SANTA MARIA, Calif. - "We have no lighting. And that makes for an unsafe place."
David Garcia isn't pleased with the state of Oakley Park in Santa Maria, and isn't afraid to let it be known. Garcia has been heavily involved with the Westside Little League, which plays its games at the park. He's become frustrated with a park that is overrun with weeds and gopher holes. And its only playground equipment is one set of swings. He says the baseball field is shabby, and not only that, there are no bathrooms for the little league players.
"We've had to rent outhouses and just maintain this place on our own," says Garcia.
City Management Analyst Mark van de Kamp says concerns from the surrounding neighborhood about the park have been heard by the city and are being taken into consideration.
"We were ready to go," says van de Kamp. "We said, we actually have some plans up our sleeves."
Van de Kamp says the park will get a facelift sometime before summer. Garcia hopes the city keeps its word to make his neighborhood park a little more friendly.
"They want to do something to help out so that the crime isn't so bad over here," says Garcia. "I think this is a good start over here. Brightening up this park and making it a better place."
The facelift that Oakley Park will receive by this summer will include a new soccer field, new lighting, and more playground equipment. The city is still waiting for a grant to make this happen.
