County plans new park

You probably will not find any baseball diamonds when the Blanchard Woods Park is completed.

Instead the park probably will take on a different look-a soccer field, tennis courts, walking trails.

"The new Blanchard Woods Park will focus on those kinds of activities," said County Administrator Steve Szablewski, adding that plans for the park are still being completed.

County officials announced last week that they'd closed on nearly 150 acres off Blanchard Road. They paid $1,633,940 for the property - about $11,000 per acre, according to county attorney Doug Batchelor.

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Most of Blanchard Woods Park was purchased from the Blanchard family using penny-tax dollars. However, the county used state greenspace money to buy 30 acres. Blanchard Woods is about 50 acres larger than Patriots Park.

As part of the park development, the county will re-route Willie Daniels Drive to better align with the park property. County Construction and Maintenance Director Kevin Lear said the new section will be renamed Blanchard Woods Drive, and reconnect with the original Willie Daniels route near the existing homes.

Lear said the road work would be the first sign of the park in the area. Work is expected to begin this spring and be completed by the end of the year.

Lear said the first phase of the park should be completed by the middle of 2005.

The land dealing isn't over yet.

The Martinez Fire Department will purchase 3.82 acres adjacent to the park, then trade that property with the county for Roberts Field off Old Evans Road. That park, which has been used for baseball games for years, will be home to a Martinez Fire Department station.