(4th of 6 blogs on Granite Park)

City Council members in December 2004 were clear about why they put the public's credit behind the Granite Park Kids Foundation: Economic development. But they also were enthused about Granite Park's green space and recreational opportunities. That part of Fresno, city officials said, was woefully short of both.

The deal with the city, for example, required the foundation to open the soccer fields to the public at no cost on Monday through Friday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., excluding national holidays, until the end of 2012.

But Granite Park's vision has changed.

In 2006, Barbis said the for-profit portion -- The Village at Granite Park -- would feature Boucon Bay. This amusement park would have a pirate theme and up to 15 rides, including roller coasters, flume rides and merry-go-rounds. In 2007, Barbis announced plans to build office buildings along Granite Park's north side.

Since half of Granite Park was a private venture, any change in vision was not the public's business. But that wasn't the case with the foundation's 20 acres and the bank loan guaranteed by City Hall.

And in 2007, changes were afoot with those 20 acres.