El Dorado East Regional Park has long been a serene, idyllic destination for nature lovers.

Some fear that could soon change.

The city, amid millions in slated upgrades, is looking to add concessions to better serve visitors and make more money for the park.

But the prospect of more concessions, including for food and beverages, has sparked concerns among some residents over the further “commercialization” of the city’s massive park. A petition at Change.org titled “Save El Dorado Park,” created Feb. 10, had garnered more than 15,000 signatures as of Monday morning, Feb. 24.

“Do we need more concessions that may include alcohol, add to traffic, take up parking spaces and destroy nesting bird areas?” the petition states.

Long Beach community activist Ann Cantrell, a member of the nonprofit Friends of El Dorado East, did not initiate the petition but has been helping to spread the word.

“It’s been said many times that just having a restaurant or concession there is not profitable,” she said. “What is profitable is alcohol, and I’m very much opposed to alcohol sales in the park, especially that park where there’s a lot of hazards with children and wildlife on the roads.”

Councilwoman Stacy Mungo Flanigan, however, wants to put those fears to rest. The councilwoman, whose district includes the park, noted that alcohol is currently allowed at the park for special events on a case-by-case basis.

“We’re not looking to change that,” Flanigan said. “Alcohol is taken very seriously.”

There is a petition against the proposal to bring concessions to three already existing buildings in El Dorado Park. This is one of the three sites in question, a former ranger station in area 3 of the park in Long Beach on Thursday, February 20, 2020. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

There is a petition against the proposal to bring concessions to three already existing buildings in El Dorado Park. This is one of the three sites in question, a closed refreshment building in area 2 near the group campground in Long Beach on Thursday, February 20, 2020. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

Kimberly Toscano of Long Beach walks her mini Australian Shepard, Circe, on a trail Friday at El Dorado East Regional Park in Long Beach. Toscano said, “I try to come everyday. It’s convenient, nice, and dog friendly.” (File Photo, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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There is a petition against the proposal to bring concessions to three already existing buildings in El Dorado Park. This is one of the three sites in question, a 500 square foot building near the Golden Grove picnic area in Long Beach on Thursday, February 20, 2020. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

There is a petition against the proposal to bring concessions to three already existing buildings in El Dorado Park. This is one of the three sites in question, a 500 square foot building near the Golden Grove picnic area in Long Beach on Thursday, February 20, 2020. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)



Stephen Scott, the city’s interim director of Parks, Recreation and Marine, explained that any proposal that included alcohol “would be required to go through a separate Special Events permit process,” which goes through the City Manager’s Office.

He also stressed that the concessions city officials are considering at El Dorado East would not involve the construction of new buildings. Rather, they would involve the use of up to three existing buildings – two concession cottages and a 1,000-square foot former ranger station/office — that have remained vacant for years, and in some cases for several decades.

“We have concessions in the park for different types of activities — bike rentals, the (El Dorado) Frontier area,” Scott added. “These are all offerings that we’re providing to our park visitors. This would just be an extension of that.”

Currently, no vendors sell food or beverages on a regular basis within the park, outside of El Dorado Frontier, an Old West mini-theme park, located there.

The city, in December, invited food-and-beverage, equipment rentals, retail and other concessions’ proposals; the “El Dorado Regional Park Concession and Catering Opportunity” closed late last month.

“The city strives to bring appealing concessions, services, and amenities to these exemplary park locations,” according to the request for proposals, “to improve park users’ experiences, attract new visitors, and generate revenue that supports the park’s operation.”

The process yielded two qualified applicants, whose proposals are now under review, Scott said.

If one or both concession proposals are deemed a good fit for the park, they would ultimately go to the City Council for consideration.

“There would be an approval process that is a public process,” Scott said.

Flanigan, meanwhile, argued that having long-term vendors occupying these now-vacant buildings would foster “more coordination and accountability so that our parks are not trashed” by users, since these vendors could be responsible for things like rental equipment and supervision.

During a special event last year, a broken golf cart was left on a bike path – and no one could move it because of its weight, she said. On another occasion, a bounce house was pushed into a lake.

In a newsletter Flanigan sent to constituents Wednesday, she said partnering with local organizations to refurbish these three vacant buildings could help bring in the revenue needed to make additional repairs at El Dorado Park East and El Dorado Park West.

The $7.5 million that the City Council allocated for 2020 will help pay for upgrades, including renovating four bathrooms, repairing lake pumps and replacing the Golden Grove playground at El Dorado Park East, Flanigan said in the newsletter. The funds will also be used at El Dorado Park West to rehabilitate the duck pond at East Willow Street and North Studebaker Road, replace a full-size sports field, and help plan and design the city’s “first fully accessible playground” there.

At least $24 million more is needed for other repairs at the two sites, however, including more bathroom renovations and replacing crumbling asphalt roads, she added.

“El Dorado Park East already has successful decade-long partnerships with archery, bike rentals, the train ride and until recently, a paddleboat vendor,” Flanigan wrote. “Parks is interested (in) presenting two local partners who may be able to restore the beauty of the cottages/ranger station and provide services to our more than 900,00 annual park visitors.”

It’s clear, however, that opponents want all their concerns addressed.

“Let’s hear the opinions of the many users of El Dorado Park before the city decides on its future,” the petition reads.

Opponents will have their chance next month. City staff will make a presentation about the future of the park at the City Council meeting on March 10, which starts at 5 p.m. at Civic Chambers.

The presentation will open a “community conversation” about “what these partnerships could solve above and beyond restoring dilapidated buildings – issues like unpermitted gatherings, unpermitted and destructive rental vendors, visitors who violate noise and trash standards, and others,” according to Flanigan.

“I am cautiously optimistic,” she wrote, “that the right partnerships could bring back to life park assets that have been dormant and improve the park experience for all visitors.”