County acquiring more acreage for SLR River Park

The County of San Diego will be acquiring 20.3 acres of land for the future San Luis Rey River Park.

A 5-0 San Diego County Board of Supervisors vote Sept. 16 approved the purchase of the two legal parcels from the Singh Family Trust for $825,000.

The county will also fund $37,200 for staff, appraisal, and other costs to complete the transaction, $20,000 for one-time land protection costs including signage, fencing, vegetation management, and a boundary survey, and $5,000 for closing and title costs.

The San Luis Rey River Park will encompass approximately 1,600 acres, and the linear park will stretch for approximately nine miles between the Bonsall Bridge and Interstate 15.

Because land will be acquired only from willing sellers, the exact boundaries have not been determined.

The county has already purchased more than 500 acres from willing sellers, and approximately 850 acres are expected to be acquired as part of the California Department of Transportation mitigation requirements for the widening of State Route 76. The county and Caltrans have worked together to coordinate the plans for the river park with the plans for the widening of Highway 76.

The San Luis Rey River Park will include open space areas such as walking, bicycling, and equestrian trails along with staging areas.

The open space portion will also include habitat preservation and will protect the San Luis Rey River which is almost entirely riparian.

The park will also provide active recreation facilities such as ball fields, play areas, and picnic facilities.

On July 22, two 5-0 Board of Supervisors votes set Sept. 16 hearing dates for the acquisition of the 20.3 acres from the Singh Family Trust and 60.31 acres from San Luis Rey Downs Enterprises.

The Sept. 16 actions also included continuing the purchase from San Luis Rey Downs Enterprises to Nov. 18 so that the county's Department of Public Works (DPW) and the county's Department of Public Recreation would be fully prepared to address any questions regarding the realignment of Old River Road and Camino Del Rey.

The Nov. 18 purchase agreement will likely allow DPW to reacquire right-of-way in the future.

The annual land monitoring and management cost for the Singh Family Trust purchase is estimated at $1,000, and the county would also pay an additional $640 of fixed charge assessments including vector control and water standby charges.