A 25-foot, multitube water slide, a wading river, three 18-hole miniature golf courses, a food court and arcade?

While the plans that the Rancho Simi park district has for Sinaloa Golf Course might sound a bit extravagant, they're also bold-and that may be just what this community needs.

The all-too-often uttered suburban battle cry of "but there's nothing to do here" isn't unique to this area, but at the same time, it's not far from the truth.

While Simi is full of great shops, restaurants and city parks, it lacks a true recreation center that families can enjoy during long summer days, a place where residents can go to beat the heat. Sure, the district doesn't plan to build the next Raging Waters, but at least it's identified an area of need and has tried to address it.

The miniature golf courses make even more sense.

With Sinaloa's pitch-and-putt course struggling to turn a profit in recent years, the challenge of trying to get that little red ball down the ramp and past the twirling windmill sounds like just what the doctor ordered.

Miniature golf is a great family activity and a safe option for teens and preteens-one they even consider "cool."

From time to time the park district has taken heat over its land-use decisions; and there's no doubt that these latest plans might ruffle even more feathers.

But if that's what it takes to provide Simi families at least one more option for fun-and doesn't force them to brave the crowded freeways and highways- than we're all for it.

While completion of the center is at least five years away, the park district's foresight and initiative is admirable.

Like a good golf swing, let's hope they follow through.