How about 'Fawn Hills Park'? How about 'Fawn Hills Park'? (July 30, 2004)

Council to decide name for newest neighborhood park
by Dolores Fox Ciardelli

The area was once a playground for fawns, and now it may be named to elicit those pastoral times.

The Parks and Recreation Commission is recommending the name Fawn Hills Park for the 4.8-acre neighborhood park surrounded by the large custom Greenbriar Homes west of I-680. The City Council is scheduled to make the final decision at its meeting this Tuesday, Aug. 3.

The parks naming policy adopted in April stated that neighborhood parks should be named after their neighborhoods, a street bordering the park, or its geographic or topographic location. This new park is on West Lagoon Road off Bernal Avenue, also bordered by Fawn Hills Lane, Laguna Hills Lane and Moss Tree Way.

The commission also considered the names Arroyo Park, Ridgeview Park, Moss Tree Park, Lagoon Park and West Lagoon Park. Members decided the word "lagoon" conjured up inappropriate images.

"I'm in favor of 'Ridgeview' because you look out and see the Ridgelands," said Commissioner Jerry Pentin. "But I can live with Fawn Hills."

Ridgeview was recommended as the second choice, although commissioners generally agreed that it could be confused with Ridge View Commons, a housing complex on Case Avenue.

The park opened in May, said city landscape architect Mike Fulford, but the naming was postponed until some of the new homes were occupied to give the residents a chance to weigh in on the name.

Notices were sent to everyone living within 1,000 feet of the park. Two residents sent in comments, although Jim Wolfe, director of Parks and Community Services, was unsure of their addresses.

Rose Johnson suggested naming the park after Caesar Chavez, both to honor him and to let Hispanic residents know the community is inclusive. Glenn Hague suggested San Francisco Park, said Wolfe, because by owning the land until recently, San Francisco was instrumental in protecting it.

Greenbriar developed the park at a estimated cost of $650,000 as its obligation for the surrounding development. The city approved an expenditure of up to $100,000 to supplement Greenbriar's contribution but, Wolfe noted, it was not all spent.

The park has a tot play area, a high school standard basketball court, picnic tables, benches, lighted pathways and a large expanse of grass with some rises in the topography.

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