Special Projects:
The Need for More Pickleball Courts
Due to a high level of interest from the pickleball community (to learn more about the sport of pickleball, visit www.usapickleball.org), in July of 2021, the Conejo Recreation and Park District (CRPD) Board of Directors directed staff to prepare and present an item to create an Ad Hoc Committee to explore potential suitable solutions, locations, and partners to create additional pickleball courts in the District.
The full report is item 9E and can be found at
https://cdlfh025.citiesdigital.com/WebLink/0/edoc/21575/071521%20BOARD%20MEETING%20AGENDA.pdf
CRPD staff analyzed data from its pickleball classes and determined that:
- The number of registrants is increasing
- The number of first-time participants is increasing
- The number of registrants on wait lists is increasing
The Process
In order to provide a suitable recreational amenity, minimum criteria were established. A new pickleball facility should include:
- At least (6) dedicated outdoor courts
- Lighting
- Sufficient parking
- Multiple restrooms
- Overall development area resulting in a maximum of 2 acres
- Courts to be located a sufficient distance away from adjacent existing residential development
- As per the below conceptual site plans, the additional proposed pickleball courts are the following distances to the nearest residential development at:
- 470' at Rancho Conejo Playfield
- 330' at Del Prado Playfield
- 280' at Oakbrook Neighborhood Park
- 195' at Conejo Creek Northwest
- 380' at Triunfo Community Park
- As per the below conceptual site plans, the additional proposed pickleball courts are the following distances to the nearest residential development at:
Generally, in accordance with the CRPD Master Plan, active recreational amenities such as pickleball are located at Community Parks or Playfields; to broaden the pool of potential locations, Neighborhood Parks over 10 acres were also considered. From these preliminary conditions, 19 parks were initially considered.
After several meetings, CRPD staff, along with the CRPD Board Ad Hoc Committee (Directors Holt and Huffer), have narrowed the potential locations from 19 parks down to 5 parks:
- Rancho Conejo Playfield (CLICK HERE FOR CONCEPTUAL SITE PLAN)
- Del Prado Playfield (CLICK HERE FOR CONCEPTUAL SITE PLAN)
- Oakbrook Neighborhood Park (CLICK HERE FOR CONCEPTUAL SITE PLAN)
- Conejo Creek Northwest (vacant lot across from the Conejo Creek Dog Park on Avenida De Las Flores) (CLICK HERE FOR CONCEPTUAL SITE PLAN)
- Triunfo Community Park (CLICK HERE FOR CONCEPTUAL SITE PLAN)
In July 2022, CRPD staff held ten total (2 at each site) public outreach meetings on-site to gather input from the community. Soon thereafter, CRPD staff compiled data, met with the CRPD Board Ad Hoc Committee, scored and ranked the potential locations, and made a recommendation to the full CRPD Board on November 17, 2022. CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL REPORT.
At the November 17, 2022 Board meeting, the Board prioritized the potential additional pickleball courts in the following order:
- Triunfo Community Park
- Oakbrook Neighborhood Park
- Del Prado Playfield
- Rancho Conejo Playfield
- Conejo Creek Northwest Park (future park site)
Next Steps
As a result of the prioritization, the potential projects will be placed in the CRPD 10-Year Capital Improvement Plan during CRPD's regular budget process in Spring 2023.
In accordance with the updated 10-Year Capital Improvement Plan, when the projects become more of a reality with funding in place, like other capital improvement projects, CRPD staff will refine project concepts, initial design development, conduct appropriate environmental analyses, and carry out additional public outreach.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact Andrew Mooney at 805-495-6471, ext. 1113 or amooney@crpd.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT IS CRPD’S GOAL AT THE RANCHO POTRERO COMMUNITY EQUESTRIAN CENTER (RPCEC)? (Updated 2/22/2022)
Our goal is to work with the neighbors, equestrian community, and CRPD’s non-profit partner, Ride On, to provide quality recreational opportunities at RPCEC which are available to the general public.
HOW ARE CRPD AND RIDE ON GOING TO MEET THIS GOAL? (Updated 4/7/2022)
Capital improvements are underway to remediate prior substandard construction and address deferred maintenance issues associated with the prior equestrian center operator. The vast majority of these capital improvements are internal to the center and within the existing Special Use Permit (SUP).
Click here for the list of capital improvements.
On March 4, 2022, CRPD’s Rancho Potrero Ad Hoc Committee (Directors Lange and Nickles), three CRPD staff, two Ride On representatives, a boarder representative, and four representatives from the Estancia/Virazon/Haciendas HOAs reviewed the list of capital improvements and concur with the necessity and implementation of the projects (with the exception of the lighting project for the arena at the west end of the property). The 12 members are referred to as the Working Group.
WHAT IS THE CURRENT PROPOSAL FOR LIGHTING THE ARENA AT THE WEST END OF THE PROPERTY? (Updated 2/22/2022)
The current proposed project includes six 50’ high light poles with 3 LED fixtures each to properly and sufficiently light the arena.
ARE ARENA LIGHTS ALLOWED UNDER THE EXISTING SPECIAL USE PERMIT? (Updated 4/7/2022)
Eighteen foot (18’) high lighting is authorized in the existing SUP; however, 50’ light poles are not contemplated in the existing SUP, so CRPD is seeking input from the community (immediate neighbors and equestrians) and meeting with the Working Group to determine the nature of any modification application to the SUP from the City.
IS THERE A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL LIGHTS AT RANCHO POTRERO? (Updated 4/7/2022)
Much like any other recreational activity, facility usage during the winter months is severely restricted due to early nightfall. In the Conejo Valley, most of our community’s youth sports groups have some access to night-lighted facilities during the winter months. By providing an additional lighted arena at RPCEC until 8:00pm, boarders and lesson riders would have the opportunity to use the facility after work/school during the winter months. With an additional lighted arena, it is estimated by CRPD and Ride On that there would be an additional 1,125 annual riding lessons and the opportunity for an additional 900 annual exercise sessions for the boarders at the facility.
IF LIGHTS ARE INSTALLED, WILL THERE BE LIGHT USAGE AFTER 8:00PM? (Updated 4/7/2022)
As allowed by the SUP, light usage is permitted until 8:00pm and there are no plans to seek approval from the City to modify the 8:00pm time that is specified in the permit. The lights would not be necessary most of the Summer (May, June, July, August) and used for approximately 3 hours in the darkest of Winter (November, December, January, February).
IF LIGHTS ARE INSTALLED, WILL LIGHTS BE SHINING IN MY BACKYARD OR ON LYNN ROAD? (Updated 2/22/2022)
Under the current proposal, the professional lighting engineer’s (MUSCO lighting) photometric study concludes light will stay within the RPCEC property and not spill over the property line to your backyard or Lynn Road.
WHY ARE THE PROPOSED LIGHTS RECOMMENDED AT 50’? (Updated 4/7/2022)
The current proposed project includes six 50’ high light poles with 3 LED fixtures each to properly and sufficiently light the arena. The lighting engineer recommended the poles be at 50’ so no light spills over past the property line (as required by the SUP) and the candelas (intensity of the light) at the nearest residences are negligible/zero and the skyglow (light effect from fog/dust) is minimized to the fullest extent.
CAN THE PROPOSED LIGHTS BE LOWER THAN 50’? (Updated 4/7/2022)
Perhaps. However, light fixtures at a lower height would still need to reach the center of the arena. The lower the fixture, the greater the horizontal angle necessary to light across the arena, therefore, the light would more likely spill beyond the arena and over the property line. This would be in conflict with conditions set forth in the SUP as well as increasing the candelas (intensity of light) at the nearest residences and the skyglow (light effect from fog/dust).
ARE THE PROPOSED LIGHTS LIKE SPORTS STADIUM LIGHTS? (Updated 2/22/2022)
No. Sports stadiums, such as SoFi Stadium, the Los Angeles Coliseum, and Newbury Park High School, have far more light fixtures, taller poles, and more intense illumination than a recreational venue. A nearby recreational venue, Dos Vientos Community Park, has 16 sports light poles at 70’ (4 total), 80’ (7), and 90’ (5) with a total of 155 metal halide fixtures.
By comparison, the current proposed project has a total of 18 LED light fixtures (6 poles with 3 LED lights/pole). LED light fixtures have better performance (directional/focused light, glare), reduced energy consumption, and reduced maintenance costs compared to metal halides.
ARE THERE ALTERNATIVES TO THE 50’ LIGHT POLES? (Updated 4/7/2022)
The Working Group met on March 4, 2022 and March 25, 2022 and discussed various alternative lighting proposals to determine if there may be a preferred alternative that is reasonably feasible.
The Working Group has narrowed its focus on several options to provide an additional lighted arena at RPCEC:
- A lighted arena located on-site 200-300 ft from Lynn Road, using 20-25 ft light poles, or possibly covered.
- The currently proposed project – lighting the arena on the west end of the property with six 50-foot-high poles with three fixtures each
- The covered lighted arena project - constructing a structure to cover and light a portion of the arena on the west end of the property. Potentially approximately 2/3rd the length and width of the west arena, lights under the roof, open sides.
These options are being further evaluated (costs, operations, infrastructure, aesthetics, impacts, etc…) by CRPD and Ride On and will be presented to the Working Group for continued positive dialogue and discussion in the near future (goal is mid-May 2022).
WILL THESE OPTIONS HAVE TO GO TO THE CITY FOR APPROVAL? (Updated 2/22/2022)
Yes. In order to light the arena with poles greater than 18’, CRPD must apply for a modification to the existing SUP with the appropriate land use authority, which is the City of Thousand Oaks (CRPD is a separate governmental agency from the City of Thousand Oaks). CRPD will consider the project (or an alternative) at a CRPD Board of Directors meeting before any such application for a SUP modification.
HASN’T ALL THIS ALREADY BEEN DECIDED? (Updated 2/22/2022)
CRPD has not yet made any decision about submitting a SUP modification application for approval of an arena lighting project.
CRPD staff met with the RPCEC Ad Hoc Committee (CRPD Directors Lange and Nickles) last week and last month to better understand the proposed project, the community concerns, and how to best work with the HOAs to discuss potential alternatives to the 50’ pole lighting concept.
When/if decisions are to be made, they will be made in an open public forum (i.e. CRPD Board meeting) which you will be appropriately notified of the time, place, content, and process/avenues to comment.
When/if the decisions are made to submit an application to the City of Thousand Oaks for a site lighting improvement, you will be appropriately notified of the City of Thousand Oaks’ process.
WILL THERE BE PUBLIC INPUT DURING THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS? (Updated 4/7/2022)
The Working Group met on March 4, 2022 and March 25, 2022 and will continue to meet for further discussion. It is the intent of the Working Group to hold additional public input to assist with the decision-making process. The additional public input prior to review of a lighting project at a CRPD Board meeting would include HOA meetings and a meeting open to the general public.
Should CRPD consider submitting a SUP modification application, there will be notification and an opportunity to comment at a CRPD Board meeting.
WHEN IS WORK GOING TO START? (Updated 4/7/2022)
Uncertain. Work would not start until a final project proposal is made to the CRPD Board (which would occur after the Working Group/public outreach process is complete), an application is filed and approved by the City, and a construction contract is awarded.
ARE THERE PLANS FOR EXPANDING THE EXISTING FOOTPRINT OF THE EQUESTRIAN CENTER? (Updated 2/22/2022)
The RPCEC is approximately 20 acres. There are no plans for expansion of the footprint of the existing equestrian center.
WILL THERE BE AMPLIFIED NOISE? (Updated 2/22/2022)
There are no plans for loudspeakers or amplified noise beyond what is currently allowed in the SUP.
WHAT KIND OF EVENTS ARE PLANNED AT RPCEC? (Updated 4/7/2022)
Future events may include low-key horse shows, camps, open houses, horsemanship clinics, and Trailfest (trail ride for kids with disabilities held one time per year). There are no plans for events beyond what is currently allowed in the SUP. There are no plans for for-profit commercial events, such as weddings and similar rentals.
WILL THERE BE RODEOS? (Updated 2/22/2022)
There are no current plans for rodeos on the property.
WILL THERE BE CATTLE STABLED ON THE PROPERTY? (Updated 4/7/2022)
There are no plans for cattle to be stabled on the property; the infrastructure used for cattle is being removed.
WILL THERE BE MORE HORSES BOARDED ON THE PROPERTY? (Updated 2/22/2022)
There are no current plans to permanently expand the number of horses being boarded on the property.
ARE YOU BUILDING MORE HORSE STALLS? (Updated 4/7/2022)
As part of the proposed overall improvements to the property, replacement stalls are to be constructed in accordance with the SUP to properly stable some of the current horses.
Currently, there are a total of 116 existing stalls. At the end of the planned upgrades, there will be a total of 122 stalls (for further clarification – not all stalls are for boarding), 42 of which will be housed in 2 mare motels. The mare motels will be centrally located on the property and will be very similar to the existing structure (see photo below) on the east end of the property.
Some of the current horses will be moved to these new stalls. The empty stalls will remain vacant unless necessary as temporary/evacuation stalls for other horses from the community in the event of an emergency situation (such as a wildfire).
WITH THE PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS, WILL THERE BE SUFFICIENT PARKING FOR THE ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS AT RPCEC? (Updated 4/7/2022)
Yes. There will be sufficient parking available in accordance with the SUP.
HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS? (Updated 2/22/2022)
You can email CRPD project manager Andrew Mooney at amooney@crpd.org to get on our email distribution list for the latest updates. You can also contact your respective HOAs with your input. Please check this website on a regular basis for any updates.
Project Status as of 4/7/2022
A Working Group, compromised of CRPD’s Rancho Potrero Ad Hoc Committee (Directors Lange and Nickles), three CRPD staff, two Ride On representatives, a boarder representative, and four representatives from the Estancia/Virazon/Haciendas HOAs), was formed and has met several times.
Project Status as of 1/26/22
CRPD staff will be meeting with the Rancho Potrero Community Equestrian Center Ad Hoc Committee (CRPD Directors Lange and Nickles) in the near future to review concerns regarding the proposed project.
As previously stated, we will not be starting any work in the coming months until all concerns are reviewed in more detail and sufficiently addressed.
We will provide future updates on the project as new information is available and update this project page as necessary.
Project Description
The proposed project includes lighting the westernmost riding arena. The goal of the project is to provide community access during the winter months when lighting is needed to safely utilize the facility. Staff has been working closely with our lighting design consultant to provide the best options for community use of the facility and adjacent neighbors. See below for design plan information.
Design Plans
Not recommended 30’ pole design
-Not properly designed
-Generates off-site light
-Creates off-site glare to neighbors and open space areas
-Properly designed to limit light trespass
-Keeps light on-site
-Cuts glare to neighbors and open space areas
Lighting Example at Walnut Grove Equestrian Center - 401 Ronel Court, Thousand Oaks
Property Background Information
Rancho Potrero Equestrian Center - Final MND
Rancho Potrero Specific Plan 19 - Approval
Rancho Potrero Specific Plan 19 - Final MND
Rancho Potrero Specific Plan 19 - Final MND with appendices
Rancho Potrero Specific Plan 19 - Land Use Exhibit
Special Use Permit Approval - Rancho Potrero Equestrian Center
Project Summary
In May 2019, in an effort to conduct public outreach and form a focus group, CRPD mailed residents within 1,000' of Borchard Community Park and provided additional marketing through materials at every community center and various social media platforms.
From this effort, a focus group of nine individuals (not including CRPD staff) was formed, representing the local business community, Conejo Valley Unified School District, the skating community, and the community at large. Over approximately a half dozen meetings, the focus group refined the initial conceptual plan. Unfortunately, work was paused during the COVID pandemic but resumed with the hiring of the consultant team from California Skateparks (http://www.californiaskateparks.com). Working with the focus group, California Skateparks further refined the conceptual plan for the renovation of the skatepark.
The project will expand the existing 10,000 SF skatepark into a nearly 20,000 SF multi-use facility. The larger facility will support increased programming for patrons in designated areas, while also providing a variety of additional features for the public to utilize.
The expanded facility will offer additional amenities while providing inclusivity and accessibility to all patrons of all abilities. The main project features include:
- Increased skatepark footprint
- Enhanced skate amenities
- Picnic area
- Shade structures
- Lighting
Current Plans
Click HERE for the full plan set.
On-Site Meetings
In September 2022, in an effort to gather ideas, input, and feedback, two on-site meetings were held. To advertise these meetings, CRPD mailed residents within 1,000' of Borchard Community Park and provided additional marketing through materials at every community center and various social media platforms.
For those who were unable to attend the meetings, an online survey was provided.
Support the Cause
Support the project and become a founder of the new skatepark expansion.
If you don't wish to purchase swag but still want to contribute to this project, you can make a donation HERE.
Funding
The project is currently funded and included in CRPD's 10-Year Capital Improvement Plan for planning and design only.
The skatepark construction project is estimated to cost approximately $2M.
CRPD is currently investigating and seeking all available funding resources, including grants, community partner donations, and private citizen donations.
Next Steps
In November 2022, a construction document design services contract was approved and plans are currently being developed with California Skateparks.
In the Fall of 2022 and at the end of the design phase of the project, CRPD staff will include a skatepark construction project in the next 10-Year Capital Improvement Plan during our two-year overall budget cycle.
In the Spring of 2023, CRPD staff will finalize a recommendation of the 10-Year Capital Improvement Plan for presentation and approval by the Board of Directors.
Depending on funding available, other CRPD projects, and operational constraints, the skatepark construction project could be slotted anywhere from Fall 2023 to Spring 2032. CRPD is conducting this public outreach in preparation for potential future available funds.
Contact
If you wish to join our email distribution list for future updates, or if you have any questions, feel free to contact Andrew Mooney, Senior Park Planner, via email at amooney@crpd.org or phone at 805-495-6471.