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Merced parks staff say they are coordinating with high‑speed rail authority to protect community services
Summary
Parks Director Chris Jensen said staff are working with the high‑speed rail authority to keep Merced as a phase‑one station option, to preserve services at the Merced Senior Community Center and youth center, and to secure partner agreements to minimize disruption if relocations are needed.
Chris Jensen reported the city is actively engaging the California High‑Speed Rail Authority to keep Merced in the initial station phasing and to plan for how parks and recreation services would be affected by any station location or construction.
Jensen said staff are using the Parks, Recreation & Open Space master plan effort to identify preferred footprints for indoor recreation facilities and to avoid displacing existing services where possible. He said the city has secured agreements intended to keep program partners in place — including new arrangements with the Boys and Girls Club and ongoing discussions with Merced Senior Inc. — and described design work to evaluate office moves into the senior center only if necessary.
Jensen emphasized that staff do not plan to relocate services until it is absolutely necessary and that the department is trying to preserve program continuity while providing the rail authority with the city’s preferred options for facility siting.
The commission did not vote on any formal action regarding high‑speed rail at the meeting.
