City Receives More State Funding for Reconstruction, Improvements of Robinson Park

The City of Pasadena is getting more state funding this year for the continuing reconstruction and improvement of Robinson Park on Fair Oaks Avenue.

The California Department of Housing and Community Development announced that Pasadena has been granted $113,250 from the state’s Housing-Related Parks (HRP) program as an award for the city’s production of affordable housing. The program provides funding incentives to cities and counties for the creation, expansion or renovation of community recreational amenities, which in turn support the development of affordable housing units for lower-income families.

William Huang, Pasadena’s Director of Housing and Career Services, said the $113,250 will go to the reconstruction of Robinson Park as did last year’s HRP program award of $449.050. Huang’s department prepared the application papers for the HRP, although the funding will be administered by the Department of Public Works.

Meanwhile, the Housing and Career Services Department is currently working to close a $6 million Section 108 loan with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that will also be used for the Robinson Park reconstruction project. The loan may be finalized before the end of September.

The City Council of Pasadena adopted the Robinson Park Master Plan in 2002 after extensive consultations with the community. Phase 1 of the project involved a two-and-a-half acre expansion of the existing park and construction of new soccer and baseball fields, installation of a synthetic turf, construction of new restroom and storage facilities, new sports field lighting, site amenities and parking lot.

The City is now moving forward with Phase 2 which will include a substantial rehabilitation of the existing 19,000 square foot recreation center.

Public input is encouraged during the community meetings and at the meetings of the Steering Committees involved with the renovation of the recreation center. The next community meeting is on August 5th, 6 p.m., at the Jackie Robinson Center on 1020 North Fair Oaks Avenue.

The steering committees meet every 4th Tuesday of the month.