Kern County has been awarded more than $9 million in Clean California grant funding to renovate three of County parks, a news release by the County said.
Funds will go towards improving Heritage Park in East Bakersfield, Mojave East Park, and Lost Hills Park.
“Across all three of these park renovations, our improvements have specific elements designed to inspire families, youth, and seniors to improve their health and provide a safe, clean, and secure public setting for all users,” a news release by the County said.
Supporting partners in these projects include Leadership Council for Justice and Accountability, and Building Healthy Communities, Kern County Library, Kern County Public Health, and California Conservation Corps.
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) developed the Clean California Local Grant Program to help communities beautify and improve local streets and roads, tribal lands, parks, pathways, and transit
centers to clean and enhance public spaces.
More than $4 million (with no County match) was awarded to Heritage Park in East Bakersfield. These funds will provide exciting enhancements including shade structures, LED lighting for public safety and security, a new restroom, ADA compliant walking paths, age-appropriate children’s play equipment, renovation of a worn soccer field, sustainable landscaping, irrigation features, installation of a new amphitheater, and a Unity Mural by local artists.
Additionally, more than $3 million (with no County match) was awarded to Mojave East Park. This funding will be used for multiple renovations including replacing the park’s restroom facilities, creating a new paved parking lot to serve the baseball field, a bio-infiltration basin to manage site storm water, a new, larger, shaded picnic pavilion, a new soccer field with renovated turf, drought-tolerant landscaping and irrigation, exercise stations with equipment, a renovated basketball court and connected accessible pathways.
Finally, more than $2 million dollars was awarded to Lost Hills Park including $400,000 of project costs committed by Wonderful. This beautification project will include the installation of five new state-of-the-art play facilities to enhance the health and wellness of all age groups, including ADA compliant sidewalks and accessible-compliant pour-in-place surfacing for play areas.
