City council approves upgrades to South Merced park. Here’s what’s coming

Repairs and upgrades to Stephen Leonard Park Youth Center are scheduled to be completed this fall, thanks in part to $380,000 in funding recently approved by Merced City Council.

Council voted 6-1 on June 2 to allocate the funds to the center, which has been shut down since 2022 because of a fire.

The upgrades will include adding a foyer and security cameras to the building, as well as updates to the internet connection and kitchen. Council member Fue Xiong voted against the funding, saying he wanted more engagement with individuals from South Merced before allocating funding.

The department is aiming to complete upgrades by fall 2025, according to Christopher Jensen, director of the Parks and Community Services department. It would then call for nonprofits to apply to provide programming. Jensen expects that to take much of the winter.

The city said it has heard interest from groups including Merced College and UC Merced in providing education or job training.

“Our goal is to make sure that whatever services are offered out of there serve our families and youth in the immediate area primarily,” Jensen said. “That they have some type of a connection to the local economic institutions. So whether that’s direct workforce employment training, or it could just be after school youth services.”

Prior to the fire, the center included foosball tables, couches, table tennis, pool tables and a small library. Merced Atlas Soccer Academy previously occupied the building but Jensen said due to the coronavirus pandemic the city had halted leases for its youth centers at the time of the fire.

The council did not approve renovation to the park’s lights or to upgrade the office space in the youth center. The city made upgrades to the park in 2016 to convert its swimming pool into a splash pad and upgrade playground structures.

This story was originally published June 25, 2025 at 12:14 PM.