Fixing Upper Park Road will cost nearly $1M

The road between Horseshoe Lake and Salmon Hole is in serious need of repair.

Public Works Director Erik Gustafson presented the Bidwell Park and Playground Commission’s recommendations for fixing Upper Park Road to the Chico City Council on March 6.

It has collected $291,450 for these repairs and applied for a Nonpoint Source Grant from the State Water Resources Control Board. The total cost for this project is $997,796.

The commission wants to repair this road not just for the 43 big erosion sites but because the sediment runs off the road into Big Chico Creek, according to the city council agenda report. The money will only be used on Upper Park Road because of the Clean Water Act, which “establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States and regulating quality standards for surface waters.”

Repairing the road is also important for emergency access. City Parks and Natural Resources Manager Linda Herman said the road needs to be repaired no matter what.

“We just want to get the road repaired because we need to repair it for emergency access anyway,” Herman said. “So whether the policy decision to open it or not open it to public vehicles may still continue, there’s a need to repair that road just for emergency access.”

Assuming the city doesn’t receive the grant, the commission is recommending the Upper Park Road repairs be done in three phases, with phase one already completed.

- Phase one: Fiscal year 2018-2019, fix three priority locations (completed)

- Phase two: Fiscal year 2019-2020, request first $250,000 through budget process. Repair road up to Salmon Hole and move the access gate. ($250,000 already acquired).

- Phase three: Fiscal year 2020-2021, require final $250,000 through budget process. Fix from Salmon Hole to the end and determine the access.

Salmon Hole was the best ending spot because it is too steep for vehicles to make the drive, Gustafson said.

“We want to get the results of the grant —  hopefully fingers crossed we’re successful in that — and we can repair the entire road at once,” Gustafson said at the council meeting. “If not, we can complete phase two now.”

The Chico City Council voted unanimously to move forward with the recommended phases.

The commission also recommended setting parking rates for the area at $2 a day or $25 annually, but it isn’t something to be discussed right now. It wants to wait to hear the grant results before making these changes.

Park-goer Lindsay Anderson frequently plays with her dog in Upper Bidwell Park. She said that she would agree with having a reasonably priced fee for the park.

“I feel like it makes sense for repairs and maintenance, but it needs to be affordable,” Anderson said. “As long as it’s affordable, I support it.”

Herman said that this project is not a matter of if it gets done, but when it gets done. If the Bidwell Park and Playground Commission receives the funds, the project could be completed by 2020 or 2021.

--Julia Maldonado