Long Beach Councilman Roberto Uranga wants city government to buy and eventually build a park on nearly 16 acres of Wrigley Heights land that was formerly the site of oil operations and now at the center of rumors of new development.

“That is my plan, my vision for that lot is open space,” Uranga said in a telephone interview.

The land in question, sometimes referred to as the Oil Operators Property, is nearly 16 acres of now-vacant space that has been used to treat water involved in oil operations in the Long Beach area, according to a staff report. The property is southeast of the 405 and 710 Freeway Interchange, between Wardlow Road and Baker Street.

Uranga has placed a request on Tuesday’s City Council agenda for the City Manager’s office to investigate how city government may be able to obtain the $17 million to $22 million that, according to the councilman’s request, may be necessary to buy the land.

The councilman said he has already sent letters to state officials including Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Lakewood, and state Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon to inquire about potential funding availabilities.

“My intention is not to have any of the costs incurred by the city,” Uranga said.

Uranga’s office convened a public meeting in late March to address rumors that a developer had plans for new construction at the site. A February memo from City Manager Patrick West to Mayor Robert Garcia and the City Council acknowledged that city staffers had met with representatives from Integral Communities, but those talks had not resulted in an actual development proposal.

As of Monday, there are still no formal development applications for the site, Development Services Spokeswoman Jacqueline Medina said in an email.

The firm of Oil Operators, Inc., described in a staff report as a consortium of local oil firms, owns the site. Company president Kevin Laney said Monday that he has had discussions with both Uranga and the Integral Communities regarding the land’s future.

“It’s kind of going down both paths,” he said.

The land may require future environmental cleanup, and Laney declined to say how much the land may sell for.

An Integral Communities representative could not be reached for comment Monday. The company is the same firm behind the Riverwalk development planned for construction near the Los Angeles River north of Bixby Knolls.