Isla Vista Recreation and Park District (IVRPD) will host a free neighborhood block party, noon-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26 at Children’s Park, 810 Camino Del Sur, Isla Vista, to celebrate the award of $4.2 million in California State grant funding for a full renovation of Children’s Park.

The event will feature live music, free food, and games, along with appearances by Rep. Salud Carbajal; State Sen. Monique Limon; Armando Quintero, director of California State Parks; Third District Supervisor Joan Hartmann, and Second District Supervisor Gregg Hart.

The purpose of this event is to celebrate the people of Isla Vista who helped make this grant award possible.

“Children’s Park is the heart of Isla Vista’s multigenerational household community,” Hart said. “These park improvements will be the center piece of treasured memories for friends and neighbors in the years to come.”

“As an advocate for parks, trails, and open-spaces, I am thrilled to celebrate this grant with the community in IV,” said Hartmann. “I have seen the plan for the park, and so much of it came from the community, especially the Latinx families who live in IV.

“This project is exciting for the health, well-being, and sense of belonging for the residents of IV, and it will feel great to celebrate the project kick-off together. This park will be a premier community park in our county.”

“Since 1995, Children’s Park has been the hub of IVRPD’s youth programming,” said Pegeen Soutar, chair of the IVRPD Board of Directors. “As a serving board member of 18 years, I think it’s fantastic that kids and families will be able to enjoy their park more than ever before, and I am honored to partake in this historic event.”

“This is a tremendous honor for our district and for the people of Isla Vista,” said Kimberly Kiefer, IVRPD general. “We extend our sincere and heartfelt thanks to all of the community members who participated in the planning meetings.

“The driving force behind winning this incredible grant was the community, this marks a new chapter for the often-overlooked long term residents and students who call Children’s Park an extension of their backyard.”

California State Parks, on Dec. 8, awarded $548.3 million in grant funding to more than 100 communities to advance Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Outdoors for All initiative to enable all Californians, regardless of Zip code or income, to access parks and open space.

IVRPD has been awarded $4.2 million in grant money to complete the Children’s Park Renovation Project. IVRPD was among 112 finalists selected from a pool of 468 California agencies that applied to the competitive Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Grant Program (SPP Grant).

The SPP Grant marks the single-largest investment in California history in expanding access to parks in underserved communities like Isla Vista.

IVRPD selected Children’s Park based on the grant criteria to improve the health and quality of life for intergenerational families living in Isla Vista who for years have not been fully represented in community planning processes as such. From October 2020 to March 2021, five community planning meetings, offered in English and Spanish, were hosted.

IVRPD gathered feedback on park amenities, design features, and themes. IVRPD, through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process, awarded and further partnered with Pacific Coast Land Design (PCLD) to develop a concept-level site plan for the grant application.

A final conceptual site plan based on community input was presented to the Isla Vista Recreation & Park District Board of Directors for approval on March 4.

Improvements include two nature-themed playgrounds, ADA-accessible pathways, an amphitheater for workshops and performances, a new stand-alone restroom, educational demonstration garden, renovated recreation building for expanding workshop programs and services for students and youth.

The project will be completed and a ribbon cutting ceremony will be held by winter 2023-24.

IVRPD thanks grant partners the St. George Youth and Teen Center and People’s Self-Help Housing for their community engagement efforts; Sansum Diabetes Research Institute for future stewardship of the educational demonstration garden; Pacific Coast Land Design for design and community meeting expertise; Isla Vista residents, who helped make the project possible.

IVRPD also thanks Quintero of California State Parks, Santa Barbara County Transportation and Real Property, and the Third District Supervisor’s Office, Hartmann, and Gina Fischer.