Mayor and state lawmakers celebrate Prop 4 funding as Grove Neighborhood Park renovation begins

Mayor Gloria opened the gathering by thanking state and local officials and residents for bringing state bond dollars to local parks, saying the Proposition 4 funds approved by California voters in 2024 are “tangible” and will improve neighborhood infrastructure.

State Senator Steve Padilla added that he had helped negotiate the funding framework and congratulated local leaders for working to secure appropriations. “We have to deliver for this community after all this time,” Padilla said, praising collaboration between state and city officials.

The event tied the Grove Neighborhood Park improvements to broader investments the city hopes to win from the voter‑approved bond program. The mayor noted partners from the mayor’s office, the city’s parks and recreation and public works teams, and local legislative champions as critical to moving funds from authorization into local appropriations and construction.

Councilmembers and city staff used the program moment to flag related projects—including upcoming work at Bayer Park—and to underscore the city’s pledge to invest in historically under‑served neighborhoods. Maggie McCormick of the transportation department and other staff later described related implementation timelines and community outreach plans when the council considered separate agenda items.

The council also recognized International Holocaust Remembrance Day during the same meeting. Louis “Lubo” Pesci, identified in the record as a Holocaust survivor, recounted his wartime experience and urged listeners to remember the human cost of hatred. Councilmembers and community representatives urged continued local education and remembrance efforts.

Next steps: city staff said community outreach and project oversight are ongoing; the city will proceed with the Grove Neighborhood Park renovations as funding is programmed and construction permits are obtained.