Laserfiche WebLink
<br />Parks & Public Spaces <br />Parks and public spaces are limited and valuable resources that provide multiple benefits <br />to those living and working in Santa Ana. They provides places of relaxation and reprieve <br />from the urban environment and offer places to gather, celebrate, learn, or exercise, <br />whether one is alone, with friends, family, or other members of the community. The City <br />boasts a variety of resources and provides hundreds of acres for public open space and <br />recreation. However, many neighborhoods in the City continue to lack public parks in the <br />amount and proximity needed to adequately service res <br />provides goals and policies to explore ways to provide parkland at a ratio of three acres <br />per 1,000 residents citywide and a more equitable distribution across the many <br />neighborhoods that make up Santa Ana. Public spaces, such as libraries, are vital for <br />community well-being as well, offering free access to resources, fostering social <br />interaction, and promoting civic engagement, making them essential for learning, <br />connection, and democratic participation. <br /> Sandpointe Park <br />In early October 2025, the City <br />launched a transformative partnership <br />with KABOOM!, the Pacific Life <br />Foundation, and First Financial <br />Resources to deliver a new, youth- <br />inspired playground at Sandpointe <br />Park, replacing a deteriorating play <br />structure that had begun to limit safe <br />play opportunities for children. This <br />new investment directly addressed <br />long-standing play space inequities in <br />a neighborhood that had been <br />»Above: Picture of Youth Inspired Playground at Sandpointe <br />experiencing the negative impacts of <br />Park. <br />aging park infrastructure. <br />The project united the City Parks, Recreation and Community Services Agency, the <br />Public Works Agency, Pacific Life Foundation volunteers, First Financial Resources, and <br />local residents in a highly collaborative, community-driven effort. Centered on authentic <br />community engagement, the playground was designed with direct input from local youth <br />and parents, ensuring the final design reflected the needs, culture, and aspirations of the <br />neighborhood it serves. <br />Constructed over two days by nearly 200 volunteers, the new playground now provides <br />a safe, vibrant, and inclusive space for play, connection, and healthy development for <br />children and their families in the Sandpointe Park neighborhood and surrounding <br />community. The playground stands as a tangible example of how strategic collaboration <br />with community and corporate partners can reverse the impacts of outdated infrastructure <br />and transform resident-driven ideas into lasting public spaces that promote equity, <br />wellness, and community pride. <br />21 <br /> <br /> <br />