements And Planning Move Ahead
Placer CountySupervisors broke ground Monday on the Hidden Falls Regional Park, a 220-acre open space park site that was acquired as part of Placer County’s Placer Legacy Open Space Preservation program.
This summer, crews will construct a paved access road, a 50-space paved parking lot, an equestrian staging area, a 60-foot emergency access bridge, utilities and restroom facilities.
Seven miles of natural surface trails suitable for hiking, running, biking, equestrian activities and walking are already in place.
However, the work must be completed before the park can be opened for public use, likely in October.
This part of the Hidden Falls site links to an adjoining 961-acre formerly called Spears Ranch that was also acquired by Placer County under the Placer Legacy program. Together the sites offer nearly 1,200 acres of open space, including several miles of Coon Creek.
Later this summer, the Placer County Parks Department will meet with the public in scoping meetings to discuss additional plans for the Spears Ranch parcel that would be consistent with open space and habitat preservation goals.
Possible uses for an existing ranch house and other buildings on the property could include activities such as a nature center or caretaker facilities. Educational activities could incorporate school programs, scouting camps, cross country training and ecology classes.
The public meetings will be advertised through news media and Municipal Advisory Council meetings as well as on the countyweb site, www.placer.ca.gov.
With input from the public, staff will be able to finalize the project description and proceed with environmental review, which must be completed before improvements for Spears Ranch can take place.
“To date, this parcel is the flagship of our Legacy program,” said Supervisor Robert Weygandt, who represents District 2 where the Spears property is located. “It will be cherished for generations.”