Will improvements to Modesto park lift up the neighborhood? What city, residents say
César E. Chavez Park once was a vibrant hub, echoing with sounds of laughter and splashing water. Yet, over time, this scene has dimmed, overshadowed by underuse and misuse of the area.
Some efforts to rejuvenate the city’s public spaces, like promoting activities around the Tuolumne River, have found success, while others, like the never-opened dog park in Beard Brook Park, have faltered.
Now, a significant investment in César E. Chavez Park offers new hope.
“I’m really confident that the park will be restored to the level or beyond the level that it was,” said Bruce Lockard, recreation supervisor at Maddux Youth Center. “People will enjoy it, and it will be a safe haven for [residents] to come.”
Construction in the 6.25-acre park in west Modesto is scheduled to start in midsummer 2024. It will take 12 to 18 months to complete.
Modesto secured an $8.5 million grant from the state for the revitalization of the park in 2020. Initial plans had anticipated completion by spring 2022, according to a previous Modesto Bee report. However, unforeseen challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, caused delays.
Pandemic-related factors included staffing shortages and supply chain disruptions, said Diana Ruiz-Del Re, a spokeswoman for the city.
A COMMUNITY-CENTERED DESIGN
Five community meetings were held to hear residents’ preferences for the park, said Nathan Houx, Modesto’s park planning and development manager.
Residents asked for enhanced lighting, security measures and additional recreational amenities. An aquatic facility, a prominent feature in the finalized design, was particularly well-received.
Modesto previously had pools at about a dozen of its parks, including Chavez Park, but many closed due to budget issues during the great recession, according to Lockard. Though families still frequented the park after the pool closure, the pandemic pushed attendance down much lower.
A skate plaza, initially absent from the original plan, gained traction among residents, said Houx, and ultimately found its place in the final blueprint.
As part of the improvements, restrooms will be replaced with a new vandal-resistant building to better serve the community.
Houx said he’s optimistic about the transformative impact of the project on the neighborhood.
“We think that this positive use that should come from this project will potentially change that neighborhood significantly,” he said.
Perfecto Munoz, executive director of West Modesto Community Collaborative, urged residents to share preferences for park improvements. Notably, residents advocated for gender-neutral restrooms and changing rooms for families.
The addition of multipurpose rooms at the Maddux Youth Center is expected to provide a valuable space for hosting meetings, community events and fundraisers, ultimately drawing more people to west Modesto.
CREATING A SAFE HAVEN
Concerns about park safety also were voiced by some community members.
In response, the city aims to foster positive use of the park – through a soccer field, picnic pavilion and the skateboarding area – and address potential issues to create a safer environment.
The city plans to install five surveillance cameras and deploy park rangers to the Sierra Drive site.
According to Ruiz-Del Re, the enhanced lighting is expected to address safety issues and promote a positive park environment.
Munoz emphasized the community’s responsibility to speak out against any issues, such as vandalism. He underscored the critical role of residents in preserving the park’s integrity.
“The park lives or dies with the community,” Munoz said.
Sokoni Watkins, a regular visitor to the park’s Maddux Youth Center, said he believes the park improvements and activities will encourage kids to get more involved and stay on a positive path. Now 46, Watkins has been coming to use the center’s recreational facilities since he was 17.
BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE PARK
To enhance the park’s environmental sustainability, the construction will incorporate eco-conscious design elements. This includes the use of low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plants.
To address water management, the project will feature the installation of stormwater wells designed to collect and purify runoff from storms. Additionally, water conservation measures will be implemented by minimizing the use of turf grass within the park.
For energy efficiency, the park will use LED lighting technology.
The construction will also opt for concrete over wood for more durability.
To streamline maintenance operations, a dedicated maintenance office will be established, supporting the upkeep of the park.
THE PARK’S UNHOUSED COMMUNITY
One concern raised at community meetings was the homeless encampments at Chavez.
Munoz highlighted efforts by the city and county to identify housing options and necessary services for those residing at the park.
The city is also working with the Community Health and Assistance Team (CHAT) to extend support to the unhoused, he said.
Lockard said the unhoused population is generally respectful and will move to other parts of the park when events are held there.
Erich Wiggley, an employee at the Maddux Youth Center, said that many unhoused individuals choose to camp at the park due to the available services there, such as daily free lunches provided by the United Samaritans Foundation. The park is one of the eight stops that the food truck makes in Modesto.
“I’m excited, but also worried,” Wiggley said. “There’s not a lot of places for these people to go to.”
TRANSFORMING CÉSAR E. CHAVEZ PARK
Vera Hernandez, a west Modesto resident for 67 years, cherishes her memories of the park from her childhood, when it was known as “Fourth Street Park.”
She remembers when there used to be two swimming pools and people would bring out their games to play at the park.
However, she now finds herself frustrated with the current state of the park and the delays in its much-needed renovation.
“It’s not a park anymore,” Hernandez said, echoing Munoz’s observation that in recent years, the park predominantly has been regarded as a campsite for the unhoused.
Lockard, the recreation supervisor at Maddux Youth Center, has similar memories about his childhood visits to the park, particularly to the now-removed swimming pool.
In his teenage years, he became a regular at the youth center, before becoming an employee in 1969.
Over the years, Lockard has witnessed the park’s many transformations including the youth center renovation in 2006, and he eagerly looks forward to the park receiving the same treatment soon.
“We are all excited,” Lockard said. “We’re all looking forward to it.”
This story was originally published December 6, 2023 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Will improvements to Modesto park lift up the neighborhood? What city, residents say."
