Local parks can provide space for healthy exercise, activities, and more

FALLBROOK – Fallbrook has many great parks, all of which offer a range of recreational opportunities and programs. Parks can provide the perfect setting for healthy exercise and activities as well as quality family time.

Parks in Fallbrook are plentiful, but many residents may not be aware of all of them. Most people are familiar with historic Live Oak Park, but how many know about Rainbow Park, Don Dussault Park, or Clemmens Lane Park?

The information below has been provided for Village News readers by members of the County Service Area (CSA) 81 Local Parks Advisory Committee.

Oversight of parks

Since the greater Fallbrook/Bonsall community is in unincorporated San Diego County, the municipal parks are owned and managed by the County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation and the County Board of Supervisors. It is the Supervisors that appoint citizen volunteers to the seven-member County Service Area (CSA) 81 Local Parks Advisory Committee, which was formed in 1976.

Current CSA 81 committee members include chairman Joe Comella, secretary Sue Reed, treasurer Wicker Gamble, and committee members Al Gebhart, Ricardo Favela, Lance Eddy, and Roger Harrell. All committee members are appointed to four-year terms and must live within the CSA 81 boundary, which includes the communities of Fallbrook, Rainbow, and De Luz.

The CSA 81 parks include Fallbrook Community Center and Park, Don Dussault Park, Clemmens Lane Park, and Rainbow Park. These parks are managed by the County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation under contract to the CSA 81.

Before the passage of Prop. 13, a property tax rate of one-percent was assessed to fund park maintenance services. CSA 81 park facilities are also eligible for Park Land Dedication Ordinance (PLDO) funds for capital improvements. County and State grant funds are also used to improve these facilities.

Fallbrook Community Center and Park

Located at 341Heald Lane (off of Fallbrook Street), the community center is always bustling with recreational activities, family festivities, and programs for the whole community.

The center consists of a large auditorium used for a wide variety of functions such as wedding receptions, family celebrations, and health and fitness classes. There are also activity rooms used for enrichment, art and healthy lifestyle programs.

The park has four play structures, varying in size and skill, for children ages 2 ½ and up. The park also has full-size basketball courts, one sand volleyball court, two tennis courts, and two reservable picnic areas.

Programs at the community center take place year round.

Don Dussault Park

Located at 830 Alturas Rd., Don Dussault Park is a three-quarter acre local park that was recently upgraded with new playground equipment, a shade pavilion, and picnic nodes with barbeque grills, tables and benches.

Clemmens Lane Park

Located at 344 Clemmens Lane, this half-acre park opened December 10, 2010, making it the newest addition to the CSA 81 system of parks.

There is a small, practice soccer court with artificial turf, a sand volleyball court, two playgrounds, picnic tables, and a barbeque grill next to a shade pavilion. The park was built with the input of the surrounding community, which makes this a popular and well cared-for facility. It is due to this special relationship with the community that the park won the 2010 Award of Excellence for Park Planning and Design from the California Park and Recreation Society.

Rainbow Park

Rainbow Park is a 4.5 acre park located at 5157 5^th Street in Rainbow, next to Vallecitos Elementary School.

The park features a full-size soccer and multi-use field, and a loop-style walking path. It also includes basketball courts, tennis courts, and a recently upgraded playground as wells as picnic facilities with barbeque grills, a shade pavilion, and restrooms.

Rainbow Park is the perfect location to fly a kite on windy days.

Future goals

The CSA-81 committee continues to look for opportunities to help meet and improve Fallbrook’s recreational needs. The following is their list of priorities for the next five years: acquire land for new park sites, skate elements, develop multi-use parks within the community, community center improvements, improvements to Heyneman Park, active recreational improvements at Live Oak Park to include replacing/updating exercise equipment areas, and improvements to the sports park.

They have stated their recreational priorities include: soccer, baseball/softball, skating, basketball, tennis/pickleball, and volleyball.

Residents who would like to learn more about the CSA 81

facilities and the future of Fallbrook’s parks are welcome to attend the monthly meetings open to the public every third Thursday of the month at 9 a.m. The meetings are primarily held at Live Oak Park, but sometimes the meetings are held at the Fallbrook Community Center on Heald Lane. Questions may be directed to the Fallbrook Community Center at (760) 728-1671 or Live Oak Park at (760) 728-2303.

County Parks and Recreation also owns and operates Live Oak County Park.

Live Oak Park

Founded in 1920 as a County park, at 2746 Reche Road, Live Oak has special historic significance as the land where local Native Americans had a village site and where pioneers first settled Fallbrook in 1869. The 27-acre park still bares evidence of Native American habitation through the large milling site found on the east side of the park.

In recent years, the park has played host to numerous community events. The non-profit Live Oak Park Coalition partners with County Parks and Recreation on park improvements projects.

Recently, the coalition contributed funds for the new amphitheater and upcoming playground improvements. The amphitheater is available for wedding ceremonies and small community gatherings. The playground improvement project will start in the fall and be completed by winter.

With significant contributions from the Live Oak Dog Park Committee, the coalition also secured the maintenance fund security for the new dog leash-free area. The new leash-free area is open Friday through Monday from 8 a.m. to sunset. The rest of Live Oak Park is open seven days per week.

Parking at Live Oak Park and the Dog Park is $3 per vehicle or an annual pass is available for $25. The whole park is open seven days a week.

For more information on these and other County Parks and Recreation facilities go to www.sdparks.org.

Santa Margarita County Preserve

County Parks and Recreation also owns and manages the Santa Margarita County Preserve staging area at 37385 De Luz Rd.

The staging area provides access to 226 acres of county preserve land and trail connections to additional trails up the watershed. The staging area has potable water, hitching posts, picnic tables and a few small corrals.

There are other entities in Fallbrook that provide park and recreation facilities.

Fallbrook Ingold Sports Park

The Fallbrook Sports Association operates the Fallbrook Ingold Sports Park. This is a fee-based park facility located at 2551 Olive Hill Road close to Fallbrook High School.

The park is home to organized sports leagues including soccer, roller hockey, and softball. One of the playing fields has artificial turf for a professional playing experience. For more information, visit www.ingoldsportspark.com.

Jackie Heyneman Park

Fallbrook Village Association owns and manages Jackie Heyneman Park in downtown Fallbrook at the corner of Mission Road and Beech Street. Maintenance for this park is provided in partnership with the Fallbrook Beautification Alliance. The Alliance also maintains the Pico Promenade.

For more information, visit www.fallbrookbeautification.org.

The Fallbrook Land Conversancy also owns and manages a number of parks and preserves in the greater Fallbrook area. For more information, visit www.fallbrooklandconservancy.org.

The Santa Margarita River Valley Trails are owned by the Fallbrook Public Utilities District and are operated and managed in partnership with the Fallbrook Trails Council. To learn more, visit www.fallbrooktrailscouncil.com.