ANTIOCH – Three major parks in Antioch are undergoing revamps in efforts to enhance the quality of life for its residents and revitalize some of the city’s aging facilities.
Antioch, which has 35 parks across the city, is wrapping up renovation works at the Contra Loma Estates Park on Mahogany Way and Manzanita Drive.
The project, funded primarily through a $2.95 million grant awarded from Proposition 68 — a statewide parks and water bond — transformed the city’s older neighborhood park to “provide more meaningful neighborhood experiences, enhance active recreational opportunities, and strengthen civic pride,” according to city materials.
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The amenities include a dog park and restrooms, which were previously not available, a new outdoor gym and exercise equipment, shaded picnic and barbecue areas, a walking and jogging exercise pathway, a climbing feature, lighting and fencing for the existing basketball court, and lighting throughout the park.
Antioch Public Works Director Scott Buenting said the project is undergoing some final touches and will schedule a grand opening in the near future.
“It’s going to be a really nice amenity for the city, especially for that location. We did some work with the playground, added a climbing wall and some seating area,” said Buenting in an interview with Bay Area News Group. “We’re making it a little bit more inviting to bring more people to the park.”
The city is also renovating the Marchetti Park on Delta Fair Boulevard and Jacobsen Park at Jacobsen Street.
The 5-acre Marchetti Park renovation, which is expected to cost about $1.5 million, will replace aging playground equipment, upgrade old and dilapidated restrooms, and rehabilitate existing fields and courts.
Antioch received about $178,000 from Prop 68 funds to help with the upgrades to Marchetti Park.
The Jacobsen Park will undergo a revamp of its basketball court, improve the shade structure, replace old playground equipment, upgrade its irrigation facilities, and remove and install concrete flatwork.
Deputy Public Works Director Carlos Zepeda said the department’s staff inspects the parks on a regular basis, looking out for things that need immediate fixes.
“We have an inspector who goes out … they have a specific route, they verify the work that the maintenance contractor is doing, and get it inspected on a daily basis,” said Zepeda. “So, there’s a lot of eyes on there, on the parks, to ensure that the parks are safe.”
Besides contractors and staff, residents also help flag safety hazards for the department to address.
Despite that, vandalism remains a big challenge for the city.
“Without vandalism, our (parks) would be in good shape,” said Buenting.
Repairing acts of vandalism also costs the city “thousands of dollars,” added Zepeda.
For Buenting and his team, improving Antioch’s parks is about improving the quality of life.
“I look at our parks as a huge benefit to the city. I don’t know if you’re going to find cities that have this many parks per square foot,” said Buenting.