BY LEON WORDEN/SCVNEWS.COM

Vasquez Rocks County Park is moving closer to expanding by 31 acres.

With $200,000 from the state of California newly in hand, Parks Director Russ Guiney is asking the Board of Supervisors – in their capacity as the board of the L.A. County Regional Park and Open Space District – to free up the remaining $479,000 he needs to close a deal on 31 acres of real estate at 32820 Deerglen Lane, adjacent to the park’s eastern boundary.

Known as the Boyle property, county assessor records show the land is owned by Iving H. Blank and Ronaye Boyle. A 2,625-square-foot, 3-bedroom home built in 1964 sits on the property. The owners paid $695,000 for it in 2003 (prior to the 2006 market peak); Guiney has indicated they’re willing to sell it to the county for $679,000.

In his report to the board, Guiney describes the property as “open space … comprised of two blue line streams, two pristine canyons, riparian habitat, and a geologic corridor for a variety of wildlife species, including mountain lion, mule deer, and bobcats.”

The $200,000 from the state is a California Habitat Conservation grant; the $479,000 would come from 1996 Proposition A park bond funds. The supervisors vote Tuesday.

Read the last story on this topic [here].