The Oro de Amador Planning Committee has almost finished developing a master plan that proposes multiple uses for the 155-acre property adjacent to New York Ranch Road in Jackson. City Manager Mike Daly presented the draft plan at Monday night’s Jackson City Council meeting. The land, which was once used as a mine tailings depository site by the Kennedy Mine and Milling Company, was acquired by the city in December, 2006.  The committee, which was formed to explore funding options and develop a Park Master Plan, came up with both passive and active land use ideas. Active ideas include constructing a ball field, recreation center, skate park, playground, bike trails, and other like park features and activities, where passive ideas include more preservation-minded activities such as a nature preserve, picnic area, botanical garden, interpretive signs, and interactive museum. 

Both active and passive ideas were also categorized as intrusive or non-intrusive.  Intrusive ideas were those that required grading, tree removal, or adding structures, and non-intrusive ideas included propositions where minimal changes would be required. The committee also mapped out safety hazards, historic elements, vehicle and pedestrian accessibility, and recreation boundaries, as well as an implementation plan. Bob Devlin, a member of the committee, says that while he was “excited about the donation of this property…I think we need to do a lot of (further) studying.”  Devlin suggested including the Jackson Historical Society and the Kennedy Mine Foundation in future planning sessions. Mayor Pryor Escamilla noted that the wide range of land use ideas presented are meant to allow people to “pick and choose” in order to come up with a city park that everyone can enjoy.  The city will still need to get soil clearance from the Department of Toxic Substances Control, and will still be taking community input on the project. Additionally, the project will go through environmental review.