Recreation meeting scheduled in Avery

The stretch of Highway 4 heading east from Forest Meadows may seem like recreation paradise considering amenities ranging from White Pines Park and U.S. Forest Service lands to Calaveras Big Trees State Park.

But the Calaveras County Parks and Recreation Commission wants to hear from people in communities along the way — such as Dorrington, Arnold, Avery, Hathaway Pines and Forest Meadows — about the recreational offerings they have and what is lacking.

As part of a series of meetings being held around the county, the commission will take public input at 6 p.m. Feb. 11 at Avery Middle School, 4545 Moran Road, Avery.

Comments at the meeting will then be used as the commission puts together a 20-year recreation master plan for the county. The document will also become part of the county General Plan now being revised.

“Nothing is out of bounds, and ideas need not be planned out in any way,” said commissioner Mary Boblet, emphasizing that the goal of each gathering is to hear from as diverse a group of people as possible.

Boblet noted that, while communities along upper reaches of Highway 4 offer a variety of recreational pursuits, many of the area’s retirees do not take advantage of them.

Calaveras County Supervisor Merita Callaway agreed that a wider range of recreational offerings — from bridge games to bicycling — would in turn serve a wider range of the area’s residents.

“We need to look at recreation in a very multi-fold manner, and what we can do with few resources,” Callaway said.

The recreation commission has already held similar meetings in Murphys, San Andreas, Copperopolis and Valley Springs.

Future meetings remain to be scheduled in Mokelumne Hill and West Point, Boblet said.