The Los Banos Parks and Recreation Commission, at its quarterly meeting July 16, heard an extensive report on multiple park projects completed, in progress and upcoming, including pickleball courts at the Ag Sports Complex and a Colorado Park renovation.
As Parks and Recreation Director Joe Heim gave the report, what most caught the commissioners’ attention were upcoming projects, which should be started this fall and then completed by the end of the current fiscal year.
The renovation of the Ag Sports Complex continues, including a plan to put the construction of nine pickleball courts out to bid this fall, with an expected completion date of early-to mid-spring 2025.
And the plans to renovate Colorado Avenue ball parks received a major boost when the city was recently awarded $990,000 in state funding, secured through the help of Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria.
The preliminary plans for a large-scale renovation of Colorado Park, which includes renovated ball fields and an expanded skateboard park, had been shared at the April commission meeting. However, funding for such a large project was a key issue. The state funding will go a long way to allow the city to implement those plans, Heim said.
Among the park upgrades that have been recently completed is the upgrade to the park at E and Ninth Streets, called City Park, where a new volleyball court was installed, as well as new picnic tables. Meadowlands II Park saw the installation of a new concrete basketball court.
College Greens, Gardens 1, Vineyard A and the Catholic Parks had old playground equipment replaced with new ones. New fences were erected at the Oliveira and Neighborhood Parks.
Meanwhile, improvements to the Noah Jones Park (at Seventh and E Streets), which include new turf for the fields and new concrete for sidewalks, were completed.
Tree trimming throughout the city continued and the community center received a new exterior paint job and security cameras.
Projects in progress include an initial upgrade of irrigation at Pacheco Park, improvements to the Miller and Lux Building and the installation of a new playground in Gardens 3 Park. Tree trimming will also be ongoing, since the city is responsible for more than 13,000 trees.
Other upcoming projects include the construction of the Sunrise Ranch Park and additional shade structures at existing parks. The parking lots at Vineyard B and Ranchwood Parks are on the schedule to be renovated.
Construction of the Shaunessy Village Park will begin as soon as the legal questions of land ownership are resolved, Heim said.
The Community Center will have a solar carport erected and is expected to have new fencing installed between the building and the rail trail. And plans for a new “Pump Track” are underway
Most of the funding for these projects (between $6 million and $8 million) will come from the city’s Park Development Fund, which is increased as new housing developments come on board.
Additional funding is available from Measure H funding allocated to Parks and Recreation and $2.3 million has been allocated from ARPA funds for the building of pickleball courts and tree trimming services. The city’s general fund will need to contribute only $25,000, toward tree trimming.
Heim told the commission that the overall budget for park improvements is one of the highest he’s seen in his six years in the Parks and Recreation Department, which has enabled the largest one-year development in parks he has seen.
The three commissioners in attendance, Vice Chair Brad Gargano (who served as the meeting chair), Jeri Blevins and John Spevak all praised the many park improvements and thanked Heim for the work he has put into making them a reality
They also complemented Heim on the many recreational activities Including Spring Tee-Ball, Summer Volleyball, Movie Night in the Park and the College for Kids classes the department offers in conjunction with the Los Banos Campus of Merced College. The next meeting of the Los Banos Parks and Recreation Commission is scheduled for Oct. 15.
