During a sunny afternoon on Tuesday, residents celebrated the grand reopening of the newly renovated McKinley Park in South Stockton. The event included a visit from the mayor, free refreshments, lively music and opportunities to jump in the pool.
“This has been a long time coming here for South Stockton,” Mayor Christina Fugazi said. “This park has been reimagined.”
The $15.837 million project broke ground in April 2024. Since then, the park, which dates back over 100 years, has gotten a complete makeover. Improvements include a renovated pool, new play area, water-efficient landscape and renovated sports court.
(Video by Daniel Garza/Stocktonia)
“This is what public service is about,” said Deputy City Manager Chad Reed, the former director of public works for the project. “It’s about taking something that was dead and dying and bringing it back to life for the community to enjoy.”
Renovations have been in the works since 2019, when the city submitted a grant application for the project. It was later funded and approved in the FY 2020-25 Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan.
“Everything always comes down to funding,” Fugazi said. “The taxpayers in the city of Stockton agreed to tax themselves a quarter-cent. That was a measure for our communities, libraries and recreation programs. Well, is this not recreation?”
Funding came from a variety of sources, but the largest chunk, $13.75 million, was in state funding. Other sources include $1.88 million from the city’s Measure M Strong Communities Fund, $2.7 million from the State Budget Act 2021, $1.8 million from the State Budget Act 2022, $750,000 from the Transformative Climate Communities Program and moving funds around ($200,000 from the touchless restroom project).
This week, the pool is open for free, and swimming lesson scholarships are being offered. The pool is already providing jobs for local teens and a space for neighbors and families to come together. Fugazi hopes to offer more free swim days in the future.
In their speeches, city workers and council members shared the importance the park holds to them. Vice Mayor Jason Lee, for example, used to visit with his sister as a kid. Fugazi recalled playing soccer there on Sundays and making memories with her nephews.
“It’s a dream come true,” Ivan Reynoso, the lead project manager said. “I’ve been living in Stockton since I was like 5 or 6, so it’s been over 20 years. Seeing my kid out here swimming is just nostalgic for me.”
At the event, attendees appeared cheerful and excited for the new park, a step toward revitalizing South Stockton. Lee was assigned the task of cutting the ribbon, but handed the scissors to state Sen. Susan Talamantes Eggman, who had secured much of the funding during her tenure in state government.
Things concluded with a splash … literally. After the ribbon cutting, Fugazi was the first to dive in.
“It was so refreshing,” Fugazi said. “I can proudly say I was the first to jump into McKinley Park Pool.”
