In early 2019, a small group of Magalia residents came together with an idea to help jumpstart the recovery of the Upper Ridge by creating Magalia’s first park and community center on the land formerly occupied by the Paradise Pines Golf Course. Magalia Community Park is now a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that’s dedicated to preserving the golf course property, much of which was spared in the Camp Fire, as a site that can continue to be enjoyed by all of Magalia for a variety of recreational and healthful purposes.
The Paradise Pines Golf Course opened in 1971 as a 9-hole, 34 par course, designed by Bob Baldack (a noted golf course designer of the time.) The course has been described as the “jewel” of Magalia because of its’ beauty. When it was an active and maintained golf course, it attracted players not just from the Ridge but from all over Northern California, bringing commerce to the area and providing an incentive for residents to build homes around it. The property is situated in the middle of the South Pines Zone, the neighborhood of Paradise Pines that was hit hardest by the Camp Fire. Once restored into a developed and maintained park, we believe the site will offer the same draw to new and returning residents.
We are in the early stages of raising funds to hopefully negotiate to lease or purchase the 40-acre property, and pay for its conversion to a park for passive recreation. Our first phase will be to convert the former Clubhouse and Pro Shop complex for use as a Community and Recreation Center, as well as a resource center to help in the rebuild and recovery of Magalia. We are also forming important partnerships both at the local and county level.
If you are a potential donor and would be interested in helping us make this project become a reality, you may click here to contact us directly. We would be happy to speak with you and answer any questions that you might have.
Based on community feedback from numerous meetings and from local input via social media, Magalia Community Park is proposing to offer the following amenities and features:
Future additions may include more biking trails, picnic sites and restrooms. The park will be developed in phases as funds are available, so it will evolve as the neighborhood rebuilds and as residents provide input on what amenities they would like included.
While the majority of the 40 acres will be allowed to continue to go “back to nature” as it already has, it will be maintained biannually to comply with fire-safe practices. In order to conserve water, irrigation will be limited to just a few acres of developed space.
Park hours will be dawn to dusk. Community Center hours will vary and staff & volunteers will be on site. We will work closely with Butte County Sherriff’s Office to ensure additional patrols as needed.
The Community & Resource Center is at the heart of Magalia Community Park and utilizes both of the existing recreation buildings and some of the immediate open space. With special thanks to North Valley Community Foundation / Butte Strong Fund and Tri-Counties Bank, we have been able to move forward with this “first phase” of the park project.
The former Clubhouse affords over 2000 square feet to use as a gathering place for meetings and events (both public and private), as well as programs and classes (especially for kids and teens.) The complex will also include a staffed Resource Center to aid in the recovery & rebuild process and offer a variety of services ranging from health & wellness to rebuilding and homeowner guidance.
August 2020: We are moving forward with our plan to build a disc golf course on the old golf course fairways. Volunteers are welcome to come out and help, and your support is greatly appreciated - contact us or come by anytime, there is much to do! Everything we do at Magalia Community Center goes into rebuilding the community that we love.
