WHY PRESERVE THIS OPEN SPACE?
The Aptos Par 3 is unarguably the last sizeable space in Aptos that is zoned for recreational use. The Santa Cruz County General Plan 1994 sets the criteria for park acreage for its inhabitants. As the population grows and development threatens the availability of parkland, it will become more difficult to meet these standards. The prospects of finding a site as big and flat as the Par 3 site become non-existent.
While developers can help provide tot lots and neighborhood parks, it is important to remember that some recreational activities require more space. The Par-3 site provides more space. Housing can be put on smaller sites, but some recreational activities cannot. Golf is one.
The question really is what are we going to do for parks and recreation for our population? In the 21st century, Santa Cruz County businesses, homes, and apartments will be built according to specifications for higher density, which means tighter living spaces.
Tighter living spaces are more tolerable if there is room to play and to enjoy a grassy area nearby. Cities that have stayed livable, despite high-density housing, have made sure to keep parks and open spaces a priority for their residents. Par 3 can provide a rare recreational space.
The Santa Cruz County General Plan 1994 established the criteria for neighborhood park sites, assigning the highest priority to county parks where critical needs exist and development pressures threaten the availability of park sites. The Park Standards in the Santa Cruz County General Plan are the goals for the amount of parkland provided per number of residents.
- For neighborhood parks, the County of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation objective is a standard of 3 acres of neighborhood parkland per 1,000 people. The neighborhood park with play equipment is a typical image.
- For community parkland, the standard is 2-3 acres of community parkland per 1,000 residents. The community park is a park with ballfield size play sites.
A wise community thinks strategically, planning now for its future recreation sites. There are no large, flat lots that could replace the recreational use of the Par 3 property. It is the last available space in Aptos that is sizeable and zoned for recreational use.
WHY A GOLF COURSE?
There are a number of people who do not play golf, but who miss the Aptos Par 3, just because they enjoyed seeing it as they drove by on Highway 1. It was a well-known landmark, and it will always be more scenic than a sound wall and buildings.
However, to the golfers, it is even more important. Before the Aptos Par 3 Golf Course was closed, there were three privately-owned 9-hole courses in the county: Casserly’s in Watsonville, a difficult-walking, hilly course; Valley Gardens in Scotts Valley, a longer 30-acre course challenged by water; and the Aptos Par 3, the shortest, flattest of the three, and the easiest to play.
Now, both Valley Gardens and the Aptos Par 3 are for sale. Once Valley Gardens is sold to a developer, the demand for golf at the Aptos Par 3 will increase even more.
The 13.7 acres at the Aptos site would be the most affordable to purchase and to maintain. It is centrally located for county residents, and conveniently located, along Highway 1, for tourists. The County of Santa Cruz is willing to operate the golf course, understanding that greens fees will offset operational costs.
The Monterey Bay area is known for its golfing opportunities. However, an 18-hole course does not provide the optimal place to learn to play golf, nor the best place to play golf if a person is not able to walk on hilly terrain.
Owners and operators of 18-hole courses appreciate having 9-hole courses in their areas for two reasons. They provide a learning course for beginners, who will then “graduate” to the larger courses. And, they provide a place for slower players to play without interrupting the pace of play on the larger courses.