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Merced parks director outlines $1.1 million Joe Herb overhaul, zoo upgrades and turf shortfall at McNamera Park
Summary
Parks Director Christopher Jensen reported a $1.1 million Joe Herb Sports Park project (including a roughly $800,000 HUD award), upgrades at Merced Applegate Zoo and an unfunded $1–1.5 million estimate to replace McNamera Park turf; department staffing and program updates were also presented.
The Merced Parks and Community Services Department detailed a slate of capital improvements and program updates on Thursday, highlighting a $1.1 million plan for Joe Herb Sports Park, zoo infrastructure work, and a funding gap for turf replacement at McNamera Park.
Director Christopher Jensen said the Joe Herb project will use about $250,000 from a local park-reserve account and roughly $800,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds awarded by HUD to pay for new walking paths, lighting, restroom renovation and better access to playing fields. “We’re at about 1.1 million now,” Jensen said of the available funding and described a 6-to-9-month planning and procurement timeline before construction could begin.
Jensen also briefed the commission on several other projects: the Merced Applegate Zoo is receiving new ADA-compliant walking paths, drainage work and a substantially larger American black bear exhibit with a waterfall and pool; the city awarded just under $500,000 to Kuanas of Greater Merced to replace Kitty Land’s train and track and to convert the ride to electric power, with inspections and punch-list items still pending; and the Merced Regional Sports Complex is moving toward a joint-powers planning model with local education and county partners.
On maintenance and project funding, Jensen described recent volunteer and donor-supported efforts at McNamera Park to improve grass fields but said the park’s synthetic turf — installed roughly a decade ago — is at the end of its serviceable life. He gave a replacement estimate of about $1 million to $1.5 million and said there are currently no funds allocated for turf replacement. “It is becoming a safety issue for us,” Jensen said, urging the city to prioritize resources and grant applications.
Staffing and program updates included a planned hire — Recreation Supervisor Jerome Osborne — to oversee direct-service programs, youth and adult sports, special events and outdoor recreation; and an education partnership with the Merced County Office of Education to deliver a new hands-on "Wonderworks" field-lab program at the zoo.
Commissioners asked for further public presentations on several applications for youth programming and indicated continued prioritization of both community access and revenue-generating tournament opportunities at larger sports venues.
The commission will receive further budget and project planning details at future meetings as the staff advances engineering, grant administration and procurement steps for the highlighted projects.
