Wanted: one cheap deputy

Looking for a spot to park the RV? The City of Encinitas has a deal for you — an RV spot with free hook-ups. The city is looking for a “park host” for their new, 44-acre Encinitas Community Park. An applicant will be expected to be the “eyes and ears” for the city and the sheriff’s department. Additionally, the park host is expected to be on the property seven days a week.

In exchange for monitoring the multi-use park of athletic fields, a skate park, dog park, tot lot, and walking trails, the new host won’t be paid anything. However, with bluff-top RV sites at nearby San Elijo State Beach Campground going for up to $70 a night, being the city’s eyes and ears in exchange for free utilities may not seem like a bad deal for some.

Applications opened December 3 and close on December 18. The two-page application asks for basic contact information, three references, a picture of one’s RV or trailer, and to explain why one would make a good park host.

The former “Hall Property” of greenhouses was purchased over ten years ago by the city and faced opposition and legal challenges from neighbors over traffic, lighting, and environmental concerns. The park is scheduled to officially open January 10, although local kids have been breaking into the skate park since before last summer.