Parks and Recreation commission hears updates on Lunar New Year event, senior services, cleanups and field renovations

The Corona City Parks and Recreation Commission on Feb. 11 heard monthly operational updates covering community events, senior services, volunteer programs, trails and recent field renovations.

Mister Lass, Parks and Recreation staff, said the department’s first Lunar New Year “micro event” on Feb. 1 at the Circle City Center drew roughly 300 people over a three-hour period and included performances, crafts and food vendors. "There are roughly 300 that came out throughout the duration of the 3 hour event there," Lass said.

Why it matters: staff outlined services that run year-round and seasonally — from free tax preparation for seniors to programs that place students with disabilities in city volunteer roles — which affect seniors, families and local nonprofits that rely on city facility access and in‑kind support.

Senior services and partnerships Mr. Lass said the senior center is hosting an AARP Tax-Aide program Tuesdays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., through April 15, providing free tax-preparation help for low-income filers and many seniors. He also described a new “senior jam session” music program, led by Don Kindred of the Corona Symphony Orchestra, scheduled on the second and fourth Thursdays each month from 2–4 p.m., free of charge.

The department has begun a partnership with the Corona-Norco Unified School District’s Workability program to place qualified students in city volunteer assignments. "Three Workability classes have already been placed within the city, including the Corona Public Library and the city's Adopt a Park," Lass said.

Co-sponsorships and permits Staff opened the city’s co-sponsorship application period for nonprofit events running July–December; the deadline listed in the presentation was Feb. 28. Co-sponsorships are offered largely as in‑kind services — for example, permit assistance, facility use or traffic-control help — and will be forwarded to City Council for final approval.

Recreation metrics and field permits Lass provided quarter‑two participation data (October–December). He reported 81 field permits issued during the quarter (single permit count, regardless of duration), stable adaptive-program offerings (17 activities) and moderate seasonal fluctuation in class and camp participation.

Parks, trails and volunteer cleanups Mister Cortez, Parks and Trails staff, described a Corona Beautiful cleanup staged on River Road and adjacent streets. "We picked up about 7 yards of trash," Cortez said, and staff reported filling a dump truck with roadside debris and bulky items. Cortez said the team focused cleanups on areas outside landscape maintenance districts to provide upkeep that would otherwise be missed. A Skyline-area cleanup and guided hikes are planned for later in February.

Cortez also described a new trail cut at Dominguez Ranch that includes switchbacks leading up toward the Cleveland National Forest; he said developers carved the route as part of on-site work and the city will add signage and staged guided hikes. On tree plantings, staff reported vandalism to smaller trees on Bridal Line and Green River; crews replaced those with larger, 36-inch-box trees and added irrigation and signage.

Field renovation process and league coordination Cortez outlined a revised winter field renovation process: fields were closed near Thanksgiving, seeded promptly, and staff and contractors completed work before walking fields with league representatives to create punch lists and obtain sign-offs. He said most punch-list items were minor (infield clay, batter-box work, sprinkler repairs) and that staff plan a postseason walk to identify future offseason needs.

Staffing Cortez introduced two recent hires: Richard Aguilar, the park ranger supervisor (from Riverside County parks), and Thomas Braun, a park supervisor. Both were described as recently onboarded and active in field duties and guided hikes.

Commissioner questions and community notes Commissioners asked about logistics and usage: Commissioner Olsen confirmed AARP tax help is generally walk-in; he and other commissioners suggested exploring combined silent-auction fundraising events for small nonprofits and asked about parking near the Dominguez Ranch trailhead (staff described informal parking in a nearby shopping-center lot and said longer-term agreements could be needed). Commissioners praised the tree plantings and field renovations process while requesting periodic mid‑season check-ins with leagues.

What’s next: staff said volunteer orientations, guided hikes and field-season transitions are scheduled through late winter and spring. No formal policy decisions or votes on program changes were taken at the meeting; the presentation was informational and staff remained available to follow up on commissioners’ questions.