Over the last few years, South City has started several new upgrades to its Orange Memorial Park and is continuing to move forward on additional projects as it prepares for warmer weather and larger public events.
A little over two years ago, the city opened its new synthetic sports field, which has seen use in the surrounding area skyrocket, said Parks Manager Josh Richardson during a City Council meeting March 25. Prior to that, average monthly park use in that area averaged about 8,000 visitors.
“Now since the sports fields have been open, our lowest monthly average is about 8,000, ranging up to just 30,000 people per month,” Richardson said during the meeting. “That is only visits to the ball field itself … so the actual number of people visiting that park and using that restroom is larger.”
The city is most recently in the early stages of making what Richardson said are much-needed changes to its restroom facilities, which were built 25 years ago and are no longer able to be cleaned effectively.
“They can no longer be cleaned to a standard that is acceptable despite staff’s best efforts,” he said.
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The restrooms would be updated with touchless features with enhanced lighting and improved ventilation.
The total project budget is about $258,000, and the City Council unanimously agreed to move forward with the current consultant, B.E.A.M Construction, on the project. Much of the funds would come from the federal, COVID-19-related Community Development Block Grant funds — which must be used by June — with a portion coming from city funds.
Richardson said the timing is particularly relevant as the city continues hosting more outdoor events, such as Concert in the Park, which draws thousands of attendees at one time. Last year, the city hosted the Grammy-award winning band Ozomatli, drawing one of its largest crowds.
The city is also building a new aquatic center, as the current building has received complaints for its lack of an outdoor pool, crowded locker rooms and an indoor pool that is too small to host competitions. The total project budget is estimated to cost around $49 million, largely funded by Measure W, a local half-cent sales tax passed in 2015. The new facility will be located near the current center, but will have two pools, one indoor and one outdoor, with seven and 10 lap lanes, respectively. It will also include a veterans’ memorial, entry plaza, activity room and swim lounge.
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