Tulare County to invest $8M in park system as many neighborhoods struggle with access

Tulare County parks will get an $8 million facelift to boost amenities at both marquee locations and smaller, rural parks in communities that don't have ready access to green spaces.

The money comes courtesy of the federal American Rescue Plan Act, which Congress passed last year.

"Major improvements" will hit nearly every Tulare County park, from Mooney Grove to Cutler and Ledbetter, in an effort to improve the park-going experience and attract more families to the outdoor areas, newly appointed parks Manager Albert Cendejas said.

"What we would love is to make sure our community members know, wherever you may be, that this is your park," he said. "Yes, we work here, but these are your parks, and we want you to feel ownership of any of the parks that you visit."

That sense of ownership, Cendejas says, is critical to get residents invested in the parks' future and transform them into places that the entire community can rally behind.

"I'm hoping the community outside the parks is what's going to be reflected in the community coming into the parks, as well," he added.

To that end, Tulare County Parks recently adopted a new logo and donor program for residents who want to contribute time or money to help improve the county's parks. The logo was selected by a community panel from about 20 local submissions.

Visalia videographer Travis Walters said he wanted his logo to be modern but not distractingly so. The logo incorporates Tulare County outdoor icons, from the giant sequoias that tower above Balch Park to the Valley Oaks that populate Mooney Grove.

"I definitely think of sequoias when I think of Tulare County, and then I wanted something cute," he said, pointing to a small park bench and leaping dog.

How far does $8M go?

Beyond rebranding, what specifically will the public get from the federal legislation that will provide Tulare County Parks a sum that is four times greater than its annual budget?

The first priority is repairing and replacing every arbor and barbecue grill across all 11 county parks, Cendejas said. The system is also electrifying its fleet of vehicles to cut back on air and noise pollution.

Other major projects by park include:

• Alpaugh: Irrigation, Electric

• Balch: Paving

• Bartlett: New Well

• Cutler: Irrigation, Paving

• Ledbetter: Improvements to Sports Fields

• Mooney: Renovate Bridge, Replace sidewalk around pond

• Pixley: Replace Water Distribution System, Irrigation

Additional projects will be identified by park staff and proposed to the Tulare County Board of Supervisors later this year, Cendejas said.

"I'm encouraging people to see that our parks are moving forward in the right direction as a result of the several changes that have been going on recently," Tulare County Chairman Eddie Valero said. He moved this year's State of the County address to Mooney Grove to highlight the investment and what he called one of Tulare County's "most treasured places."

Park poor

But accessing those treasured places can be a challenge, depending on the neighborhood you live in.

Tulare County is the park-poorest county in the entire state, according to Centers for Disease Control data, meaning its residents struggle to access outdoor amenities. Just 12% of the county's residents live within half a mile of a park or public elementary school, a factor that is linked to higher rates of certain illnesses as well as poverty, the agency said.

Park access is a Valleywide issue, with many Central California counties struggling to provide the same level of access as wealthier cities in the Bay Area and Southern California.

Late last year, the state of California provided nearly $25 million in Proposition 68 funds to build brand new parks in Visalia, Porterville and Woodlake. The funding is meant to help address that disparity, state officials said in their announcement.

Cendejas said that while the county does not plan to build any new parks, residents will notice the investment the county is making in its existing parks.

Getting priorities straight

Critics, though, said this is not the first time the county has made such a promise. Mary Bryant runs the nonprofit The Real Mooney Grove Project, Inc. and alleges the county has squandered past grant money, leaving the public with poorly maintained grounds as projects get bogged down in needless bureaucracy.

"Parks are way down on the bottom of the county's priorities," she said. "The county needs to start spending money on its parks and being better stewards of our land."

Disc golfers at Mooney Grove on Friday applauded the county's investment in the park system that Josh Fleming said he uses several times a week.

"I love this park as it is, but I've read online reviews that criticized little things like the trees not being trimmed, or the grounds being in a poor condition. After they pointed it out, I began to notice it, too," said the Tularean and annual park pass holder. "These projects will help increase the parks' reputation and bring more people out to enjoy them."

The avid disc golfer said he hopes that the county will bring food trucks and other vendors to the large park, including the paddle boats that used to splash through the pond when he was young.

"I miss those," he said.

Joshua Yeager is a reporter with the Visalia Times-Delta and a Report for America corps member. He covers Tulare County news deserts with a focus on the environment and local governments. 

Follow him on Twitter @VTD_Joshy. Get alerts and keep up on all things Tulare County for as little as $1 a month. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Tulare County parks to get $8 million to boost amenities