City officials are expected to approve Tuesday night a staff recommendation that calls for a new parking lot and a park in Bridgeport Marketplace, near Real Life Church in Valencia.

The 26-acre site has been developed into roughly 200,000 square feet of commercial buildings, including restaurants, a market, a drug store, a church, various smaller storefronts and nearly 1,300 parking spaces to serve the diverse uses, according to city documents.

The latest addition to the plan creates a green space, as well as addresses the parking needs of residents, customers and church patrons in the area.

Also included on the original map was an area of approximately five acres on the southwest portion of the site designated for a “future park,” which is where the park and lot will go.

The area has remained rough-graded, but undeveloped to date, mainly due to the impacts of the recession and the existence of three other parks in the direct vicinity of the Marketplace, according to city documents.

The plan received the OK from planning commissioners in December.

In December 2005, plans were approved for the Bridgeport Marketplace, located on the north side of Newhall Ranch Road, east of McBean Parkway.

Read more about the park and parking plan [HERE].