An unidentified speaker said the City of South Pasadena is reclaiming “forgotten spaces” to create new neighborhood parks, announcing work on two pocket parks on parcels the city acquired from Caltrans in 2017.

The two sites named in city materials are 2006 Berkshire Avenue, identified as a critical neighborhood park site, and 1107 Grevillea Street, which the city also planned for park development. The city said it hired landscape design architects to gather public input and develop conceptual plans; community engagement meetings took place in early 2018.

According to the presentation, the projects were paused because of funding uncertainties and then resumed in May 2021. The Parks and Recreation Commission held a community meeting to reengage residents and refine the conceptual designs. The city materials state that in August 2021 the City Council approved the final designs and awarded a contract to prepare construction documents; the presentation does not provide a recorded vote tally or the names of council members who moved or seconded the action.

The Berkshire Avenue site was officially named Dr. Beatriz Solis Memorial Park in November 2023, “honoring Dr. Solis for her profound impact on the community and her instrumental role in the city's acquisition of the Caltrans properties,” the speaker said. A groundbreaking ceremony at the Berkshire site was held Dec. 13, 2023; the presentation also notes a groundbreaking for the Grevillea Pocket Park on Dec. 16, 2024.

The city reports that the construction contract for both parks was awarded in late 2024 and that construction began in March 2025; the presentation says both parks are anticipated to be completed in 2025. The speaker described the projects as intended to provide “much needed accessible green space for residents of all ages to enjoy.”

The presentation acknowledges financial support from the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the State of California. It states the city received $550,000 in Measure A funding and nearly $19,094,000 in Proposition 68 grant funds for the Dr. Beatriz Solis Memorial Park. The transcript does not provide further breakdowns of how Prop 68 funds are allocated between the two sites, nor does it include municipal budget code references or vote records tied to the council approvals.

The speaker closed by thanking community members and funding partners and encouraging residents to visit the finished parks: “Come on, South Pasadena. Let’s go to the park.”

Next steps: construction is underway, and the city’s schedule calls for park completion in 2025; the presentation did not specify dates for park openings or post-construction maintenance responsibilities.