More than two decades after the East Ranch Community Park was first proposed, the long-anticipated public space remains largely undeveloped, as financial, regulatory, and operational challenges continue to stall progress.
The property, owned by the Cambria Community Services District (CCSD), was slated for development in the early 2000s as part of the larger Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, with the goal of providing public access, recreation, and open space, CCSD General Manager Matthew McElhenie told New Times. Early plans identified the eastern portion of the ranch for a community park, and the concept has remained part of the long-term vision ever since.
Phase 1, carried out between 2007 and 2017, included grading, drainage improvements, constructing a large parking lot, and relocating the dog park, according to CCSD board documents. Phase 2, finished last year, added a public restroom. Phase 3, which would transform the former rodeo grounds into a meadow with potential recreational features, has yet to move forward. The CCSD didn’t adopt the plan, as presented, at its March 12 board meeting.
“Whenever I think about the community park, I think about families and children playing there,” CCSD board President Harry Farmer said during the meeting. “I can’t imagine not moving forward with this.”
Cambria resident Shannon Sutherland noted that the project has been discussed for almost 30 years and expressed a willingness to help establish a nonprofit to manage funding and maintenance for the park.
The CCSD does not have additional funds for recreation in its general fund, board member Tom Gray noted during the meeting. Board member Debra Scott said the district “cannot spend any more money on recreation,” and Gray added that the facilities and resources department is already stretched.
Oversight and regulatory requirements add another layer of complexity, McElhenie explained. San Luis Obispo County regulates land use and coastal development, and the Friends of the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve hold a conservation easement to ensure that any improvements protect habitat, scenic open space, and the natural character of the preserve. Floodplain considerations further constrain Phase 3, particularly areas proposed for playgrounds, gazebos, and other infrastructure.
McElhenie highlighted the importance of careful permitting in the floodplain, citing delays on the community’s skate park as an example.
“Some of the issues we’re facing currently with the skate park are permitting issues with the county in a floodplain,” he said. “If we adopt a plan and move forward, and then have to do additional things for permitting, that causes delays and frustration that we have felt for the better part of three years on the skateboard project. You want to permit it correctly and make sure the infrastructure items will be able to withstand that type of flooding.”
He cited past events, including flooding in March 2023, as evidence of the area’s vulnerability.
In a written comment submitted March 7, Christina Galloway said the Phase 3 plan “reads primarily as a conceptual list of potential recreational features rather than a planning study.” She noted that it lacks a recreation needs assessment, cost estimates, and maintenance analysis typically required for long-range park planning. Adopting the plan now, she warned, would establish a policy framework for expansion without fully understanding fiscal, operational, or community needs.
“A potential nonprofit is being explored to fund, build, and maintain park amenities without placing an additional burden on CCSD’s limited general fund resources,” McElhenie said.
He added that such a group could raise private donations, secure grants, and manage operations while complying with all regulatory and easement requirements. Maintenance costs would fall to the nonprofit rather than the district.
This article appears in March 26 – April 2, 2026.
And the skatepark. Cambria hates children. Build the fucking skatepark .
There are no children in Cambria. It’s a retirement and third home community for the extremely rich. I am wondering where is all the money they allocated for these community projects, did Harry Farmer roll it all up and smoke it?
Harry definitely smoked it—along with whatever else he could get his hands on and his sidekick Karen Dean used the money as part of her reinvention during the Vets Hall renovations. Those two need to step down!! Embarrassing!
The CCSD Board’s priorities are completely out of balance. They continue pouring money into parks while neglecting the fire department, which is a fundamental public safety need. It’s hard to understand how improving recreation spaces takes precedence over ensuring there are enough firefighters and resources to respond to emergencies. When homes are burning and pets are in danger, response time and staffing matter far more than park upgrades. Their priorities feel seriously out of whack—you can’t justify continued spending on parks while overlooking something as critical as fire protection.
Can’t wait for Cambria to open a skatepark so the local 60+ crowd can absolutely dominate it
Yeah, I’m sure it’s gonna be nonstop kickflips, 360s, and—if things get really wild—someone gently rolling down a slope without holding the rail. Real X Games energy. ESPN’s already on standby.
You know the “half pipe” is just gonna turn into a thoughtful pause area where people stop halfway, look around, and go, “yep, that’s enough excitement for today.” And instead of people yelling “send it!!” it’s gonna be “maybe don’t.”
Honestly the biggest trick anyone’s landing is remembering where they parked… and even that’s a 50/50.
I can’t help but laugh at this thread—watching Cambria board meetings feels like watching a group of geriatrics try to run a special district, like a sitcom where no one remembers the plot but everyone insists they’re in charge.