Officials Having Doubts About New Community Center

Citing potential security and parking problems, some officials in Artesia are having second thoughts about building a community center in Padelford Park.

The City Council is expected to decide next month whether to accept a $500,000 county parks grant to build the facility, Assistant City Manager Maria Dadian said. Even if the council does not accept the grant, she said, it may choose to build the center elsewhere without county money.

County voters have approved funds to build the facility, and the City Council last year requested funds to build the 4,100-square-foot center for at-risk youths at Padelford Park, 16912 Clarkdale Ave. The park now contains a much smaller building where city workers provide various recreational and educational activities to about 200 people a day.