Are west Modesto parks safe? What teens found in survey, and how we might improve them

A group of high school students urged upgrades to two west Modesto parks after surveying residents about safety and other concerns.

The Park Youth Committee presented its findings at the May 7 meeting of the City Council. The council then voted unanimously for a resolution promoting equity in parks, though not on any specific improvements.

The committee launched in 2022 and has had a rotating roster as members graduate. It is a project of the Tuolumne River Trust, which advocates for recreation and the local waterway.

The committee focused on Robertson Road Park and James Marshall Park, both next to elementary schools with the same names.

Member Martin Montez told the council that 40% of residents sometimes felt in danger at the two parks, 9% sensed it often, and 4% did so on every visit. Their worries included loose dogs, illegal drug use, homeless camps and poor lighting.

“All Modesto residents should feel safe while visiting parks across the city,” said Montez, a sophomore at Gregori High School. “The data collected show that 53% of youths and families residing in our impacted communities do not feel safe recreating in their neighborhood parks.”

Committee got 223 survey responses

The committee did surveys in English and Spanish with 223 people. It contacted them during visits to the parks, local businesses and recreation-related events. Members met with city recreation managers and learned about upcoming projects. The teens heard how unarmed park rangers help police deal with homeless people, and urged continued funding.

The committee also examined two parks in wealthier parts of Modesto. One is Graceada Park, established more than a century ago just north of downtown. It is a favorite spot for civic events and also has its share of homeless people. The other is Freedom Park, built amid recent subdivisions in the northeast.

Many parks around Modesto have extensive lawns, mature shade trees, up-to-date play structures and other amenities. But residents still might avoid them if they are not well-maintained, said Akhil Patel, a sophomore at Enochs High School.

“Community members want to see functional athletic fields and courts, functional and bright overhead lighting, functional restrooms and picnic areas for larger groups of people to gather,” he said.

The committee said better parks would help residents’ physical and mental health. It also noted that west Modesto has unincorporated pockets with barriers to park use, including lack of sidewalks.

New sales tax boosts park upkeep

The teens did their work amid a surge in park funding. The Measure H sales tax, approved by voters in 2022, will provide about $10 million in the fiscal year ending June 30.

Some of that money paid for concrete repairs at James Marshall and Robertson Road parks to enhance access and prevent tripping, the city staff said in a report to the council.

Marshall also had its parking lot restriped, its trees trimmed for safety, and better lighting is coming this summer. Robertson is getting a resurfaced basketball court this spring, new lights this summer and a new restroom building in the fall.

Two other west Modesto parks will have major makeovers thanks to state grants totaling about $17 million. They are Cesar Chavez Park and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park. Another state grant helped with the new Tuolumne River boat ramp in the same area.

Councilman Eric Alvarez, whose district takes in west Modesto, thanked the committee for its work. “I commend you guys — very smart work,” he said, “and this is going to help our city approach the distribution of resources, both financially and sweat equity, into these respective parks that you guys outlined.”

Councilman Jeremiah Williams represents a north-central district but said he once lived next to Robertson Road Park.

“I understand the needs,” he told the committee, “and I appreciate you identifying these needs and wanting to improve that particular area.”

What does equity mean for parks?

The council resolution declares that parks should be “safe, attractive and well-maintained facilities that will reflect the public’s needs and interests and will welcome residents of all ages, cultural backgrounds and physical capabilities to recreate in Modesto’s parks and open spaces.”

Two other committee members were on hand for the presentation — Gregori sophomore Belle Garza and Modesto High School senior Angelica Aguilar. It also includes:

• Gregori freshmen Deetya Thogarucheeti and Hasan Modan

• Gregori sophomore Samkeet Kumar
  
  

• Davis High School sophomore Taylor McGuire
  
  

• Modesto High freshman Valentina Zeff
  
  

• Modesto High senior Citlalit Alvarez.
  
  

Some of the current members were on the committee when The Modesto Bee first reported on it last June.

The next cohort will begin this summer and focus on Tuolumne River Regional Park, said Natali Gutierrez, who oversees the committee for the Trust. A master plan update is in the works for the park, which winds about seven miles between Mitchell and Carpenter roads.