Construction of Alga Norte Community Park is well past the halfway mark, with many of the future park’s main features beginning to take shape. Construction began last June, and the park is on schedule to open at the end of this year.
According to City of Carlsbad Civic Projects Manager Patrick McGarry, much of the early work focused on installing utilities, water, sewer and storm drain systems. With most of those systems in place, construction is shifting to features passersby will start to recognize as pools, a skate park, ball fields and playground area.
When completed, the 32-acre park, on the northwest corner of Poinsettia Lane and Alicante Road, will feature a 56-meter competition pool, a 25-yard instructional pool, a “spray ground” for small children, a playground, a skate park, a dog park, one natural and two synthetic turf ball fields, one full basketball court and one half court.
The aquatic center is one of the park’s most-anticipated features.
“This new park will take the city’s aquatics programs to an entirely new level, unique in the county,” said Carl Pope, the City of Carlsbad’s aquatics supervisor. “With two pools, we will have much more flexibility in offering programs for lap swimmers, swimming lessons, competitions, and even water aerobics and swimming camps for kids. Because it’s a city-run facility, our programs will be geared toward all ages and interests and priced to encourage maximum participation.”
Other programs in the works for the new park include dog training and agility classes at the dog park, and skate board classes and camps at the new skate park.
Here is a list of the park’s major features and progress to date:
Competition pool and instructional pool: Crews have poured the concrete, clearly defining the pools’ size and depth, and are installing electrical and pipe systems. The next major steps will be plastering and tiling.
“Spray-ground” for young children: The underground tank has been installed; crews will soon pour the concrete for the wet play structures.
Skate park: Crews have excavated the bowls and are pouring the specially formulated concrete that the park’s sculptors are hand-shaping into the bowls’ curves and contours.
Dog park: The drainage system that will filter waste to prevent polluting natural waterways has been installed.
Lighted softball/baseball fields: The concession and restroom building is nearly complete; irrigation for the natural-turf field is being installed.
Basketball courts: Grading is in progress.
Construction crews have also made significant progress on Alga Norte Community Park’s major buildings that will serve the public.
Building housing locker rooms, concession and meeting room: The block walls and roof have been installed and crews are installing windows; interior work has begun.
Administration, weight and exercise room building: The wooden walls have been constructed and stuccowork is about to begin.
“We’ve installed portholes in the fencing at adult and kid heights so people can see their new park come to life,” said McGarry. “Or you can watch our construction webcams on the city website.”
“We’re still on schedule for a year-end opening, and we’re on budget,” said McGarry.
The total budget for this phase of the park’s design and construction is $40 million. T.B. Penick & Sons is the general contractor. Kitchell is handling construction management, and Wimmer, Yamada and Caughey is overseeing design compliance.
For more information
Patrick McGarry, 760-434-2949, patrick.mcgarry@carlsbadca.gov
For information on Alga Norte Community Park, click here
To see time-lapse images of park construction, click here.
City media contact
Kristina Ray, 760-434-2957, kristina.ray@carlsbadca.gov