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Children’s Park Block Party and Community Celebration
February 26, 2022 @ 12:00 pm PST
12pm-3pm
Children’s Park in Isla Vista (810 Camino Del Sur)
On Saturday, February 26th, 2022, from 12pm-3pm, Isla Vista Recreation and Park District (IVRPD) will host
a neighborhood block party at Children’s Park (810 Camino Del Sur, Isla Vista) to celebrate the award of 4.2 million
dollars in California State grant funding for a full renovation of Children’s Park.
This free, one-day outdoor event will feature live music, free food, games, along with appearances by special guests
Representative Salud Carbajal, California State Senator Monique Limón, Director of California State Parks, Armando
Quintero, Third District Supervisor Joan Hartmann, and Second District Supervisor Gregg Hart. The purpose of this event
is to celebrate the people of Isla Vista who helped make this grant award possible.
“Children’s Park is the heart of Isla Vista’s multigenerational household community. These park improvements will be
the center piece of treasured memories for friends and neighbors in the years to come,” said Second District Supervisor
Gregg Hart.
“As an advocate for parks, trails, and open-spaces, I am thrilled to celebrate this grant with the community in IV,” said
Third District Supervisor Joan Hartmann. Adding, “I have seen the plan for the park, and so much of it came from the
community, especially the Latinx families who live in IV. This project is exciting for the health, well-being, and sense of
belonging for the residents of IV and it will feel great to celebrate the project kick-off together! This park will be a
premier community park in our County.”
“Since 1995, Children’s Park has been the hub of IVRPD’s youth programming,” said Chair of the Board of Directors for
IVRPD, Pegeen Soutar. “As a serving Board member of 18 years, I think it’s fantastic that kids and families will be able to
enjoy their park more than ever before, and I am honored to partake in this historic event.”
“This is a tremendous honor for our District and for the people of Isla Vista,” said IVRPD General Kimberly Kiefer. “We
extend our sincere and heartfelt thanks to all of the community members who participated in the planning meetings.
The driving force behind winning this incredible grant was the community, this marks a new chapter for the often-
overlooked long term residents and students who call Children’s Park an extension of their backyard.”
On December 8th, 2021, California State Parks awarded $548.3 million in grant funding to more than 100 communities
to advance Governor Newsom’s “Outdoors for All” initiative to enable all Californians, regardless of zip code or income,
to access parks and open space. Isla Vista Recreation and Park District is thrilled to announce that is has been awarded
4.2 million dollars in grant funding to complete the Children’s Park Renovation Project. IVRPD was among 112 finalists
selected from a pool of 468 California agencies that applied to the competitive Statewide Park Development and
Community Revitalization Grant Program. The Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program –
also referred to as the “SPP Grant” – marks the single-largest investment in California State history in expanding access
to parks in underserved communities like Isla Vista, and IVRPD is honored to be the recipient of this historic occasion.
IVRPD selected Children’s Park based on the grant criteria to improve the health and quality of life for intergenerational
families living in in Isla Vista whom for years have not been fully represented in community planning processes as such.
Between October 2020 – March 2021, 5 community planning meetings, offered in both English and Spanish, were hosted
Live interpretation for Spanish speakers from Voices, Translation and Interpreting Services will be provided.
- 12:00pm – Event Start Time
- 11:45pm – Press Arrival/Set Up, parking limited to first come first served
- 1:00pm – 1:30pm: VIP Guest Speaker Program (Run of Show TBD); Representative Salud Carbajal, California State Senator Monique Limón, California State Parks Director Armando Quintero, Chair of SB County Board of Supervisors and 3rd District Supervisor, Joan Hartmann, 2nd District Supervisor Gregg Hart, and IVRPD General Manager Kimberly Kiefer.
- 1:30pm: Photo Opportunity with local youth: shovels and trowels for “groundbreaking” photo.
- 1:30pm-1:45pm: Follow-up opportunity for press interviews, questions, comments
- Free Food by El Pastorcito, Dave’s Dogs, and Fernando’s Churros while supplies last
- Face Painting and Henna Tattoos hosted by Lucidity
- Archery Arcade and Climbing Rock Wall hosted by UC Santa Barbara Recreation Department
- Goleta Book Van Mobile programming
- Live DJ set from KCSB local radio
- Local agencies informational tabling
- Biking, walking and public transportation encouraged – SB MTD Bus Lines 15x and 24x service Isla Vista
- For ADA accommodations, please contact ivrpd.@ivparks.org or call (805) 968-2017
- 3:00pm – Event End Time
We hope you can join us in celebrating this historic event.
For additional information or questions, please contact Nick Norman at nnorman@ivparks.org or dial (805) 350-8751 or text as a direct line.