RED BLUFF – The wading pool project at River Park continues to make progress and aims to begin construction sooner rather than later.
According to project manager Vici Miranda, the Prop. 68 River Park design team will meet Thursday afternoon. This week they have been preparing the final design and a complete budget. Although the team strived to stay within the scope of the grant by not leaving out anything they were legally required to deliver, she admitted they were a bit over budget.
This reduction could include planting trees that may not be necessary or reducing the amount of concrete or granite. Your goal is to save some of the fixed costs and maintain all of the elements the team is aiming for.
Miranda hoped to present a clearer picture of the final project to the Parks and Recreation Commission.
The city received $3 million to improve River Park by building four new pickleball courts with lighting, an amphitheater with bandshell, patios and walkways, a water playground with wading pool, a restroom, a concession stand, a police station, three fitness stations, a picnic pavilion with shade structure, and a pollinator garden with sundial.
Additionally, the project will renovate the existing playground, walking and jogging paths, and landscaping. A parking lot will be equipped with lighting and designed to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards.
In 2018, Miranda and Soroptimist International of Red Bluff proposed to the city that they build a water park. She and the club have been fundraising ever since and have successfully raised more than $200,000, which has already led to the construction of a large shade structure in River Park.
Miranda said they couldn’t do fundraising during the pandemic, so she and grant writer Amy Schutter changed course and began applying for Proposition 68 grants in several rounds. They were unsuccessful the first two times, but the third time they succeeded.
She started the Splash Park campaign due to her son’s disability and the lack of playgrounds in the city.
In September 2023, Melton Design Group unveiled its first draft for the project.
“It’s been a real challenge and I think we all need to work together,” Miranda said. “I think once the park is revitalized socio-economically, once we revitalize this area with pro-social activities, things will really change.”
If you would like to donate to Splash Park, please visit http://redbluffsplash.com/.
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