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Heritage Arts committee reports public-art restorations; city readies Rose Float and launches court-ordered volunteer program
Summary
The Heritage Arts Advisory Committee reported multiple restorations and funded art projects, and city staff announced Rose Parade float plans, ticket sales, and a city-run court-ordered volunteer program with 430 sign-ups to date.
The Heritage Arts Advisory Committee presented its annual report to the Santa Fe Springs City Council, summarizing grants, restorations, installations and event support. Committee Chair Gabriel Jimenez said the group: approved $150,000 for restoration of a 1959 fire truck (project now reported complete), approved art designs for local businesses, recommended $190,000 for phase two of aquatic center art installations, allocated $200,000 for AV equipment for Town Center Hall and other city venues, and recommended $200,000 for the city’s 2026 Rose Parade float entry. The committee also recommended about $67,000 in 30 art education grants for schools and identified several public-art pieces for restoration, including the Snake Basket fountain.
Public information officer Raylene Bras read a proclamation designating Oct. 1, 2025, as Walk to School Day in Santa Fe Springs and identified six participating schools: Jersey Elementary, Lakeview Elementary, Rancho Santa Gertrudis Elementary, Santa Fe Springs Christian School, Crescent Elementary and Lakeland Elementary. The Little Lake School District superintendent, Jonathan Vasquez, accepted the proclamation on the dais.
Community Services Manager Kylie Torres announced the city will enter the 2026 Tournament of Roses Parade and will sell resident and nonresident tickets for transportation to the parade. Torres said resident tickets go on sale Oct. 20 and nonresident tickets on Nov. 3; the city also plans additional ticketed opportunities (Rose Bowl, Floatfest). As of the meeting, the city reported more than 430 volunteer sign-ups for float decorating shifts and described an associated volunteer-decorating schedule and transportation to Irwindale for shifts.
Torres also announced the launch of a court-ordered volunteer program that began accepting participants on Oct. 4; the program accepts people 18 and older ordered to perform community service and places volunteers in park cleanups, food pantry and clothing sorting and community-garden work. City staff showed before-and-after photos of recent park work.
Heritage Arts chair Jimenez said the committee is developing a public-art assessment schedule for maintenance and restoration and is coordinating with Public Works for repairs to nonfunctional fountains. Council members thanked the committee and staff for projects and clarified that some Heritage Arts funds come from developer/business contributions rather than the city’s general fund.
