Fund-Raising Effort For Downtown Murrieta Park Begins

A fund-raising effort for a long-planned park has been announced by the Historic Downtown Murrieta Association.

The group, composed of local merchants and residents, seeks to bring in $1 million for the 2nd Avenue Park.

A 10-acre parcel of land bordered by 2nd Avenue and Kalmia, New Clay and B streets is owned by the city of Murrieta. It was set aside some time ago to serve as a park.

Situated on the land is one of Murrieta's historic buildings, the first schoolhouse. HDMA would like to restore the schoolhouse and use it for a museum, according to HDMA President Connie McConnell.

Zoning for the park was approved under Measure H in 2003 by 61 percent of Murrieta voters. The measure involved acquiring land at Juniper Street and Adams Avenue for Town Square, old city hall at 41810 Juniper, and rezoning those and the park site for public/civic and institutional use.

Funding the park has been a different story.

City officials have said the recent take-away of redevelopment money by the state coupled with less money coming in to the city's Community Services coffer make it difficult to know when it can fund the $2.2-million park.

"The residents want to fund-raise—I think that's great," said Assistant City Manager Jim Holston, who heads up the Community Services Department. "I will support them in their efforts. If they can do fund-raising and bring money into the park, it affects the outcome in the end."

The city council voted in May to park. The next step would need to be council approval of the park's master plan, Holston said.

"We have been saying it is our next park; typically we wouldn't start a park until we could finish it," Holston said. "I'm willing to go a little bit out of order here."

After council approval, Holston said the next phase would be working drawings and design.

He was concerned, however, that if the drawings—at a cost of $100,000 to $200,000—sat too long before construction, the codes and regulations may change.

Additionally, Holston said there was not currently a way to fund the ongoing maintenance of the park. Other city parks, he said, are funded by developer impact fees. But no new developments have sprung up in that community services district to support a park, he said.

Residents in that district could agree to pay an assessment for the park's maintenance, he said.

Another big concern was drainage, as there are no curb and gutters to carry runoff water. A road would need to be built, and there would need to be water supply and sewer, he said.

After that, the land would be ready for grading.

McConnell said she knows of contractors who may be willing to donate grading. Identifying possible donors would be part of the fundraising effort, she said.

"My goal is to try to go forward with this in a way that everybody understands," McConnell told Patch during a recent interview. "That we really are serious, get more people involved in knowing what is down here."

McConnell grew up in what is now the historic downtown Murrieta area, attending the old schoolhouse through eighth grade.

With something so close to many of their hearts, the group is excited about its fundraising efforts—knowing it will go toward their "future" park.

HDMA is a 501c6 nonprofit, and plans to put any money raised in a separate bank account, McConnell said.

"It would be solely used for that purpose," she said.

"Even if we do raise a million dollars it is not going to miraculously make a park, but it will go a long way toward the goal," McConnell said.

Terri Whitaker, who also grew up in the historic Murrieta area, is organizing the benefit events for the park. She, along with others, would like to see the park named Pioneer Park.

"I am so excited to help raise this money to build a park that would honor not only my ancestors, but the families of other descendants of our Murrieta pioneers," Whitaker said.

HDMA's hope is that eventually a museum, historic buildings and a Pioneer Days will all be part of the park, she said.  

Eight acres would be used for the park, while two acres were set aside for the future construction of a Boys & Girls Club.

The museum would not be funded by the city.

Those who wish to make cash donations may contact events_hdma@yahoo.com or any HDMA board member.

Upcoming Benefit Events

Bunco for the Park:

7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4 at , 24710 Washington Ave., Murrieta. There will be prizes, raffles and refreshments. Tickets are $25 per person and must be purchased ahead of time. There are only 80 spots available. To purchase tickets, contact any HDMA board member, email events_hdma@yahoo.com, or call Terri at 951-240-5263 or Annie at 951-704-8955.

Two-day Rummage Sale in conjunction with HDMA:

8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24 and Saturday, Aug. 25 at Murrieta Machine Shop, 24890 Washington Ave. A beautiful piano will be one of the items sold. Donations are needed; please only gently-used or new items. For more information or for drop-off or pick-up of items, call Terri at 951-240-5263, Mary at 951-677-5555, or Nancy at 951-541-5414.

Benefit night at :

This event is tentatively scheduled for November.