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