By Mike Harris – Special to The Alpine Mountaineer

An easement for a new trailhead and upgraded restrooms for Audrey MacKay Park in Lake Arrowhead were approved by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors at their meeting on May 9.

Construction of a trailhead at MacKay Park was initially approved by the supervisors on March 29, 2022.

The board’s action on May 9 creates an easement for trail facilities purposes and is between Lake Arrowhead Community Services District and County Service Area 70 D-1 (MacKay Park). The acquisition of the easement, located near the newly constructed improvements, will facilitate the day-to-day operations and maintenance of the trailhead and other facilities.

The existing restrooms were part of MacKay Park, created in 2010, and called for a restroom constructed with septic tanks that required weekly maintenance by a septic tank pump company due to the lack of a sewer main.

In 2018, the Lake Arrowhead Community Services District (LACSD) constructed a sewer system with the sewer main running next to the park’s restroom.

The new project will abandon the existing septic tanks and upgrade the toilets to a combination toilet/sink unit and tie in to the existing sewer main and water lines that will save time and money in maintenance.

According to the county, the estimated cost of the upgrade project is $136,790. This amount includes $105,900 for the recommended construction contract with S. Porter, Inc. The upgraded restroom project required a budget increase of $46,790, from $90,000 to $136,790, which will be funded through the use of CSA 70 – D1 Lake Arrowhead available reserves.