Parks Improvement Ballot Measure Proposed

A proposed ballot measure would ask Los Angeles County voters to approve the creation of a park assessment district that would raise $520 million for improvements to beaches, parks, the Hollywood Bowl, the Los Angeles Zoo and Santa Monica Bay.

County supervisors have scheduled a March 3 hearing on placing the proposal on the June 2 ballot. If passed, the measure would levy a $12.52-a-year assessment on the average single-family home. A similar measure failed to pass in November, 1990; it required two-thirds voter approval. The new measure would require only a simple majority for passage.

Here is a look at ways in which portions of the money would be distributed in the Southeast and Long Beach areas:

COUNTY PARKS

* Cerritos Regional County Park: $2.5 million

Rehabilitation of gymnasium, lake and other areas of this regional park.

* East Compton Park: $1.2 million

Construct a 25-meter swimming pool and bathhouse on five acres of land.

* La Mirada Park: $2.5 million

Rehabilitation of lake, picnic areas, campgrounds and parking facilities.

Subtotal: $6.2 million

CITY FACILITIES

* Bell: $400,000

Renovations at Veterans Memorial Park, including expansion of recreation facilities.

* Cudahy: $1.09 million

Expansion of playground facilities at Lugo Park.

* Downey: $1.86 million

Construct a senior citizens community center at Apollo Park.

* La Habra Heights: $500,000

Improvements to Hacienda Park, including remodeling the gymnasium.

* Lakewood: $1.75 million

An estimated $850,000 would go for renovation of McCormick Pool. About $900,000 would be used in a joint agreement with the Bellflower Unified School District to develop a sports complex at Mayfair High School.

* Long Beach: $19.66 million

About $11.46 million would be used to buy parkland on the west side of the city. Some $6.2 million would be for development of El Dorado Regional Park, while $1 million would go for further development of Martin Luther King Jr. Park. Approximately $1 million would go to rehabilitate Belmont Pier.

* Lynwood: $1.55 million

Funds would be used to renovate Dymally Park, including building a lighted soccer stadium.

* Montebello: $1.24 million

Construction of a swimming facility and gymnasium.

* Pico Rivera: $2.05 million

Construction of an activity center that would include a gymnasium and meeting rooms.

* South Gate: $ 900,000

Construction of a senior citizens recreation building.

* Whittier: $9.3 million

Acquisition and development of land and wildlife habitat next to the existing Whittier Wilderness Park.

Total: $46.5 million