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4.P Parks

addition, the City also provides passive parks, which allow for uses such as hiking, equestrian,
nature observation, and environmental education.

(1) Local Parks

Local park space includes neighborhood, community, special use parks, and passive
parks, which generally serve residents within a 2-mile radius. Within the unincorporated
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portion of the Santa Clarita Valley, LADPR’s local park space totals 89.9 acres. This local park
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space is provided throughout eight local parks, which include seven neighborhood parks and one
community park. These parks offer such amenities and facilities as swimming pools, basketball
courts, athletic fields, tennis courts, picnic areas, a skateboard park, barbecues, playgrounds, and
swimming pools.

As indicated above, the County has a standard of 4 acres of local park space per
1,000 residents for unincorporated areas. Based on an estimated existing population of 61,523 in
the unincorporated Santa Clarita Valley, there is an existing deficit of 260 acres of local park
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space, or a ratio of 1.38 acres per 1,000 residents. Therefore, the unincorporated Santa Clarita
Valley currently does not meet County standards.

The City of Santa Clarita currently operates 16 local park facilities, which include
12 neighborhood parks, 3 community parks, and a special use park. These park facilities provide
135.9 acres of active park space. The City also has passive use parks (e.g., greenbelts, pocket
parks, etc.) totaling 169.54 acres. Therefore, based on the population of 166,242, the City has a
ratio of 1.84 acres of local park space per 1,000 residents, which is below the City-wide goal of
4 acres of park land per 1,000 residents. However, it should be noted that the current ratio does
not account for the 22-mile trail system and over 2,000 acres of dedicated open space. In
addition, a new neighborhood park is under construction. The Todd Longshore Park (formerly
White Canyon Park) will provide a 32-acre neighborhood park with amenities such as a picnic
area, play area, small amphitheater, walkways, and a restroom. Construction of this facility is
scheduled for completion by January 28, 2008.
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Existing County and City local parks within an approximate 2-mile radius of the project
site are provided in Table 4.P-1, Local Parks in Project Area, on page 4.P-7. These parks

5
Santa Clarita Valley General Plan Technical Background Report, February 2004.
6 Includes the Northbridge Park and William S. Hart Park located within City of Santa Clarita limits, but are
maintained by the County of Los Angeles.
7 Santa Clarita Valley General Plan—Technical Background Report, February 2004.
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City of Santa Clarita website, www.santa-clarita.com/cityhall/be/construction/#cip, accessed May 18, 2004 and
www.santa-clarita.com/cityhall/pw/construction/#parks, accessed March 8, 2007.

County of Los Angeles Department of Regional Planning Skyline Ranch Project
PCR Services Corporation July 2009

Page 4.P-6
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