The City Council voted 4-3 to approve closure of parts of Lower Bidwell Park to vehicles at the June 17 meeting. Mayor Kasey Reynolds, Vice Mayor Dale Bennett and Councilmember Michael O’Brien voted in opposition.
Many of the 17 speakers during the public comment session opposed the plan to close the entire stretch of South Park Drive—running parallel to Woodland Avenue—to vehicular traffic. Under the plan, the parking lot at the One Mile Recreation Area will only be accessed via Woodland Avenue, and the plan will be implemented in the summer of 2026.
“There has been no proof, no evidence that any of these improvements are needed, except for the resurfacing of the pathway, the roadway in the park,” said Elizabeth Griffin, who, like most speakers, supported pavement rehabilitation without any other changes.
Portia Ceruti, who lives in the neighborhood on the south side of Lower Park, voiced concerns about the plan because “the neighbors have not been considered in this option.”
“It would bring a lot of traffic onto a street that’s very narrow,” Ceruti said. “There’s a lot of potholes. I live down Linden Street and we get asphalt kicked up into our property regularly … So I think we need to consider the impact on the neighborhood with these [options].”
Some community members expressed support for the plan or parts of the plan, though.
Logan Underwood, a speaker at the public hearing, said the option to close off the road to vehicles would be “very nice for people who are regularly going to the park.”
“I think Chico is pretty unique in how there is a very nice, accessible, walkable park … if there’s a way to improve it and maintain it long term, I think that would be a very good decision,” Underwood said, adding that he opposes “creating more space for cars instead of having a park.”
Planning Commissioner Ann Bykerk-Kauffman advocated for closing the section of South Park Drive between Cypress Street and the One Mile driveway to motor vehicles.
“There’s nothing there,” said Bykerk-Kauffman. “There’s no need for anybody to park there. I think that no matter which option you choose, we don’t need to allow cars to drive between Cypress Street and the One Mile driveway. It’s a beautiful entrance. It can be a beautiful entrance for pedestrians and bicycles.”
Chico resident David Welch seconded her.
The approved plan includes the installation of permeable parking surfaces in One Mile parking lot, which will cost more than the other options that were under consideration in the short term, while reducing maintenance in the long run.
The permeable parking surfaces can also “make them more accessible for people using mobility devices, compared to those gravel lots,” said Councilmember Katie Hawley.
The approval of the controversial plan elicited sighs from some dissatisfied members of the audience.
Yucheng Tang is a California Local News fellow covering Chico City Council for ChicoSol.
South Park Drive
I use a rollator (like a walker) to walk through the park. Going down the 0ne-way South Park Drive, I enter from Woodland Ave. where peds and cycles enter. I then turn left at the overpass and continue toward the One Mile pool. There is plenty of room for peds, cycles and cars if only the road could be improved — flattened, smoothed and with the elimination of the very sharp and hazardous drop-offs where the pavement meets the shoulder.
The smooth passing of cars and other wheeled vehicles, all going one-way (except for the two-way entrance to the ballpark area) has kept the One Mile area from a feeling of congesti0n. I think if there were to be additional entrances for two-way traffic off Woodland Ave., as is proposed by Option 2 (of four options being considered), the sense of a calm traffic flow would be lost. Intersections at Woodland Ave. would negatively affect the neighborhood by causing congestion, and the calm that now greets us with slow moving one-way traffic would be lost.
North Petersen Dr.
I also park at the entrance to North Petersen Drive to walk there using my rollator. If the pavement on that road were improved, as I suggested ab0ve, it would also be sufficient for peds, cycles and cars.
The idea of closing one-way car traffic on No. Petersen Dr. would eliminate the ability for families to gather at the lovely picnic tables creek side, along the road, especially when the elderly, the very young and disabled would like to join in. Any group with picnic items to carry would find it difficult if not impossible to get to those tables if cars were not permitted to use that road. Also any individual who wants to enjoy the park, creek side at the tables, would be unable to do so if he or she has mobility issues or cannot manage to carry typical picnic items to the tables.
I hope the Council will finally choose Option 4 to improve the park for all users and PLEASE leave No. Petersen Dr. open to one way vehicle use so EVERYONE can reach the picnic tables on that beautiful drive.