Chipping away for a park

Encinitas boy selling golf balls to raise funds to help develop a park on Quail Gardens Drive; longtime resident offers $100K to honor his late wife over controversial parcel

Oliver Pratt, an 11-year-old Encinitas boy, has raised more than $15,000 to help the city construct a park at the controversial L-7 site on Quail Gardens Drive. Photo by Jessica Pratt

ENCINITAS — A new, spacious park is the goal and dream of an Encinitas boy.

Oliver Pratt, 11, has been chipping away for nearly two years in lobbying city leaders and raising money to develop a park at the controversial L-7 site on Quail Gardens Drive. Pratt channeled his inner sales skills by selling golf balls and a GoFundMe effort to raise more than $15,000 over the past 18 months for the so-called Quail Gardens Park.

The City Council unanimously approved deed restricting L-7 as a park on Feb. 26, along with other parcels now targeted to become parks. Several years ago, the previous City Council designated the lot for residential development and a 100% affordable housing project up to 45 homes or 60 units for seniors.

The city bought the land nearly 30 years ago with funds earmarked for parks, but over the past 10 years or so, it has become a possibility for housing.

“I was thinking we should put a park there instead of houses,” Pratt explained. “When we did our research, that land was first designated for parkland. It was not for houses or anything. The park we have in our neighborhood isn’t the best … so we (everybody) need a good park to play at.”

One of Pratt’s inspirations is another Encinitas resident, Glen Johnson, who pledged $100,000 last year for naming rights and a park. Pratt said Johnson’s passion for building a park was an inspiration for his efforts.