'Our park': Downtown gem ready to open
| Wednesday, May 27 2009 04:34 PM
Last Updated Wednesday, May 27 2009 04:34 PM
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Go & Do
WHAT: Central Park at Mill Creek opening celebration
WHEN: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: 600 19th St., near R
ADMISSION: Free (limited parking, unlimited street parking)
HIGHLIGHTS:
* Live entertainment
* Family games
* Children's obstacle course
* Food vendors
* Crafts show
* Downtown trolley tours
* "Paint Me a Picture" live paintings of Americana-themed works by guest artists sponsored by the Arts Council of Kern.
INFORMATION: 326-FUNN
Ten-year-old Camryn Kelley, his 13-year-old brother Brandyn, and their mom, Kim, know exactly where they'll be on Saturday.
"We're going to support our park," Camryn said, referring to Central Park at Mill Creek. Following a year and a half of reconstruction, the transformed park will reopen for families that day with all the fanfare of a community celebration.
The official ribbon cutting for the refreshing swath of urban green between 19th and 21st streets near R will be at 3 p.m. Friday. Mayor Harvey Hall, who will be at that event with other dignitaries, called the park "one of the more outstanding community assets and enhancements for our city that has taken place in quite some time."
According to Terry McCormick of the City of Bakersfield Recreation and Parks Department, the $3.3 million, late-19th-century-themed revamped Central Park boasts the following:
* 3 million pounds of boulders from the Kern River in its landscaping;
* a Bright House Networks wireless hot spot;
* pedestrian crossings with signals at 21st and 19th streets;
* still-to-be-planted Sister City gardens from Bakersfield's five counterparts around the world;
* a covered bridge, which local couples are already reserving for outdoor weddings.
Happy neighbors
The Kelleys live across 21st Street from the park. Camryn is looking forward to "visiting" his neighbors, the ducks, which sometimes waddle across the street to visit him. He's also itching to use the park's playground equipment with his brother. "It's like a jungle gym and there's wheels so we act like it's a pirate ship."
Adults in the neighborhood are just as excited.
"We are thrilled that we have this wonderful newly redesigned park next door to us," said Beth Pandol of the Bakersfield Museum of Art. She said the museum, at 1930 R St., will also celebrate Saturday with "Dollar Day" $1 admission from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. "And we'll have a children's art project available to all kids who come in."
Ruben Crews, manager of the 18th Street eatery Mexicali Downtown, is also excited about the park's reopening. "Whenever you increase foot traffic in an area, any business will benefit," he said. "We feel that in the long run, our business will increase."
Hope for renewal
Melanie Farmer is director of Bakersfield Community House, a senior activities center adjacent to the park, on the corner of 21st and R streets. She said the seniors will celebrate the park's opening day by hosting an open house.
"We'll be selling baked goods and sandwiches, taking them outside," she said. "It's something we've never done before." The reason: The homelessness and crime in the area -- vehicle break-ins, petty theft by transients wandering into the community house -- made clients and staff afraid in the past.
"Things have improved since the park has been closed," she said. "That's been nice. But we'll see when they open it. It's supposed to be patrolled."
Crews recalled some feeding programs in the old Central Park. "Those were halted and that decreased the homeless in the park," he said. "Those are good programs, but what happened was that the park became overrun with people who, after the feeding program, would camp out there."
McCormick said the city is now enforcing an ordinance that prohibits such feedings in public parks.
Farmer said she will work with McCormick to coordinate outdoor activities for her seniors at the park. She also hopes to do a little fundraising by renting out the nonprofit center's hall for wedding receptions to couples getting married in the park, she said.
Central Park at Mill Creek features flowing water banked by walking paths, and is part of the Mill Creek downtown beautification and revitalization project along the Kern Island Canal between Golden State and California avenues. An additional $10 million to complete the milelong linear park will come from the State of California Infrastructure Bank fund, McCormick said.
Recreation and Parks director Dianne Hoover said, "Central Park will become a destination for downtown workers to walk, take a lunch break, and relax by the canal waters. Many family-friendly activities will be held there." Her invitation to the community is simple: "Enjoy the park and return often."
