Riverside County supervisors today approved plans to upgrade and add amenities to a Sun City park the county acquired in its fight against blight.

In a 4-0 vote -- with Supervisor John Tavaglione absent -- the board cleared the way for bidding to begin by contractors interested in working on the Rancho Ramona Park Rehabilitation Project.

The county's Redevelopment Agency purchased the park for nearly $300,000 last year. The 1.87-acre facility -- located at 28050 Encanto Way, between Alta Vista Way and Granada Way -- has been fenced off and unused for the last five years, with the local homeowners' association unable to maintain it.

The resulting Advertisement
blight led the county to propose buying the property.

Under the Redevelopment Agency plan, existing picnic structures at the park will be demolished and new shade structures, as well as basketball and volleyball courts, will be installed.

Plans also call for new barbecue pits, a horseshoe competition ring, tot lots and walking paths.

"The proposed improvements will assist in the elimination of physical blighting conditions," RDA documents state.

The estimated cost of the project is $1.5 million.

A construction contract should be awarded in the next 90 days, with work likely to begin before year's end, according to county officials.