City of Grover Beach and Community Foundation Launch Ramona Garden Park Community Giving Campaign

The City of Grover Beach is excited to announce the launch of a Community Giving Campaign for the Ramona Garden Park Rehabilitation Project! A partnership between the City and the Grover Beach Community Foundation, this initiative will allow community members to directly contribute to the park improvements by purchasing commemorative bricks, benches or picnic tables and making donations.

"Ramona Garden Park has always been a cherished gathering place for our community. This campaign offers us a unique opportunity to enhance this space together," said Grover Beach Mayor Kassi Dee. "I have spent my entire life attending events and spending time at this park, so I'm looking forward to the transformation it deserves and one that we can all be a part of. I encourage all residents to join us in this effort to leave a lasting legacy for generations to come as we work to make Ramona Garden Park even more vibrant and accessible for all."

The Grover Beach Community Foundation is offering engraved commemorative bricks, benches and picnic tables in exchange for donations to the project through May 2025. Through their contribution, community members can honor loved ones, friends, family, business partners or pets while supporting the park improvements. To purchase a commemorative brick, bench or picnic table, visit the Community Foundation website.

The Ramona Garden Park Rehabilitation Project will enhance one of the City's cornerstone parks to make it more inviting, functional and inclusive for the community. In August 2024, the City received a $3.3 million Community Development Block Grant to fund approximately 90% of Phases 1 and 2 of the project. Improvements in these phases include:

• An all-abilities playground
• Amphitheater stage and bandshell
• Event lawn
• Restrooms
• Walkways, benches and picnic tables

With an estimated overall construction cost of $3.7 million, the Community Giving Campaign aims to fund the remaining $400,000 in project cost. The City will utilize General Fund reserves to temporarily bridge the funding gap, with future reimbursement coming from the Community Giving Campaign.

Construction is expected to start this spring and last 6-9 months.

"The planned improvements at Ramona Garden Park are vital to the future of Grover Beach, and we are excited to see them becoming a reality," said Grover Beach City Manager Matt Bronson. "We are incredibly grateful for the leadership of the Grover Beach Community Foundation in this effort and for the support of our residents, whose contributions will help bring these long-awaited improvements to life and provide a lasting benefit to Grover Beach. This project represents a shared investment in creating a vibrant, inclusive space where our community can connect, celebrate and thrive."

Residents who wish to support the Ramona Garden Park Rehabilitation Project without a commemorative purchase can make a donation of any amount through the Community Foundation. For more information about the project, including details on the Ramona Garden Park Master Plan, please visit the City's project webpage.