Item 07 - 2024 General Plan Annual Progress Report

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Parks and Public Spaces Park space is a limited and valuable resource that provides multiple benefits to those living and working in Santa Ana. It provides a place of relaxation and reprieve from the urban environment. It also offers a place to gather, celebrate, learn, or exercise, whether one is alone, with friends or family, or with other members of the community. The City boasts a variety of resources and provides hundreds of acres for public open space and recreation. However, many neighborhoods in the city continue to lack public parks in the amount and proximity needed to adequately service residents. The City's General Plan provides goals and policies to explore ways to provide parkland at a ratio of three acres per 1,000 residents citywide and a more equitable distribution across the many neighborhoods that make up Santa Ana. In addition, public spaces, such as libraries, are vital for community well-being, offering free access to resources, fostering social interaction, and promoting civic engagement, making them essential for learning, connection, and democratic participation. Rj -• •- Upton All A cess Park On April 15, 2024, the City broke ground on the George Upton All Access Park, which will transform the aging playground into an exciting new play area for children of all physical abilities. The park will have playground equipment for children ages 2 through 12, including 10 slides, 9 spinners, 17 climbers, 5 swings, and a seesaw, as well as a shade structure. The project will also resurface and add new lights to the nearby basketball court. The playground opened to the public on March 4, 2025. OV Va 1i . The City of Santa Ana opened Gerardo Mouet Park, named for a former Parks and Recreation director, on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, with a ribbon -cutting ceremony and community celebration. Gerardo Mouet Park is a 1-acre park located at Standard and McFadden avenues that transforms an underutilized lot into a vibrant and inclusive open space designed to serve the needs of Santa Ana's diverse community. 21 »Above: Photo of George Upton All Access Park. GBRAR001VIOUE7 P41tAr r �Ilk. »Above: Photo from the Gerardo Mouet Park Ribbon Cutting.