Blackstone Village Park Project (Valley View)

Blackstone Park Project (Valley View)
Updated as of 1/17/2024

Blackstone Park is Opened! Grand Opening Celebration was held on Saturday, June 17. 
After a brief grand opening ceremony to welcome the District's 28th park, attendees enjoyed refreshments, an interpretive trail walk with a Wildlife Biologist, a park scavenger hunt and face painting! Prizes and goodies were given out! 

Blackstone Park Grand Opening Facebook Post (1920 × 1000 px) (1)

           
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             Blackstone Grand Opening - Copy - Copy (2)              Blackstone Grand Opening (2)

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Project Description
Blackstone Village Park is the second park to be developed in the Blackstone Community and is located at 1881 Blackstone Parkway in the Blackstone Community. This park will be the District's 28th Park and 4th Park south of 50. The design highlights local habitats through its extensive use of interpretive signage of animals and plants, concrete footprints of birds, animals and plants in the children's playground as well as fitness nodes along the half-mile park trail that connects to the even larger Blackstone HOA trail system and the sidewalk that leads to Valley View Sports Park. 

This park is funded through Park Impact Fees and will include: two play structures - 2-5 years and 5-12 years with inclusive play elements, 8 interpretive signs, half-mile of paved walking paths with fitness nodes, large grass area, preserved wetlands and open space, restrooms, and lighted parking lots. 

For Project Information, click each link below:
Project Description
Park Amenities
Current Park Status
Overview of the Valley View Specific Plan and Park/Open Space Development

Park Amenities:
  • 13.6 acre park
  • 2-5 Year old playground with inclusive elements, fabric shade coverings and PIP surfacing
  • 5-12 year old playground with inclusive elements, fabric shade coverings and PIP surfacing
  • 8 Interpretive signs along paved walking path highlighting local animals, trees, and wetlands
  • Paved walking paths - connecting to HOA Trail System and sidewalks to Valley View Sports Park
  • 4 Fitness Nodes along paved walking path
  • Grass Area off of playgrounds for picnics, play, and informal recreation
  • Preserved Wetlands and Open Space
  • Benches, trash cans and 6 eight foot picnic tables, and Group BBQ
  • Bike rack and Doggie Bag Stations
  • Restrooms, drinking fountains with bottle filler
  • Decorative art in playground area 
  • Lighted Parking Lot with 9 spots (1 ADA)
  • Retaining walls, fencing, and signage

Current Project Status - Blackstone Village Park
Upcoming Milestones
Punch list items, final walk through, and close-out

Completed Milestones
June 17, 2023: 9:00 - 11:00 AM
Park Grand Opening
Grand opening ceremony with over 250 people in attendance to welcome the District's 28th park, with donuts, juice and coffee, review of 8 interpretive trail signs with a Wildlife Biologist, and a park scavenger hunt and face painting for the kids! Prizes and goodies were given out. To read the article in the Folsom Telegraph: https://goldcountrymedia.com/news/294199/el-dorado-hills-welcomes-new-nature-themed-blackstone-park/

June 2023

Root barriers, turf area irrigation installation and all landscaping (sod, bushes, trees, mulch, hydroseed) installation, interpretive sign cement pads, fitness node installation, decomposed granite installed along trail, doggie pots installed, asphalt paving/seal coat and striping, park/parking lot signage, bollard and gate installation/painting, curb painting, and utility inspections.

June 2022 - May 2023

Playground and turf area grading, two large retaining walls with drainage, playground poured in place, parking lot asphalt and street connection paving, curb and sidewalk concrete, electrical, plumbing and water line/sewer connections, drip line irrigation, paved trail completion, grading of driveway, fence and pilaster installations,  completion of electrical, and installation of playgrounds, bike rack, water fountains, picnic shelter, picnic tables, benches, trash cans, doggie pots, fitness nodes, interpretive signs, trash cans, guard rail fencing, park monument signs, and retaining wall and large frog art at several locations.

May 2022
Culverts, Headwall at entrance

March 2022
Grading, preparation of playground and parking lot areas for construction, and placement of underground utilities and connection of park sewer line

September - October 2021
Construction trailer arrived and Mobilization.
Grubbing and grading of site for parking lot, playground and turf area.
Preparing for installation of retaining walls.

September 2021
Temporary fencing was installed. A construction trailer arriving soon, and mobilization in October.

September 14, 2021
County permits issued and final plan approved

June 14, 2021
Ground Breaking Celebration

December 10, 2020
Board of Directors awards of construction contract to KYA

August 13, 2020
Board of Directors approves Parkland Dedication Agreement  and Acceptance of Grant Deed for Blackstone Village Park (Park Site #2)

August 8, 2019
District Board of Directors reviewed and approved Blackstone Village Park (Park Site #2) Conceptual Park Design and Construction Cost Estimate

July 16, 2019
District Parks & Planning committee review of concept designs and recommendations to Board of Directors

June 25, 2019
District Parks & Planning committee review of LLAD Member Input for Park Development

June 2019
Resident survey closed. Thank you for your feedback.

May 2019
Postcard being sent to residents requesting survey feedback for park concepts

April 2019
Community meeting at the Blackstone Clubhouse

February 2019
Letter sent to Blackstone residents with results of community engagement/comment cards

September 2018
Community engagement meeting at the Valley View School Gymnasium

June 2018
Initial designs for Park Site #1 and Park Site #2 received by the District

Feburary 2015
Valley View Sports Park opened

Overview of the Valley View Specific Plan and Park/Open Space Development

Valley View Specific Plan

The Valley View Specific Plan covers the 2,037 acres of land south of Highway 50 and south of El Dorado Hills Town Center along Latrobe Road. The Valley View development is situated to the East of Latrobe Road and across from the El Dorado Hills Business Park.

The Valley View Specific Plan calls for three separate villages of housing and community development; West Valley Village, East Ridge Village, and White Rock Village. This development contains high-density residential, multi-family residential, and medium density residential.

Park & Open Space Development

There are currently three park spaces within the Valley View Specific Plan that have been acquired by the El Dorado Hills Community Services District. The first site, Valley View Sports Park, is a fully-developed park located adjacent to the Montessori school property. Valley View Sports Park opened in February 2015. There are two other sites that have been acquired and are being evaluated for development.

Park Site # 1: This park site is predominately an Oak Grove located in a ravine area, located north of Cornerstone Drive; this park is suitable for a passive/low-impact design

Blackstone Village Park/Park Site # 2: This park is predominately a wetland area located at Blackstone Parkway and Keystone Drive; this park could accommodate an active/moderate-impact design