Esperanza Park nears completion; restroom, playground and dog park installations finish as outreach ramps up

City staff told the Parks and Community Events Commission on Feb. 20, 2025, that Esperanza Park in the Junhills neighborhood is moving into final construction stages, with the restroom building, playground shade structures, rubber surfacing and several site furnishings installed.

The construction update, presented by Andres Perez, city staff, said the restroom building provided by a cooperative purchase vendor is complete and will include exterior sinks, screened upper venting for daylight and ventilation, low‑level night lighting and an emergency release. “With the completion of the Romtek facility, we've now done all of our installment of those items,” Perez said. The restroom structure also will serve as a storage area for park equipment, he said.

Perez told commissioners the city used cooperative purchasing agreements to procure major park elements, which the contractor Urban Habitat then installed. Completed and installed items listed in the presentation included the restroom facility, fabric shade structures over playgrounds, rubber playground surfacing, site furnishings and picnic shade structures, exercise equipment and the dog‑park cantilever shade structure. The contractor poured entrance plaza concrete, completed curb work and continued landscaping and irrigation installation. Perez showed photos of the restroom concept and the installed unit, the playground equipment for ages 2–5 and 5–12, and the dog‑park shade structure.

The staff presentation included detail on design choices for the restroom to deter misuse: exterior sinks and screened upper louvers for visibility and ventilation, and a timed automatic locking box with an emergency exit. “If you open these doors, they're basically gonna be all gender. Open the door, there'll be a commode in there... it's going to use, basically, sunlight, like a big sunlight shade,” Perez said, explaining the security and maintenance considerations behind the layout.

Remaining work includes planting and landscape installation, installation of the basketball court, emergency vehicle concrete pathway, storm drain facilities and final site furnishings. Perez said contractor estimates originally targeted completion by April 2025 but cautioned the timeline could extend: “Let's not leave it at April 25. That may change, because there's a couple change orders we've seen... So you're realistically probably looking at May.”

Commissioners asked about graffiti deterrence on long walls; Perez said an antigraffiti coating had been applied to the perimeter wall and restroom facility. Commissioners also asked about notification for the grand opening; staff said engineering would coordinate with the communications and events team and the city manager will finalize the opening agenda and guest list. Perez anticipated invitations would include regional partners involved in the park development but said the city manager will make the final call.

The commission's later reports showed ongoing work on an Esperanza Park public‑art subcommittee. Commissioners Jimenez and another commissioner reported meeting with Commissioners Mojica and Lee Belt plus staff to plan community outreach for the park art piece, including mailers, door‑to‑door outreach and a proposed town‑hall meeting at Agua Caliente Elementary School to collect community input.

The construction presentation was informational; commissioners did not take formal action on the update. Staff advised the commission that as landscaping and plant installation continue, the contractor estimated substantial completion within weeks subject to change orders and final approvals.