City of Monrovia
Home MenuLucinda Garcia Park Improvement Project
Thank you for visiting Lucinda Garcia Park!
¡Gracias por visitar el Parque Lucinda García!
¡Los letreros de Educación e Interpretación del Parque Lucinda García están disponibles en español haciendo
Lucinda Garcia Park is a small neighborhood park in Monrovia, tucked between two residential streets and across from an Elementary School. It had been over 30 years since the last improvements were made at the park. Following significant community outreach and neighborhood input, construction on the park began in July 2022.
The park now serves as a place that promotes activity with two new age-appropriate playgrounds with soft surfacing, ADA accessible walkways with lighting and distance markers, along with five exercise stations. The project expanded the park on the west end by removing the concrete wall and activating the space with an interpretive garden, bioswale, and walking path.
New educational signage and custom playground features now highlight the history of the Pacific Electric Railway Company’s Red Cars, which traveled the park footprint until 1951. In addition, the legacy of Lucinda Garcia is proudly displayed through historical interpretive signage on her contributions to civil rights within the Latino community in Monrovia and the San Gabriel Valley.
In January of 2024, the City of Monrovia was awarded the 2023 California Park and Recreation Society Award of Excellence for Park Planning and Design.
- Construction of two new playgrounds (with lighting, fencing, and picnic tables)
- Installation of five exercise fitness stations
- Construction of two demonstration gardens with interpretive signage
- Improved walkways with enhanced lighting and distance markers
- Interpretive signage about Lucinda Garcia and the history of the Red Car
- Addition of a bike rack with a fixit station and new bottle fill drinking stations
- Expanding the park to the open space area located at the west end of the facility
- Replacing and upgrading the play equipment
- Adding all fall safety surfacing at the playground area
- Installing exercise circuit equipment along the pathway at the park
- Repairing the pathway
- Upgrading the landscaping at the park
- Installing interpretive signage on the history of Lucinda Garcia and the park
- Installing a demonstration garden with drought tolerate and native species
- Lucinda Garcia Park Webpage
- Parks in Monrovia
- City of Monrovia Parks Master Plan
- Lucinda Garcia Park Conceptual Design
Lucinda Garcia Park Ground Breaking Ceremony - Saturday, July 9, 2022
The improvements include:
To ensure the public's safety, the park will be closed to the public from July 2022 through December 2022.
Playground Concept Designs
Thank you to the residents that attended the Community Meeting on Saturday, September 18, 2021. Take a look at the playground designs that were presented at the meeting. Please contact us with any questions at 626.256.8246.
Estimated Project Schedule |
|
Action Item |
Date |
| Release of the Request for Proposals for Professional Design Services (RFP) | February 16, 2021 |
| RFP Response Due Date | March 25, 2021 |
| Interviews by Selection Committee | Week of April 5, 2021 |
| Community Services Commission Review Recommendation | April 13, 2021 |
| Consultant Award of Contract for Design Services | April 20, 2021 |
| Design Kick Off | May 2021 |
| Final Plans Completed | November 2021 |
| Solicit Bid for Construction | March 2022 |
| Award Construction Contract | May 2022 |
| Construction Begins | July 2022 |
| Construction Completion | December 2022 |
In February, 2020 the City was successful in securing a $675,000 grant to make needed improvements at Lucinda Garcia Park. In addition, in June an additional $300,000 was awarded through the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District's Fifth Supervisorial Excess Funding Program. The planned Park improvements include a new permeable walking surface with fitness equipment stations; replacement of playground equipment and park lighting; expansion of open space to eliminate the current area of blight; and interpretive walking path and updated signage. Due to COVID the timeline on the project has experienced a slight delay; however, we are excited to let the community know that we are preparing the Request of Proposals for qualified firms to develop the Construction Drawings and Specifications for the planned project. Over the next several months, staff will being working with the Community Services Commission, the community, and the selected consultant to finalize the Park plans. The City will be seeking construction contracts in later summer / early fall with ground breaking at the end of 2021.
To learn more, please contact Heather Gibson, Senior Management Analyst at hgibson@ci.monrovia.ca.us
Community Outreach
As part of the grant planning process, the City of Monrovia conducted seven outreach meetings to garner community feedback on the needed improvements to Lucinda Garcia Park. City Staff spoke with over 100 different people across all meetings, including the chance to participate in not only larger-scale workshops, but also one-on-one discussions at pop-up events and the door-to-door interactions. Outreach efforts included unscheduled pop-up events, door-to-door home visits, community workshops, Community Services Commission meetings, and specifically targeted meetings with special needs groups and elementary school parents’ associations.
Funded by Proposition 68, the State Park Bond Program, Monrovia is one of 52 agencies to receive the grant. More notably, the Department received 478 applications, totaling $2.3 billion in requests with only $254.9 million available for distribution.
“Having beautiful and accessible neighborhood parks enhances the community and makes life better,” said Tom Adams, Mayor of Monrovia. “Over the years, Lucinda Garcia Park has been well-loved and as a result is experiencing normal wear and tear, and we are excited about the opportunity to enhance our neighborhood park by turning it back into a premier amenity for all to enjoy.”
When applying for the grant, the City held several community outreach events, in the neighborhood surrounding Lucinda Garcia Park, to discuss proposed upgrades to the facility. The funds will go towards achieving the following goals:
Located at 502 W. Olive Avenue, Monrovia, CA, Lucinda Garcia Park is a modest park that currently offers picnic tables, barbecues, drinking fountains, a walking trail loop around the park and playground equipment.
Stay tuned, as plans develop, the Community will be asked again to offer feedback on the final design!
Community Meetings
A Community Meeting was held on Saturday, September 18, at 11 a.m. where residents learned more about the planned improvements coming to Lucinda Garcia Park. Designs were shared with all who attended and residents were able to share their thoughts and feedback on the designs.