By Fernando Alcantara/Garden Grove Journal
The Garden Grove City Council approved the plans for the Orange County Flood Control District’s Haster Retarding Basin, also known as the Twin Lakes Freedom Park, during Tuesday night’s city council meeting.
The area, which is regarded as one of the last locations in Garden Grove that resembles a natural preserve, will be transformed from a large lake and island into a remade facility with soccer fields, picnic areas, etc, by November 2013.
Despite opposition from some in the area to maintain the wilderness-like location, the $27 million project was approved. It will retain some water features.
Until then, Twin Lakes will be closed for several months during its reconstruction.
Garden Grove can probably expect a more downtown-like appearance in the future with the approval of a huge update to the city’s general plan Tuesday night.
The City council adopted the use of mixed-use regulations and development standards which would allow businesses and residential areas to be built right alongside each other; or in some cases, one on top of another.
The approval does not approve any specific construction at this time, however, but opens the doors for talks of such construction to occur in the future.
City Council also approved the agreement for the purchase of fuel for city vehicles and equipment through the City of Huntington Beach for $1.2 million a year.
The Public Works Department requires an average of 280,000 gallons of fuel a year, and by joining with the City of Huntington Beach, Garden Grove hopes to enhance its buying power of fuel in the future.
after reading this i thought of the whole soccer field concept ..and am thinking who can i talk to for them to also add basketball courts . do to the fact that this area does not have any courts around. i have to go with freinds to other citys to play .
Now that the park is closed there are a number of homeless people camped out along the fence surrounding the park on Haster. Why didn’t the city make shelter arrangements for the homeless? Families in the area are not feeling safe and secure.