Garden In The Sun Park
Creating recreational areas in the City of Arvin is essential for the quality of life and promotion of healthy living. In 2010, the City of Arvin was awarded a Proposition 84 Park Grant which provided the means to construct a new park in the center of the City. The 5-acre park is near the City’s proposed civic center and the Jewett Square mixed-use development. The park fronts the newly completed Walnut Street alignment –a big step to improving the traffic and pedestrian circulation within the project vicinity and connecting Arvin High School to the City’s main thoroughfare, Bear Mountain Boulevard.
QK assisted the City of Arvin in developing a comprehensive park project and construction plans incorporating proven sustainable solutions. Conceptual drawings and construction plans and specifications were prepared for the entire project.
The park’s design includes the following features:
- Feature fountain at park’s main entry with decorative tile surfacing, seat walls, and planters
- Large concrete entry plaza
- Tot Lot (engineered wood fiber play surface and concrete curbs)
- Splash pad (proposed for a later phase of development)
- Restrooms building
- Storage and equipment building
- Gazebo with game tables and large concrete surface chessboard
- Picnic arbors
- Monument sign
- Grass volleyball court
- Loop trail, concrete walks, and nearby planter areas
- Benches, picnic tables, drinking fountains, bike racks, and trash receptacles
- Loop trail, concrete walks, and nearby planter areas
- Benches, picnic tables, drinking fountains, bike racks, and trash receptacles
- Drought tolerant plantings in the botanical garden
- Mural walls at the west perimeter block wall
- Exercise stations with DG (decomposed granite) surfacing
- Site lighting
- Safety bollards at park entry drop-off
- Bio-Retention Cell for drainage
- New water-efficient irrigation system for the entire park
The park’s ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on September 22, 2017, with a marching band, cultural dancing, and numerous food and specialty booths tucked between the stately palms on Walnut Avenue. Walnut Avenue was designed to be an extension of the park with community celebrations, farmers’ markets, art fairs, and other special events located on the newly opened street.
