A 26-acre park in Orcutt that was built as part of a big residential development has been completed, but families, athletes, pets and picnickers will have to wait a few more months to use it.

Citing a need to wait for some of the landscaping to mature, county spokesman William Boyer said Orcutt Community Park likely will be opened to the public early next year.

The facility was constructed as part of the 725-home Rice Ranch development west of Bradley Road and south of Rice Ranch Road.

Although the park on Bradley Road is finished, the gates are to remain locked until the county officially opens it to the public, according to Dana Warren, the marketing director for Western Pacific Land Group, the parent company of Rice Ranch Ventures.

The park offers soccer fields, youth and adult baseball fields, small and large breed dog parks, playgrounds, a tot lot and picnic areas, and is central to the planned community.

Completion of the recreational area was among the conditions set for the Rice Ranch housing development, and was required to be completed before anyone could occupy the new homes, Warren said.

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors and other VIP guests will be introduced to the park with a barbecue luncheon Tuesday while breaking from the supervisors meeting in Santa Maria.

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Currently, the Oaks and Pine Creek are two of the neighborhoods completed and available to home buyers.

Sam Womack can be reached at 739-2218 or swomack@santamariatimes.com.

October 14, 2008