Walnut Creek Plans to Redevelop Heather Farm Park

Walnut Creek is set to redevelop the popular park with a recently voter-approved tax that will raise tens of millions of dollars for the project.

The City Council recently approved a concept design to combine the Heather Farm Park Swimming Center and Community Center.

Both buildings are over 50 years old and are currently on opposite sides of the park.

The new swimming center will be located north of the central playground, which will change the topography of the park, including reducing the size of the fishing pond to make room for the new pools.

The project, which will be one of the largest in the city’s history, will cost approximately $77 million. It will be largely funded by tax revenue generated from Measure O, a half-cent sales tax approved by voters last November to address, among other things, aging infrastructure.

“The next city will be involved in the architect selection process for this project,” said Kevin Safin, arts and recreation director for Walnut Creek. “Once we have an architect, which will probably happen in the spring or summer, then there will be a fair amount of work on visual features, on what the object might look like, on some of its specific components. there will be an opportunity for the public to speak. It will get to some of our committee meetings and then eventually to the city council.”

The city said the new pool could bring additional swimming competitions to the city, meaning more people will stay at hotels and eat at local restaurants.

The current pool will remain open during construction, but the community center will remain closed during this time.

The goal is to start construction in 2025 with the hope of completing everything by 2027.