CHICO — The Chico Area Recreation and Parks District accepted a ceremonial deed of 480 acres of park land from Valley’s Edge master developer Bill Brouhard during a ceremony held Thursday afternoon at its district office in Chico.
The land includes 420 acres planned to be a regional park, with the remaining acreage set aside for a park similar in size to De Garmo Park and several smaller neighborhood parks throughout the development, according to CARD General Manager Annabel Grimm.
“The significant part of this is the regional park. That’s gifted land; that’s just such a massive gift; that’s really the symbolism here,” Grimm said.
Brouhard, community leaders, CARD employees and some speaking in favor of overturning Chico’s approval of the Valley’s Edge development, all attended the ceremony.
The timing of the ceremony comes about one month before Chico voters will decide March 5 on local Measures O and P, in which yes votes affirms Chico’s decision to approve the Valley’s Edge development, and no votes would overturn Chico’s approval.
Grimm said a formal agreement to receive the park land was approved by CARD board members at a Jan. 25 regular meeting. While the Valley’s Edge stands approved for now, there is a possibility the current land gift would be canceled.
“If voters decide that they don’t support Valley’s Edge, then the land remains private property, so we don’t get it,” Grimm said.
Grimm said CARD receives land from Chico when developments come online in order to fulfill recreational park standards for city growth.
In this case, an agreement could have been made after Chico approved resolutions for Valley’s Edge on Jan. 3, 2023, but timing issues caused the agreement process to be late, Grimm said.
Amenities
If Valley’s Edge is approved by voters, Chico citizens may look forward to the 420-acre regional park.
Grimm said existing trails in the area are planned to be improved with infrastructure like trail improvements, bathrooms.
But whether or not CARD or future developers of Valley’s Edge will be responsible for improvements and maintenance is not yet determined and still being planned, according to Grimm.
About 730 acres of Valley’s edge is planned to be parkland. After land transfer to CARD, the remainder is about 250 acres.
Grimm said CARD is partnering with the Valley’s Edge development, and is currently negotiating which parks.
Regarding if CARD will manage park spaces within planned age-restricted communities, Grimms said, “We’re not sure about that yet. It just depends … as that planning area develops, then we’ll work with that developer of that specific area of what that park will look like.”
Statements
Brouhard said he’s worked with CARD since 2008, and thanked the district for working with him and his team.
“Parks really are important in our community. A lot of times, those of us that have kids, know how difficult it is right now for them to find things in Chico,” Brouhard said. “It’s too limited, and a lot of times they’re in their room on their tablet and not out throwing a stick.”
Brouhard told a story of his 13-year-old Rio Brouhard; he asked him what is important about parks to which he replied ‘parks are where I make my friends.’”
He thanked his team and said, “We’re really proud to make this offer of a gift. God bless Chico.”
Some voices of opposition to the valley’s edge development spoke with Brouhard.
Allen Harthorn, president of Friends of Butte Creek, said there’s almost no access to this park except through Honey Run Road.
“The fragile ecosystem will not survive with the kind of public usage there,” Harthorn said. “Just look at the North Rim trail in upper Bidwell Park; dry, no grass left — it will concentrate activities and destroy the ecosystem; mounds, vernal pools and oak woodlands.”
Julian Zener, of Concerned Citizens for Justice, said he learned that day that CARD entered into an agreement with Valley’s Edge Developer, adding that he felt the Chico public wasn’t embraced in negotiations.
“This is quite a momentous thing to take on,” Zener said, opining that the Chico community should have been made aware of costly liabilities and obligations by taking on that responsibility.
