The first of three rounds of public hearings on the fate of 41 acres of undeveloped parkland, valued at $16.4 million, is over, but the inventory is just beginning.

Every tree and bush within those Carmichael parcels will be counted and logged, as options are considered for the future of each site.

"The next step is for the consultants to come back with a plan," said Carmichael Recreation and Park District Administrator Jack Harrison.

About 200 people attended the public hearing on July 26 for each of the district's four parcels that are embedded in some of Carmichael's most established neighborhoods.

Each of the undeveloped parcels is being inventoried so the consultants can map out their proposals. The land has been vacant since the district acquired the property more than 30 years ago.

"Some people have grown accustomed to the parks being undeveloped and want them to stay that way," Harrison said. "Other folks say it has been idle for 30 years, why not make it a real park?"

The four consultants, who were paid $120,000 in all to come up with detailed plans for each parcel, took note of residents' comments at the meeting.

Many of the comments are expected to be posted on the district's Web site by this week.

The initial park plans will be based both on residents' preferences and the district's current master plan, developed 18 months ago and approved by the county Board of Supervisors on June 17.

The initial plans are expected to be unveiled at the next round of public hearings scheduled for late September.

The third series of hearings is expected in late October or early November.

Then, the district advisory board could vote on a recommendation that ultimately will be decided by the supervisors as early as spring.

Lack of funding has kept the four parcels from being developed. Should amenities such as basketball courts, picnic tables and bathrooms be desired, parkland would have to be sold to fund the improvements.

Although some residents at previous public meetings have expressed concern over selling park property and the type of development that goes up in its place, Harrison said selling off parkland was envisioned in the original district master plan developed more than 10 years ago.

The current master plan calls for $30 million in capital improvements that include replacement of Carmichael Park's closed pool with a $10 million state-of-the-art and revenue-generating aquatic center.

There is only $1 million to $2 million available to fund the improvement package, but the district owns twice the acreage needed for the four neighborhood parks to meet nationally accepted standards, Harrison maintains.

The more than 41 acres at the four sites have been appraised at $400,000 to $500,000 per acre.

It's estimated that selling one acre would fund development and ongoing maintenance for 1 acre of parkland, Harrison said.

Patriots Park, under construction on Palm Avenue at the Carmichael and Fair Oaks border, started out with 6 acres of undeveloped land.

Two acres were then sold to a developer for a nearby housing complex to pay for $1 million in trails, pavement and part of a basketball court.

While there are general guidelines in the master plan for each of the four undeveloped parks, specific amenities have yet to be penciled in.

A soccer field is recommended for the 10.8-acre Sutter Park site, but residents at the July meeting said they were concerned about in- creased traffic on Sutter Avenue, a two-lane road.

Harrison said the 7.8 acres of Capra Park would be a good place for a working farm and a petting zoo for schoolchildren to observe, but it is unclear where buses would park for such field trips.

At the 9.4-acre O'Donnell Heritage Park, there are underground utilities, which could lessen costs for new facilities.

In the 13.6 acres of Jan Drive Park, the largest of the four parcels, open space lends itself to trails in a natural setting.

"What does it mean to have a natural site, or where the master plan calls for trails, how many and where should they go? If there are picnic areas, how many should there be?" Harrison asks.

"We are encouraging people to go to the Web site and read the master plan for each site," Harrison said. "We want people to get involved in designing their neighborhood park."

The park district's Web site is www.carmichaelpark.com.

Call The Bee's Ramon Coronado, (916) 321-1013.