LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Community members are invited to attend a special meeting next week to discuss the design of Lake County’s newest park.
The public information meeting for the new John T. Klaus Park will be held on Tuesday, August 27, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the cafeteria and gymnasium of East Lake Elementary School, 13050 High Valley Road in Clearlake Oaks.
John T. Klaus Park is located east of Clearlake Oaks on Highway 20 between the quarry and Moose Lodge.
The 584-acre property – where until recently llamas, horses and ponies grazed in the pastures along the highway – was donated to Lake County.
“It’s incredible,” said Deputy Director of Public Services Kati Galvani of the property, which she said is beautiful.
Galvani told Lake County News that there are “endless” possibilities for the new park site.
At its November 1, 2022 meeting, the Board of Directors approved the donation of land and funds to support the project by the John T. Klaus 1994 Trust after several years of work to complete the transfer, which was delayed by the death of the Trust’s previous attorney.
“I think this is an opportunity that doesn’t come along very often,” Public Services Director Lars Ewing told the board at the time, comparing it to Mount Konocti Park, which the county had purchased.
Ewing said that unlike Mount Konocti Park, Klaus Park not only has land but also funding.
Galvani said this week that Klaus’ donation specifically requires that the property be used for a park — and that it be named after him — with a component for youth sports activities. Another requirement is that a third of the land at the back of the property be used for a wildlife sanctuary.
The public service responsible for managing the park has hired a landscape architect for the project, Galvani explained.
She said they have a draft plan based on the community’s desires for a park and the county’s needs for parks, recreation areas and trails.
“So we now have this preliminary plan, which is very basic,” she said.
This basic plan will be a topic of discussion at the meeting on August 27, Galvani said.
Galvani said community members are encouraged to come by and share their thoughts on the park and the plan.
“We want them to tell us what they want for a park on this property,” she said, adding, “We just want to do what the people want.”
Galvani visited the park grounds with county officials and members of Redwood Audubon and said they were impressed by its beauty and possibilities.
She pointed out the opportunities for activities such as hiking and bird watching.
“It’s beautiful up there,” she said.
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