News Alert: Needles, CA: City of Needles has been awarded $3.96 million dollars grant for improvements to Duke Watkins Park.

7 months ago ZachNews

By: Zachary Lopez (ZachNews):

Sources: Needles City Manager Rick Daniels and California State Parks (Information):

Source: City of Needles (Courtesy):

Needles, California: The City of Needles has announced in a press release on Wednesday, December 8th, 2021 that they have been awarded a $3.96 million dollars grant for improvements to Duke Watkins Park.

According to Needles City Manager Rick Daniels, “Today Armando M Quintero, Director of the California Department of Parks and Recreation announced that the City of Needles is being awarded $3,965,400 to make improvements to Duke Watkins City Park on J Street. The grant comes from Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Grant Program funded by a $2.4B statewide ballot measure approved by the voters in 2018 to renovate and build new parks.”

*** Some of those improvements include: ***

  • BMX type bicycle track on the east side of the street,
  • Kids Splash Pad in the shape of the Route 66 logo,
  • New children’s playground equipment,
  • New lighting for the ball fields,
  • Renovate the existing basketball court,
  • New Parking lot,
  • New restroom near the aquatics center,
  • Shade structures, picnic tables, benches, drinking fountains, etc. and
  • Small Dog Park.

“The City couldn’t be happier. Our children and residents deserve a great space for outdoor activities to relax, exercise and enjoy their families,” said Needles City Mayor Jeff Williams.

This grant is the product of a collaborative effort with the community that began in 2019 where the City facilitated multiple community meetings, including on-site meetings to envision what Duke Watkins Park could become.

Those meetings involved adults, but special consideration was given to children to determine what they wanted in a park.

“Much credit goes to Rainie Torrance, Tammy Ellmore, Jennifer Valenzuela, Jesse Fragoso and a multitude of citizens, kids, and the NUSD who gave of their time and effort on this project. This is a great day for recreation in the City of Needles,” said Needles City Manager Rick Daniels.

Congratulation to the City of Needles and everybody involved in this work.

***

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