A three-year grassroots effort to bring a community park to Seacliff goes to the voters for their approval in the spring.

On May 3, about 3,000 registered voters in Seacliff will be asked whether they want to add $98 to their property tax bill for 30 years to fund the purchase of a 3-acre parcel on McGregor Drive, near the entrance to Seacliff State Beach on State Park Drive.

The county Board of Supervisors voted unanimously last week to allow the special election.

The nonprofit community group Seacliff Needs A Park has its eye on land owned by a Saratoga-based hotelier, and is a small piece of a larger vacant lot that will one day house a church and dozens of affordable housing units.

"We’re pretty sure we’re going to win this," said Thomas Dobrovolny, the group’s secretary. "Only two people spoke to the board in opposition to this and about 12 came in favor. If we maintain that ratio, we’ll certainly win the ball game."

But Seacliff resident Phil Trounstine hopes fiscally minded voters will reject the tax.

"From my point of view, this is asking people to assess themselves $3,000 over 30 years to buy property for which there’s no money to develop it or maintain it as a park," Trounstine told the Sentinel after the board’s vote last week.

At issue is an $800,000 shortfall in funds to develop the muddy, grassy lot into a park, Trounstine said.

What’s more, he said, a park isn’t needed because Seacliff is "in the middle of the most beautiful park-like areas in the whole Central Coast."

Park supporters cite government documents in supporting their push for a park in Seacliff. Specifically, the county’s general plan calls for 3 acres of county park space for every 1,000 residents, Dobrovolny said.

"Seacliff has about 3,000 residents. Seacliff should have 9 acres of county park space, according to Santa Cruz County," said Dobrovolny. "Currently, there are zero acres of county park space in Seacliff."

As for money matters, he said the funding will become available. Seacliff Needs A Park plans to use community donations and grants to help develop the park in phases, he said.

Meanwhile, Samuel is negotiating a price and drafting a purchase agreement with the property owner, depending on the outcome of the May vote. Property prices quoted in the past have been in the $2 million range.

The park ballot initiative needs a two-thirds yes vote to pass.

If it doesn’t, Seacliff Needs A Park will shift gears, Dobrovolny said, noting that the group is "open to pursuing other park and open space issues" in the Aptos area.

Contact Ramona Turner at rturner@santacruzsentinel.com.