Parks department outlines $61 million in FY25 construction contracts, $41 million senior center and FY26 projects

Parks Department staff gave the Parks, Recreation and Art Commission a final review of fiscal year 2025 capital projects and an advance look at projects funded to begin in FY26, reporting dozens of completed and in-progress projects and explaining how Measure P funds have been leveraged with other sources.

Joseph Portelli, projects administrator with the parks department, told commissioners the department held 20 community engagement events during the fiscal year, completed 22 projects, and had 35 capital improvement projects in construction or pre-construction. “We acquired 1 new property and awarded 30 construction contracts totaling 61,000,000, dollars with 13,000,000 of that being, funded through measure p,” Portelli said.

Portelli highlighted several completed and in-progress projects: the recently opened Broadway Parquet in Central Fresno; replacement of the Roding Park tot lot and Cary Park tot-lot improvements; eight dedicated pickleball courts at Rotary East with sports-court lighting; and 10-acre Southeast Fresno Sports Complex planned with both natural and synthetic turf fields.

He described the city’s senior activity center groundbreaking as “a great milestone.” Portelli said, “This $41,000,000 investment is located on a 4 and a half acre site. The building's about 34,000 square feet, and we'll serve our seniors with a wide range of amenities, heated pool, multi use spaces, recreational opportunities, a library, coffee bar, fitness room, garden areas, and and much, much more.”

Projects slated or under construction for FY26 include Dolores Huerta Park (groundbroken in June, expected substantially complete in 2026), Millburn Overlook (San Joaquin River Parkway connection with benches and viewing stations), Les Kimber Park (restrooms, play areas and wooded overlook), and restroom refurbishments at several neighborhood parks.

Commissioners asked questions about funding sources, maintenance and scheduling. Vice Chair Ward confirmed Radio Park and Dolores Huerta Park had received Proposition 68 funding. Commissioner Barraza asked for data on pickleball demand; staff said demand was driven by community interest and that some tennis courts are being restriped for multiuse. On a budget question, staff said the $165,000 motion from council for the Southeast Fresno Sports Complex would fund a conceptual gym design and community outreach rather than construction.

Staff described maintenance and turf-management plans intended to slow deterioration of fields that receive heavy play, including rotating field closures for aeration, reseeding, fertilization and adjustments to reservation rules to spread demand across fields.

No formal action or vote was taken on the capital portfolio during the workshop; commissioners asked staff to provide more detailed schedules and deferred-submittal lists for specific projects and to supply updates to the commission as projects progress.