Heritage Park Grand Opening: A Celebration of Community, Collaboration, and Renewal in Kern County

The morning of Wednesday, October 9th, stamped itself in history as a moment of community and collaboration for Kern County. The grand opening event of Heritage Park located at 8683 Bernard Street marked the culmination of a significant revitalization project upheld by our leaders. A safe, welcoming space for families, friends, and neighbors in Bakersfield was the result of this project. 

Jason Land Jr. | Contributing Writer

The morning of Wednesday, October 9th, stamped itself in history as a moment of community and collaboration for Kern County. The grand opening event of Heritage Park located at 8683 Bernard Street marked the culmination of a significant revitalization project upheld by our leaders. A safe, welcoming space for families, friends, and neighbors in Bakersfield was the result of this project.

Leticia Perez, Fifth District Supervisor addressing the Community at the Ribbon Cutting event (Photo: Jason Land, Jr)

Hosted by Kern County’s Third District Supervisor Jeff Flores and Fifth District Supervisor Leticia Perez, the event represented the unity of two leaders. Together, they created an environment between districts within a park that would serve as a hub for local activities and community gatherings. Chief Administrative Officer of Kern County, Nancy Anderson, highlighted the dedication and determination between the two leaders and staff conducive to making the project a reality.

“Applying for funding, creating designs, completing plans and issuing permits, bidding, awarding contracts, and mobilizing is a part of some of the things that needed to be done,” Anderson explained, acknowledging the unwavering work of the staff and contractors involved in creating the project. The $4.2 million revitalization effort funded by the Clean California Local Grant Program through Caltrans resulted in a plethora of improvements to the park. These developments ranged from a shaded group picnic pavilion, soccer field renovations, amphitheater enhancements, shaded play structures, updated irrigation, a mural wall, and the planting of 68 trees. The newly introduced facilities would provide a fresh, welcoming environment for casual visitors and community events alike. Anderson praised the collective effort of the leaders within Districts Three and Five, along with the staff and community who made this transformation of Heritage Park into a true community asset possible.

Rick Helgason, Deputy District Director of Design for District 6 (Photo: Jason Land, Jr)

Rick Helgason, Deputy Director for Design of District 6, followed up on Nancy’s speech to share more about the impact of Caltrans’ partnership with Kern County Heritage Park. He explained Clean California, Governor Gavin Newson’s ambitious 3-year $1.1 billion program investment, is a part of a statewide initiative aimed to clean and beautify California’s highways and public spaces such as Heritage Park.

“This extensive initiative spearheaded by Caltrans has played a key role in removing trash from our highways, enhancing public spaces, and generating thousands of jobs,” Helgason said. “Heritage Park also stands as a tribute to two special boys, Alejandro Vargas and Angel Berumen who tragically lost their lives in car crashes nearby.” The murals within Heritage Park stand to beautify these two victims’ honor and memory of their spirit, forever serving as a reminder of the park’s role in bringing the community together.

Helgason notes that projects such as Heritage Park show the impact of Caltrans’ investment in local communities, helping to cultivate pride and provide a safe space for residents, such as the mural for the two victims.

Community Interventions was also funded to create a Stop the Hate Awareness Campaign for young people. The goal is to raise awareness of hate crimes and offer resources for reporting and healing from the impact of hate crimes in Kern County. The Skate Park at Heritage Park was recently renovated and painted as well so that when a skater enters the skate park they will see brightly colored street art mural reading, “Sk Not Hate!”

Karina Funez, Blue Zone Project Policy Supervisor, spoke about the partnership between the Blue Zones Project and local community initiatives. She emphasized the importance of parks within communities to promote the well-being of all, along with explaining the role that the Love Your Park campaign has played in enhancing local green spaces. “We believe parks are crucial to creating vibrant, clean spaces where residents can come together and live out the values of the Blue Zone Project,” Funez noted, adding that Heritage Park will be a place for families to create lasting memories. Blue Zone Project’s involvement in Heritage Park’s revitalization served a key role in incorporating Blue Zone principles and values to make healthy and easy choices. In collaboration with Kern County Library, the Blue Zone Project will incorporate a permanent literacy path where children can enjoy reading as they stroll along the newly beautified Heritage Park.

Jeff Flores, Third District Supervisor (Photo: Jason Land, Jr)

Supervisor Jeff Flores notes the importance of Heritage Park with four simple words. “One park, two districts.” These words stretch miles long, emphasizing that this community space will serve as a shared space to bring together families, friends, and neighbors. He highlights that many nearby communities lack the luxury of renting expensive venues such as country clubs or hotels, pinpointing the crucial need for this space. He notes that this park is vital for families to gather, create memories, engage in activities and play, exercise, and dream big! Flores also commends his colleague, Leticia Perez, recognizing the project as a meaningful solution to fostering a healthier, connected environment for the community. “When problems present, solutions emerge,” says Flores.

Supervisor Leticia Perez follows up Flores’ speech with an equally fiery address, expressing her pride in the park’s unique features. “This is the Kern County I know– community partners coming together, fulfilling our moral obligations to each other,” she said. Perez highlighted District Three and Five’s plans for a community calendar to showcase local talent at Heritage Park. This would offer spaces for open mic nights, spoken word, art showcases, and more to cultivate healing and connection. Perez also paid tribute to the families of Alejandra Vargas and Angel Berumen, recognizing their strength in helping make the park a reality through organizing. She marks October 9th as the culmination of an ever-present dream the third and fifth district together has had about Kern County: drawing the community together to demonstrate how much we needed each other and to show unprecedented unity. “This park is for families, for all of Kern County,” she said. “When we lock arms, we can make magic happen. God bless you, God bless Heritage Park, and God bless Kern County.”

The grand opening event of Heritage Park concluded with the ceremonial ribbon cutting, officially opening the park to the public. With the revitalization of Heritage Park, it stands as a symbol of collaboration, community pride, and a dedication to a brighter, connected future in Kern County.