South Merced park will get upgrade, but residents’ input sought first

Merced will get more than $800,000 in state grant funds after a vote Monday to improve Stephen Leonard Park, but the City Council left the door open to speak with area residents and make changes to the upgrade plans.

The council unanimously accepted the California Housing and Community Development Department award of $828,775 for improvements to the park. The council will ask for reaction to the plans from residents during a town hall-style meeting at 7 p.m. Jan.29 at Tenaya Middle School, 760 W. Eighth St.

According to the current plans for the park, the land at Seventh and T streets will get a skate park, shade structures, a splash pad, new playground equipment, climbing rocks, security cameras and bike racks.

The project also will include benches, lights, drinking fountains, building repair and painting, sprinkler controllers, tables, trees and new sidewalks.

Councilman Mike Murphy said the council needs to make an effort to get feedback from those who will be using the park. “I like the idea of a splash pad, but I don’t know if that’s what the residents want,” he said, as an example.

The splash pad would replace the park’s pool, which has sat unused for five or six years, according to staff. When plans for the park’s upgrade came before the council about a year ago, some members of the community said it would be best to keep the pool, leaving an opportunity to give swimming lessons to children.

On the other hand, city staff said, the splash pad doesn’t need lifeguard supervision and can be open longer.

The city is getting the grant because it completed two low-income housing projects in the area of the park, Woodbridge and Gateway Terrace.

Some of the state funds are targeted for improvements of the park’s community center, where Merced’s version of the Salvation Army has volunteered to offer a drop-in program for children. Mike Conway, who oversees the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, said the building needs only “minor” work.

Councilman Noah Lor said he was concerned that the proposed skate park could be a noise nuisance. Staff said the skate park will be fenced and could be locked overnight if necessary.

Mark Hamilton, Merced’s housing program supervisor, said the plans for the park are not set in stone, but that the grant requires that all of the work be done by June 30, 2016.

This story was originally published January 6, 2015 at 8:09 PM with the headline "South Merced park will get upgrade, but residents’ input sought first."