TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

Q: Do you know what they are getting ready to do on Old Farm Road between Noriega and Grand Teton by Patriot Elementary School?

- Donna Miller

A: That's Phase 1 of the North of the River Recreation and Park District's Polo Community Park, said NOR Marketing Director Roger Perez.

That phase involves grading work, restrooms and a maintenance building, all of which will take about three months to complete, he said.

The district is about to go out to bid on additional work on what's to be a 40-acre park, including playground equipment and a water play feature, Perez said. Those amenities are expected to be finished in six to eight months, Perez said.

NOR hopes to eventually build fields and a community center at Polo, Perez said. The district is doing grant work to obtain funding.

Meanwhile, NOR is going into final design of Silver Oak Park at 15855 Opus One Drive near Rosedale Highway and Heath Road, Perez said. That's an eight-acre community park that will include a playground and tennis courts.

Development should get under way by summer, Perez said.

Q: I wasn't paying attention when the plans were explained in The Californian. What are they doing to the Garces Circle? It appears they are spending millions just to widen the overpass.

- Keith Stephens

A: Federal stimulus money is funding replacement of the Chester Avenue bridge over Garces Circle. Caltrans had long been looking at upgrading the bridge but then determined it would be cheaper to replace the whole thing, said agency spokeswoman Holly Vogel.

For example, the bridge's lane widths were not up to today's standards and it did not have shoulders, she said.

"It's like if you have an old car and keep pouring $400 to $500 a month into it," Vogel said. "Eventually you say, 'I need a new car.'"

The $13 million project is expected to be completed in early 2011. The original bridge started carrying traffic in 1957, Vogel said.

Q: When does the property owner plan to remove the mountain of soil stockpiled at the southeast corner of Highway 178 and Comanche Drive? I know that this has been the subject of previous inquiries.

Over a year ago I spoke with a representative of the city building department and he advised me that the stockpile was not code compliant and that the property owner had applied for a grading permit to spread the soil across the road on the southwest corner. Nothing has happened and the eyesore remains.

Why doesn't the city take enforcement action against the property owner?

- Bruce Blythe

A: The city's been stymied by property owner changes, said Building Director Phil Burns.

He said the city recently sent the new owner a seven-day correction notice saying the pile must be removed or spread out. The city has to work with the property owner, Burns said, because it can't do the work itself.

Q: What's the latest on the Bob's Big Boy planned for Ming Avenue near Highway 99?

- Numerous readers

A: The restaurant should open in about a month, Syed Khizer, general manager of a local Coco's Restaurant (who is also involved with the coming Bob's), said this past Thursday.

Remodeling work is under way now and going well, Khizer said.

Ask The Californian appears on Mondays and Thursdays. Submit questions to asktbc@bakersfield.com or to The Bakersfield Californian, c/o Christine Bedell, P.O. Bin 440, Bakersfield, CA 93302.