Park board plays out new budget for Simi/Oak Park

Simi Valley residents will see millions of dollars flow into new and upgraded recreation facilities over the coming year, after the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District approved a $70 million budget for 2026-27 last week.

The spending plan, approved following a public hearing Sept. 2, earmarks roughly $20 million for capital improvement projects across the district, which serves both Simi Valley and Oak Park. The Simi Valley Acorn first reported details of the budget, which balances new construction against a growing backlog of maintenance needs at the district's aging parks.

Where the Money Goes in Simi Valley

The single largest line items are concentrated in Simi Valley. The budget includes nearly $7.5 million for Activity Center Phase III, a project that would convert roughly 24,300 square feet of currently unfinished space at the district's Guardian Street headquarters into a full recreation complex.

Another $2.3 million is budgeted for construction of a BMX track — a project that has drawn sustained community support since the closure of Simi Valley's previous BMX raceway in 2019. New District Manager Steve Wright said the BMX project remains a district priority and is currently moving through the plan review process.

Other Simi Valley allocations include:

• $3.5 million for Phase IV construction at the Rancho Santa Susana Community Center
• $1 million for sports field lighting replacement district facilities
• $300,000 for improvements to the Rancho Simi Community Park Phase II pool building
• $250,000 for the Rancho Simi Community Park east parking lot
• $250,000 for new playground equipment at Frontier Park

Oak Park projects include $250,000 for the Indian Springs playground, $100,000 to resurface the Deerhill Park pickleball parking lot and roughly $100,000 for improvements to Oak Park Community Park and Center.

Wright, in his first budget cycle as district manager, said the spending plan "reasonably balances maintenance, recreation programming, park renovation and new park construction projects" while maintaining the district's financial position and its current level of service.

The Maintenance Backlog Looms Large

The new spending comes against the backdrop of an estimated $8 million in identified deferred maintenance needs district-wide — approximately $6 million of it in Simi Valley and nearly $2 million in Oak Park. The budget sets aside $1 million toward that backlog.

That tension between building new and maintaining existing facilities drew pointed criticism from at least one board member. Director Ed Abele questioned whether Activity Center Phase III could be scaled back to free up money for maintaining the facilities the district already operates. He called the project "fools gold" and warned that committing to it could leave less funding available for other needs.

Board member Brooke Grayson took a different view, acknowledging that some capital improvement costs are significant and raise fair questions, but arguing that the budget offers a chance to see "big ideas and big dreams" come to fruition.

Oak Park Tensions Shape the Debate

The budget hearing also revisited a long-running rift in the district. Oak Park residents have repeatedly pressed officials to prioritize maintenance in their community and to provide greater transparency about how projects are selected — with some going further and questioning whether Oak Park should be separated from the larger district altogether. The Sept. 2 hearing was no exception, according to the Acorn's report.

A previous proposal to form a separate Oak Park Community Service District never materialized. But the district has begun providing separate financial breakdowns for Oak Park and Simi Valley, giving residents a clearer picture of how dollars are divided between the two communities.

The district has also agreed to pursue an agreement with Friends of Oak Park on open-space management, and to research whether an additional assessment could be established to fund open-space maintenance in the community.

What Comes Next for Simi Valley

For Simi Valley residents, the most visible changes in the near term are likely to be the smaller neighborhood-level improvements — new playground equipment at Frontier Park and repaved parking at Rancho Simi Community Park — while larger projects like the BMX track and Activity Center Phase III move through design, permitting and plan review.

The BMX track in particular carries local significance. Simi Valley's previous BMX raceway closed in 2019, and riders and families have pushed for a replacement in the years since. Wright's confirmation that the project is advancing through plan review signals momentum, though construction timelines will depend on how quickly approvals proceed.

The Activity Center Phase III project is likely to remain the most contested item. With nearly $7.5 million committed and Abele warning about its long-term financial trade-offs, residents can expect continued board debate as the project advances — especially as the district works down its multimillion-dollar maintenance backlog.

The 2026-27 budget takes effect as the district's fiscal year is already underway. Residents interested in tracking specific projects can follow board agendas and staff reports through the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District, which meets regularly at its Simi Valley headquarters.

The full budget breakdown and project details were reported by the Simi Valley Acorn.