In 2003 the Discovery Bay Community Services District took on the responsibility of maintaining the “Common” landscape areas / parks within a portion of the community that is known as the “Discovery Bay Proper Area-Service Area M-8”, which is now called Discovery Bay Lighting & Landscaping Zone #8. The landscape zone #8 encompasses Cornell Park, Roberta Fuss Tot Lot, all common landscape streetscapes, levees, and islands on the East side of Discovery Bay.  Due to the age of the majority of these sites, the District approved the creation of a Landscape Master Plan for a design concept for future capital improvements.  The Board of Directors has currently approved two (2) renovation projects for 2010 for this zone.  These projects include the west side of Discovery Bay Boulevard from Seal Way up to and including Sand Point Road, as well as Willow Lake Road streetscape improvements.

In 2006, the District formed the Discovery Bay Lighting & Landscaping Zone #9 in the Ravenswood Housing Development area that is located off of Newport Drive and Slifer Drive that consists of common landscape areas and a park.

In 2008/09, we were given the responsibility to maintain all public common landscape areas and parks, community wide. These common landscape areas are broken out into three (3) independently funded zones that are as follows:

• Zone #35-trail/pathway between Newport Drive and Safeway & the median landscaping on Bixler Road
• Zone #57-common landscape areas, parking areas & Regatta Park in the Discovery Bay Southwest (Centex) Development
• Zone #61-common landscape areas and Slifer Park in the area of the Discovery Bay West housing development from Slifer Park on Newport Drive to the Lakes Home Development on Bixler Road. 

Late in 2009, the District hired a new Landscape Manager, Fairin Perez, who quickly made it known that it was possible to improve the overall appearance of our landscaping without having to fully renovate areas.  It has been her goal to enhance our common areas by salvaging as much of the usable materials as possible, adding mulch, plant replacements, and upgrading the irrigation to help improve the overall aesthetic of an area.  You can observe some of the recently completed projects on the corner of Highway 4 and Discovery Bay Boulevard and at Cornell Park.  Improvements will continue through all landscape zones in the upcoming year and years to follow. 

Upcoming and future projects include:

• Installation of a splash pad water feature and lighting to Ravenswood Park – Zone #9 (design phase)
• Additions of water efficient irrigation timers.
• Fertigation study, which is a method of fertilizing through the sprinkler   system.  The idea and hope of this study is to see an improved growth rate and overall health of turf, shrubs, and trees being treated through these systems.  Final results are not expected to be released until Spring of 2011. 
• The District is also replacing the irrigation clock at Cornell Park–Zone #8, one of our largest water consumption areas, with an internet based clock that will automatically download exact water needs and adjust schedules on a daily basis.  The project is anticipated to save a conservative 25% of water usage.