Parks in Santa Maria and Lompoc could receive overdue updates if the cities are successful in securing millions of dollars in grant funding from the state.
In June 2018, California voters approved a $4 billion bond referendum that funds, among other projects, parks in low-income neighborhoods. According to state documents, projects are only eligible if the median household income near the park is below $51,026, or if there are fewer than 3 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents in the area surrounding the project site.
The funding is available for local jurisdictions to secure through different rounds of grant funding until the funds run out. Last year, the state announced the most recent round will total about $254.94 million available for park improvement projects.
For Lompoc, which is dealing with significant budget issues, this state funding is necessary to address the needs of Pioneer and Johns-Manville parks, city Recreation Manager Mario Guerrero said.
“Both of these parks have deferred capital improvement projects for playgrounds, backstops, and concession stands,” Guerrero said. “Prop. 68 allows for another avenue to pursue these renovation projects.”
The infrastructure at both parks—including fencing, playground equipment, concession stands, and bathrooms—is three to four decades old and needs to be replaced, Guerrero said. The details of the project proposals haven’t been finalized, but renovations at both parks could cost about $5 million or $6 million each.
Santa Maria is hoping to secure funding for two different projects as well. The city plans on submitting a grant application to renovate Veterans’ Memorial Park, which could cost about $1 million, and to build a new park near the Enos Ranch Shopping Center, which would cost more than $1 million, said Dennis Smitherman, management analyst with the Recreation and Parks Department.
Smitherman said the city feels confident about its application to secure funding for Veterans’ Memorial Park, which is a highly used park in a high-density neighborhood with a lot of young children.
“People use that park as their backyard, which we appreciate,” Smitherman said. “That’s what the park is there for.”
Both cities have been holding community meetings—a requirement of the grant application process. Santa Maria wrapped up its series of meetings on July 11.
Lompoc has held three meetings so far, and plans to host two more for each project, although the dates and times haven’t been decided yet. So far, Guerrero said, the biggest ask is for playground equipment that’s accessible for all age levels, along with outdoor workout equipment people can use to exercise.
After the series of meetings, both cities will compile the public input and finalize their proposed plans before submitting the applications to the California State Parks Department by the Aug. 5 due date. Guerrero said the state is slated to announce which projects will receive the funding late this year or early next year.
Highlight:
• Local businesses can register for booths at the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce’s ExpoFest 2019. The free event is open to the public and provides business owners with the opportunity to showcase their businesses. The event takes place on Sept. 5 at the Santa Maria Fairpark. Visit santamaria.com for more information.
Staff Writer Zac Ezzone wrote this week’s Biz Spotlight. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, mail, or email at spotlight@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jul 18-25, 2019.