County details $1M plan to finish Veterans Park restrooms, resurface parking and add new lighting

San Benito County Public Works updated the Parks and Recreation Commission on plans to finish remodeled restrooms and to resurface and re‑light the parking area at Veterans Memorial Park, a heavily used youth sports complex in Hollister.

Steve Loop, a Public Works project manager, told the commission the parking‑lot construction estimate is roughly $1.1 million and that the county has about $250,000 in ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds available to apply to the project. Loop said the lighting component—about $300,000 in the hard‑wired estimate—was the single largest line item and that staff had solicited a solar‑lighting quote that could cut lighting costs roughly in half.

The timing matters because youth leagues, including Babe Ruth, Little League and Hollister Heat, regularly stage practices and games at the park. League leaders and volunteers described frequent weekend usage and repeated problems with restrooms, vandalized porta‑potties and congested parking.

Loop said the restroom near the skate park is “98% done” but remains closed while the contractor completes three to four punch‑list items; the contractor had told staff those items would be finished in April. For the picnic‑area restrooms across the street, Loop said leftover ARPA funding—about “30 ish thousand dollars,” in his words—would pay for roof repairs and new doors and partitions to improve privacy.

On the parking lot, Loop said the revised design includes a second entrance and improved circulation tied to recent City of Hollister pedestrian work. He described a two‑phase construction approach: resurfacing and striping done in roughly five days, followed by lighting installation in about five days so work does not unduly disrupt scheduled games. Loop told commissioners he planned to request separate bids for hard‑wired and solar lighting so the county could compare costs and operating tradeoffs.

League leaders urged the commission to prioritize the work. Gina Noddy of Hollister Heat said enrollment has rebounded and that “there's about 1,500 kids out there any given Saturday,” and called for safer parking and open restrooms. Sean Penzel, president of Samuel Babe Ruth, and Jared Penzel, equipment manager, asked the county to help address damaged lighting towers and bathroom septic issues. Tremors representatives emphasized field protection: Tremors treasurer Bridal Munzer and rec coach coordinator August Iguanovio asked the county and the fireworks proposer to ensure contractors and vehicles would not drive onto heavily watered or newly seeded turf.

Loop said the solar option met applicable lighting performance standards and could reduce the lighting cost by roughly $150,000–$200,000; he also warned that solar lights can have diminished output after several cloudy days. He proposed returning the hard‑wire and solar bids to the commission for review and recommendation once received.

Commissioners and public commenters raised safety and maintenance questions. One commissioner said she was uncomfortable with a solar‑only lighting solution at the busiest park, citing the risk of a cloudy spell during evening games; Loop replied that staff would include both hard‑wire and solar bids and present the delta and a recommendation.

Loop also offered limited county maintenance support for league‑maintained facilities, saying the county could assist with targeted sewer or roto‑rooter work if Babe Ruth or other leagues requested help. Several speakers asked staff to map and document which entity (city, county or volunteer league) is responsible for each restroom, parking and field area; Loop said he would locate existing agreements and work with stakeholders to clarify responsibilities.

The county’s near‑term schedule called for contractor bids to arrive within weeks; staff said they would coordinate phasing with the leagues to avoid disrupting games.

Ending — Next steps: Public Works will solicit two separate bids for hard‑wired and solar lighting, proceed with resurfacing and striping as a first phase, and return to the commission with the bids and a recommendation. Staff also said it would locate and share written maintenance agreements identifying which parties maintain restrooms and parking surfaces.