Resident urges South Gate to pursue Measure A and grants to fund splash pad

A South Gate resident used the public‑comment period to urge commissioners to pursue Measure A competitive grants and other funding to design and build a splash pad at South Gate Park.

Chingus Chingus Dominguez, identifying himself as a South Gate resident, told commissioners that the regional parks and open space district would open a round of competitive Measure A grants in July and that the district had a special program to help with maintenance costs for projects funded from Measure A. Dominguez urged the city to prepare plans and designs for a roughly 3,000‑square‑foot splash pad and to apply for available competitive grants.

“How about now? Can you hear me now?” Dominguez began, and later said: “I asked the council members for the past two council meetings to go after the competitive grants and to do just one thing this fiscal year, and that is plans and designs on a 3,000 square foot splash pad at South Gate Park.” He told commissioners he had asked city staff how the ongoing maintenance would be paid and that staff had said Measure A–funded projects could qualify for a maintenance program, but that a staffer expressed uncertainty about how long Measure A funding or associated programs would continue.

Dominguez contrasted the city’s ability to fund larger projects, citing a recently approved Urban Orchard Park, and questioned why the city had not pursued a smaller splash‑pad project. He pointed to nearby cities that operate splash pads — Bell, Huntington Park, Paramount and Whittier — and said Downey was pursuing a splash pad on its strategic plan. Dominguez criticized the council’s agenda priorities and said residents’ wishes were not prioritized on council agendas.

No action was taken during the meeting on splash‑pad planning; the comments were recorded as part of the public‑comment period and referred to staff and commissioners for consideration.