Gibson Ranch Park remains closed and orphaned, its fate left dangling for at least another week.
There is no deal to run the park. No new draft request for proposals. But that's not necessarily a bad thing, based on the first attempt at a deal. A true start-over would serve the public best.
Looking to unload all of its parks due to budget troubles, the Board of Supervisors by a 3-2 vote last month ordered its staff to come back this week with an agreement from the one for-profit entrepreneur who put in a bid to run the 350-acre Gibson Ranch Park.
Well, there is no agreement to bring to the board this week with former congressman and real estate developer Doug Ose.
That's not surprising. The original request for proposals was modeled on the county's contracts for operating a single-purpose public golf course, not a multipurpose park that includes a working historic ranch, a marsh area with wildlife, picnic areas, a small lake for fishing, and the potential for reviving long-closed overnight facilities and a swimming hole.
County staff and supervisors have been trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.
To date, no U.S. city, county or state has turned over an entire multipurpose park to a for-profit entity. That's largely because there's no proven way to make money off parks given their mission.
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