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Imagine a city where no trees or open space parks existed, this would be a horrific place to live. There is no denying that parks and landscaping improves the quality of life in a city such as Stockton. Maintenance of the many parks and landscaping in Stockton, comprise much of the Parks & Recreation Department’s budget. To provide top notch parks the Department looks to grant funding to bring pleasure to this City’s citizens.

The State of California’s Prop 12 Bond Act of 2000 provided much needed funding for parks in Stockton. A total of $1.5 Million dollars from this Prop went to improve play lots, pools, and various parks throughout the City. The Parks & Recreation Department was also able to improve the soccer fields at McKinley Park with the passing of the Prop 40 Bond Act of 2002, which provided $45,000, and a State Legislative Appropriation of $98,500. The Prop 40 – Urban Park Act of 2001 also provided $3 million to develop an eight field soccer complex with concession stands and restrooms.

In 2006 the rehabilitation of Edna Gleason Park was completed and this was largely completed with the help of a grant from the National Park Service’s Urban Park & Recreation Recovery Grant. The grant was given to the Parks & Recreation department in the amount of $1 million, to complete the renovation.

The Oak Park tennis courts are home to tennis teams in the area and houses many of the Parks & Recreation Tennis lesson programs. In 2004 the City of Stockton was the recipient of two $5,000 grants from the United States Tennis Association for the resurfacing of the tennis courts in Oak Park. This has assured that the Citizens of Stockton will enjoy these tennis courts for years to come.

The State of California’s Prop 12 Bond Act of 2000 also provided $709,000 for the renovation of the Van Buskirk Community Center. The State passed the Prop 40 Bond Act in 2002 and this provided an additional $622,429 for the renovation of the Van Buskirk Community Center. Several other community centers were able to be renovated or built due to available funding from the Prop 40 Bond act, these include the renovation of the Stribley Community Center with a $2.5 million grant and the construction of the Panella Park Community Center which received $3 million.

Three grants were awarded to the Parks & Recreation Department for the renovation and construction of the Podesto IMPACT Teen Center when the when decided to renovate the old home of El Dorado Bowl. One grant from the State of California Prop 12 Bond Act totaled $2,219,000 to pay for the construction of the Center. Two more grants were awarded to the project for the expansion of the parking lot by HUD’s Economic Development Initiative Special Grant in the amount of $320,000.

Pixie Woods has long been a popular attraction for children and youth of the Stockton/San Joaquin Region. The park features play areas based on different themes and stories. Funding for up keep of the park has been bolstered over the years by several grants, including; $98,500 from the State Legislature for the Fireman’s theme area, $151,537 from the State Land & Water Conservation Fund also for the Fireman’s theme area, $50,000 from the California Integrated Waste Management Board’s Park Playground Accessibility & Recycling Program to replace and upgrade the Cecily area, and $117, 646 from the State Land & Water Conservation Fund to replace and upgrade Miner’s Cove. $45,000 from Prop 40 was also given the Parks & Recreation Department to repair the carousel at Pixie Woods.

Being located in the heart of the Delta makes one of Stockton’s favorite pastimes boating. Since, Boating is such a big deal in the area, the Parks & Recreation Department makes sure to keep all the boat launching facilities in top notch shape. Often times this requires outside funding to do so, and in recent years the Department has received three grants from the California Department of Boating & Waterways to improve facilities. The Grants include: $1,028,000 for the rehabilitation of Buckley Cove marina, $792,000 for the rehabilitation of Louis Park, and $2,245,000 for improvements to the launching facility near the Port.

Trees and well landscaped parks add aesthetics and increase the quality of life for the citizens of the City of Stockton. Stockton’s large number of trees and beautiful parks has led Sunset Magazine to designate Stockton as the “Best Tree City” in the Western United States for many years. Every year the Parks & Recreation works hard to keep Stockton a beautiful place to live and work. Between fiscal years 2001-2005, the Parks & Recreation Department successfully won 3 grants from the California Department of Forestry. The total amount of money received by the was $149,938 which went to fund the purchase and planting of trees and landscaping in neighborhoods throughout Stockton.