Monrovia City Staff to Submit Application to Improve Lucinda Garcia Park

Collage of the park’s current state. – Courtesy photo / City of Monrovia

Recently, the state of California issued a notice of funding availability via Proposition 68, the State Park Bond Program. As part of the initiative, the state will fund the creation of new park and recreation facilities in critically underserved communities across California. There are $254.9 million available during this funding cycle, and applications are due Aug. 5.

Given the grant funding criteria for this cycle, the only Monrovia park to qualify and be competitive for funding is at Lucinda Garcia Park. Based on the city’s recently completed Park Master Plan, Lucinda Garcia Park needs the following improvements:

• Expanding the park to the open space area located at the west end of the facility.
• Replacing and upgrade the play equipment.
• Adding all fall safety surfacing at the playground area.
• Installing exercise circuit equipment along the pathway at the park.
• Repairing the pathway.
• Upgrading the landscaping at the park.
• Monument sign improvements.
• Installing interpretive signage on the history of Lucinda Garcia and the park.
• Installing a demonstration garden with drought tolerate and native species.

During the next several months, city staff will be engaged in outreach activities in the neighborhood surrounding Lucinda Garcia Park to discuss proposed upgrades to the facility. Outreach ideas include:

• A pop-up ice cream social at Lucinda Garcia Park at the end of a school day.
• Door-to-door outreach on Olive Avenue during a weekend or a weekday afternoon.
• Special meeting of the Community Services Commission at Lucinda Garcia Park.
• A community meeting at Lucinda Garcia Park.
• A special meeting with YES interns at Lucinda Garcia Park.

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