SANGER – Veterans Park is getting a million-dollar boost with some exciting new features now that officials have announced the city’s receiving of a $1 million Clean California grant for improvements.
This was the second public announcement regarding the grant, which was made at the Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 4. At the Oct. 19 Sanger City Council meeting, acting Interim City Manager Great Tarascou informed the council that the city had received the grant. The money will be used for Phase 2 of the Veterans Park Project and will include a splash pad.
The city’s 2023-2024 budget allocated $150,000 for the splash pad. A splash pad is a spray pool area that has little or no standing water, and provides relief from the heat but does not require a lifeguard or other supervision.
A large, fenced-in area adjacent to the park will be the site of future additions or phases to the park.
In its current state, the park includes a small field, two disc golf holes, a playground and restrooms. According to a notification board erected at the park, future park amenities will include a patio and tables, one softball field, two small soccer fields or one large soccer field, a veterans memorial and sports park landscaping.
Caltrans developed the Clean California Local Grant Program. Funds from the program are used to beautify and improve streets, tribal lands, pathways, transit centers and parks.
HISTORY
Veterans Park opened in November 2019 with its current facilities. Because of limited funding, Sanger decided to build out the park in phases. The November opening was Phase 1.
This past spring, Sanger applied for the Clean Grant, according to Esperanza Rosales, the city’s deputy public works director. In October, the city learned its application for Veterans Park Phase 2 had been selected. The Veterans Park project was one of 42 projects selected after Caltrans considered 230 applications statewide.
The estimated total cost for Phase 2 is $1 million. This December, Sanger City Council will adopt a resolution authorizing the city to execute the funding agreement and move forward with the Phase 2 project.
Following Phase 2, future projects include building the sports fields and installing lighting.
