South Pasadena has begun construction on two neighborhood pocket parks on former Caltrans parcels, the city announced, with one site officially named Dr. Beatriz Solis Memorial Park.

The city plans to build parks at 2006 Berkshire Avenue and 1107 Grevillea Street after acquiring the parcels from Caltrans in 2017. The Parks and Recreation Commission led community design work, and the South Pasadena City Council approved final designs and awarded a contract for construction documents in August 2021. The council later formalized the Berkshire Avenue name in November 2023.

A groundbreaking ceremony at the Berkshire site took place Dec. 13, 2023, followed by a ceremony for the Grevillea Pocket Park on Dec. 16, 2024. The city says the construction contract for both parks was awarded in late 2024 and work began in March 2025, with completion of both sites anticipated in 2025.

Funding for the projects comes from multiple sources. The city acknowledged support from the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the state of California. The city cited $550,000 in Measure A funds and nearly $19,094,000 in Proposition 68 grant funds toward the Berkshire Avenue park.

City materials emphasize the parks are intended to increase access to green space in neighborhoods with limited nearby open space. The city also described a public engagement process dating to early 2018 that shaped conceptual plans before funding pauses and a later resumption of work in May 2021.

An unidentified speaker in the city presentation said, “Come on, South Pasadena. Let’s go to the park,” framing the projects as community investments.

Next steps include ongoing construction and the city’s timeline toward the parks’ anticipated 2025 completion. The city thanked funding partners and community members for their participation in the multi-year effort.