City of Riverside Invests in Parks and Recreation to Improve Quality of Life
Published: 10/11/2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Oct. 11, 2023
Contact:
Phil Pitchford
Public Information Officer
951-826-5975
City of Riverside Invests in Parks and Recreation to Improve Quality of Life
Latest budget appropriation increases total to $23 million for the year
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The City of Riverside continued its substantial investment in local parks and recreational facilities on Tuesday (10/10), setting aside another $3 million for much-needed park equipment, renovations and repairs, driving total investments in these crucial city assets for the year to almost $23 million.
The allocations by the City Council will revitalize the parks across the city with new playground and other amenities and create a positive gathering space for parents, children and grandparents. The work also will improve the quality of the lake and golf course at Fairmount Park, one of Riverside’s signature park destinations.
Some projects will be completed as early as next spring with others being finished by the end of the summer of 2024.
“Parks make life better,” Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson said. “We know that being outdoors and connecting with nature is important to our mental health as well as our physical well-being. This funding is an important investment in our community, providing more opportunities to get outside and experience Riverside’s parks and open spaces.”
The Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department will purchase park equipment for nine park sites at a cost of $2.5 million. The work will be done at the following parks: Bergamont, Castleview, Collett, Dario Vasquez, Harrison, Hunt, Nichols, Taft, and Thundersky.
Other projects added on Tuesday include $1 million for dredging the lake at Fairmount Park and $800,000 to replace a fence at the golf course there. The dredging will remove 1-3 feet of silt from the lake, which will improve the environment for fish and allow the city to bring back paddle boats at the park. The Council also approved another $1.2 million in park maintenance funds.
“This is a substantial level of improvements at our parks around the city, including playgrounds that will bring joy to children and families,” Mayor Pro Tem Erin Edwards said. “I am especially excited about Fairmount Park and the return of the paddle boats.”
The latest outlay follows historic investments in parks not seen since the Riverside Renaissance nearly two decades ago. The funds are critical to maintaining 60 park properties, almost 3,000 acres of park land and approximately 350,000 square feet of building facilities.
The Council previously allocated $5 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to a gymnasium at Bordwell Park and $1.8 million to Eldorado Park.
A second ARPA disbursement included another $3 million for the Bordwell Park gym and $10 million for deferred maintenance projects around the city, including playground replacement, playground surfacing replacements, heating and air conditioning replacement at community centers, parking lot renovations, and flooring renovations.
