The City of Santa Ana hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new King Street pocket park

SANTA ANA, Calif. – The City of Santa Ana kicked off National Parks and Recreation Month by celebrating the completion of the King Street Urban Greening Project on Monday, July 1.

The King Street project is a significant enhancement to the Artesia Pilar neighborhood, transforming a previously underutilized space into a vibrant 10,000-square-foot pocket park. The project includes a stormwater infiltration system that will capture and filter runoff that will help replenish the City’s groundwater supply.

The ceremony featured remarks from Santa Ana City Councilmembers and staff, a representative of Caltrans, and community artist Marina Aguilera who had painted a mural along a wall at the pocket park. See photos of the event here.

“The City of Santa Ana is thankful to Caltrans for their continued partnership and ongoing support for a sustainable future in Santa Ana,” Mayor Valerie Amezcua said. “Their generous $1.5 million grant for the King Street Urban Greening Project funded an innovative approach in managing stormwater runoff and helped us deliver another multi-benefit project to our residents. Caltrans and the Clean California Initiative is helping the City take significant strides towards creating a healthier and more resilient community.”

About the King Street park project:

The new park features include:

• 2 bioretention basins
• Underground stormwater infiltration system
• Pervious concrete bike path
• Pedestrian path
• New lighting
• Community art features and mural
• Interpretive signage
• Drought tolerant landscaping and shade trees

The King Street Urban Greening Project was made possible by a $1.49 million grant through Governor Gavin Newsom’s Clean California initiative – a sweeping $1.2 billion, multiyear cleanup effort led by Caltrans to remove trash, create thousands of jobs and engage communities to transform public spaces. To learn more about Clean California’s impact in Orange County, visit dot.ca.gov/D12CleanCA.

This project received additional funding support of $299,000 from the Federal Clean Water Protection Enterprise and $300,000 from Santa Ana’s District 3 Acquisition and Development Fund.

“Santa Ana parks and recreation sites are vital community assets that provide essential opportunities for health, wellness, and social connection,” said Santa Ana Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Executive Director Hawk Scott. “The King Street pocket park is a testament to our commitment to enhancing these spaces, and the perfect way to kick off and celebrate National Parks and Recreation month.”

For more information on the King Street urban greening project, please visit the webpage.