For Immediate Release
April 24, 2017
Contact: Diane Silva, Trust for Public Land (323) 223-0441
Nancy O’Connor, City of Ventura Parks, Recreation and Community Partnerships Director (805) 658-4736
Construction to begin on $4.5M Kellogg Park Project
The City in conjunction with Trust for Public Land, will begin construction this month on Ventura’s newest park located on North Ventura Avenue between Kellogg Street and East Barnett Street, transforming a vacant lot to a neighborhood space for all residents to enjoy and engage in physical activity. The Ventura City Council approved the purchase of the land in 2013 and the park is being built in partnership with The Trust for Public Land, Kaiser Permanente Heal Zone and the community. As envisioned through the community plan, the 2.41 acre park will feature community gathering spaces, an amphitheater, playground area, outdoor exercise equipment, and a perimeter walking path. Completion of the park is slated for April 2018.
As the park construction gets under way, residents will see initial improvements including site grading and installation of water-efficient irrigation and drainage infrastructure. Once the major infrastructure is completed, California native trees, shrubs and other sustainable landscape will be planted to convert the lot into a green space. In addition to the environmentally sensitive plants, swales and a water catchment system will be used to convey stormwater runoff. There will be minimal impacts to the residential areas and businesses that are adjacent to the project site during construction.
Project construction cost for the park is $4.5M, which includes $1M from California Natural Resources Agency, Urban Greening for Sustainable Communities Program grant, $815,650 from the California Department of Housing and Community Development, Housing and Related Parks Program grant, and the California Department of Parks and Recreation Land and Water Conservation Fund awarded the City a $1.5M grant. To date, the community has contributed $166,000 including a generous $30,000 from Aera Energy.
In 2013, The Trust for Public Land purchased the property and gifted it to the City. The City hosted more than 7 community meetings to solicit ideas about the design and layout of the park space, and collaborated with community members from the Kellogg Park Working Group that has met monthly for nearly three years.
Donor naming opportunities are available and contributions to Kellogg Park are considered tax deductible under state and federal law and are administered by the Ventura Community Partners Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization. To make a donation, contact Katrina Maksimuk at (805) 658-4775 or [email protected].