EL DORADO HILLS, Calif. — The El Dorado Hills Community Services District is moving forward with plans to remove controversial sports-court and parking lot lighting at Heritage Village Park, fulfilling a major provision of a settlement reached after years of litigation with residents of the neighboring Heritage El Dorado Hills retirement community.
The proposed demolition contract, valued at up to $76,000, is part of a broader agreement requiring the district to modify several park amenities following complaints about lighting, noise, traffic and alleged impacts on neighboring properties.
The dispute, which lasted approximately three years, involved concerns over 50-foot sports-field-style light poles, nighttime activity and the location of recreational amenities adjacent to the senior community.
The settlement was reached in August 2025. Under its terms, the district agreed to remove the disputed lighting, relocate certain park facilities, install additional landscaping and pay $70,000 toward the residents’ legal fees.
A costly resolution to a longstanding dispute
The litigation centered on Heritage Village Park, located at 4016 Palmdale Drive in El Dorado Hills.
The Concerned Residents of Heritage El Dorado Hills Village argued that the district’s park development and operation violated applicable safety and building requirements, the Carson Creek Specific Plan and restrictions intended to protect neighboring properties.
The residents also raised concerns about noise, trespassing and parking associated with park activities.
In its public announcement of the settlement, the residents’ organization said the agreement required the district to disable the sports-court and parking lights immediately and remove them within 24 months.
The district did not admit wrongdoing as part of the agreement, according to the residents’ announcement.
What the district is removing
The district’s original estimates identified several separate costs associated with the settlement:
| Work item | Original estimate |
|---|---|
| Remove six tennis court lights | $138,000 |
| Remove three pickleball court lights | $45,000 |
| Replace five parking lot lights with one shorter fixture | $21,500 |
| Total estimated lighting work | $204,500 |
These figures help explain why the district established a $200,000 budget for the settlement-related work.
The newly proposed $76,000 contract with Golden State General Engineering represents the demolition portion of the project, rather than the total financial impact of the settlement.
The district’s October 2026 solicitation for Heritage Park renovations specifically called for demolition and removal of existing Musco sports-lighting poles, bocce court light poles and parking lot light poles. The solicitation listed Oct. 29 as the bid deadline.
Other settlement requirements include:
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Relocating the picnic area and pavilion farther from the neighboring homes.
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Removing playground equipment that produces noise, including chimes, drums and a xylophone.
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Installing additional trees and shrubs to provide screening and reduce sound.
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Addressing parking and trespassing concerns involving the neighboring community.
The playground instruments have already been removed, according to the information provided by the district’s settlement coverage.
The $70,000 legal-fee payment
The settlement also requires the district to pay $70,000 toward attorneys’ fees and litigation costs incurred by the residents.
The residents’ organization publicly acknowledged the payment as part of the agreement and credited its legal team and community supporters for bringing the dispute to a conclusion.
The agreement also preserves the El Dorado County Superior Court’s jurisdiction to enforce its terms until the district completes its obligations.
A dispute that began years earlier
The Heritage Village Park controversy was not simply a disagreement over recreational lighting.
Residents challenged the district’s compliance with building and safety codes and the Carson Creek Specific Plan. They also objected to the effects of park operations on the adjoining retirement community.
The dispute generated years of public meetings, resident complaints and litigation. The settlement finally established a framework for resolving the competing interests, with the district agreeing to make substantial physical changes to the park.
For the district, the current demolition work represents another step toward completing those obligations.
What happens next?
The demolition work is expected to be completed before June 2027, ahead of the settlement’s August 2027 deadline.
The district’s procurement documents describe a broader Heritage Park renovation project, with an estimated construction period of 42 calendar days.
The proposed $76,000 contract is therefore an important milestone, but the distinction between a bid, a recommended award and a formally approved contract remains important when reporting the district’s financial commitments.
A note for publication: I could verify the October 29 bidding solicitation and the settlement provisions, but could not independently verify the board’s final award of the $76,000 contract to Golden State General Engineering. That approval should be checked against the board meeting minutes before describing the contract as awarded.
Primary source: Heritage residents’ settlement announcement. Additional background: Heritage Park renovation bidding documents.
