A MASSIVE TURNOUT to take a dip in the crystal-blue waters of the refurbished swimming pool at Victory Park shows just how eager Stockton residents are for updated parks.
Lately, the city has been trying to answer that call. A raft of park projects are underway or planned. They include new restrooms, basketball courts and the replacement of dilapidated playground equipment at local recreation facilities, as well as other features to rejuvenate public green space.
The upgrades can’t happen soon enough. A city-commissioned survey of parkgoers found that none are thrilled with the current conditions. In asking Stocktonians about parks across the city, not a single survey respondent said they were “satisfied.” The majority were either “somewhat satisfied” or “somewhat dissatisfied.” In South Stockton and Upper Hammer Lane, those surveyed said they were flat-out “dissatisfied.”
The top concerns include safety, loiterers, closed restrooms and damaged play equipment, according to the 427-page Parks and Recreation Master Facilities Plan sent to the City Council in June.
But there was also good news in the report. Stockton has an abundance of public green space. There are 23 community parks, 43 smaller neighborhood parks and seven community swimming pools. The city’s 1,142 acres of parkland is more than double that of Bakersfield and a third more than what Modesto has.
And yet the report recommends that Stockton add an additional 562 acres of parks to keep up with growth. The Trust for Public Lands said 75% of Stockton residents are within a 10-minute walk of a public park, about equal to the national average.
For the moment, though, the focus has been on improving existing parks and facilities. Some of the projects underway or planned include:
- The 2.1-acre Columbus Park at Lincoln and Worth streets, which the city considers one of its most historic. It was closed in July for a $3.4 million renovation that isn’t expected to be completed until next spring.
- McKinley Park on El Dorado Street reopened at the start of summer after a $15.6-million makeover. In addition to its own redone pool, the 22.3-acre park also got new baseball, softball and soccer fields and new basketball courts. There is also new landscaping, restrooms and path lighting.
- In south Stockton, one of the next big projects will be a $7 million redo of the 20-acre Van Buskirk Park on Houston Avenue. It has been closed and fenced off for the past three years. Plans include a water play area, community garden, skate park, bike trails, BMX track and two new basketball courts. Construction, however, isn’t expected to start until next June.
In addition, Councilmember Michele Padilla said at a City Council meeting in July that Mattie Harrell Park on Lincoln Street is set for a renovation sometime next year.
Many parks are also getting better signage, maintenance and other upgrades, Padilla said.
This story originally appeared in Stocktonia.
