CARLSBAD — La Costa Canyon Park, a city park located in a residential community in south Carlsbad, is getting a facelift.

The 12-acre park, surrounded by Box Canyon, with lighted tennis courts, a basketball and volleyball court and a tot lot, is located in a residential neighborhood in La Costa that was built in the mid 1980s.

The aging restroom facility needs plumbing and electrical work, as well as structural work such as a new roof, city officials determined.

A replacement of the facility was originally planned, however, city officials have said they now plan to remodel the facility to keep costs down. Total cost of the project is expected to be $165,000.

“We’ve had a more systemic approach,” said Dale Schuck, public works superintendent for the city of Carlsbad.

Last year, a new $33,000 shade structure was added to an open area near the tot lot, which was upgraded a few years before. Stairs leading up to the parks’ tennis courts were also replaced.

The walkway to the restroom also needed to be brought into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“We are doing minor changes to the pedestrian ramp,” Schuck said.

Two years ago, when the city’s public works department sought construction permits to renovate the park’s bathrooms, it was discovered that the park didn’t have its conditional-use permit.

In order to obtain a conditional-use permit for the park, the city had to go through a public review process and sent notices to the neighbors. As a result, many neighbors to the park joined together to try to eliminate the basketball courts in the park. Many of the park’s neighbors were unhappy about what they said were loud, often rowdy basketball games on Sunday mornings.

Rather than eliminate the basketball courts, the city posted warning signs near the courts that state that under the state’s penal code, people can face time in jail if they engage in fighting, use offensive words in a public place or disturb others with “loud and unreasonable noise.”

The problem was resolved and the parks’ conditional-use permit granted. Work is expected to begin soon.