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San Gabriel rec staff recap Cinco de Mayo, playday and preview summer series; $500,000 Smith Park pool planning grant announced
Summary
Recreation staff reported higher attendance at recent community events (Cinco de Mayo ~3,000; Global Playday ~500), previewed the Summer in San Gabriel series (kickoff June 25; July 3 drone/laser show; Aug. 4 National Night Out), and announced a $500,000 planning/design grant for Smith Park pool construction documents; Mission Playhouse centennial planning for 2027 also underway.
Recreation staff gave commissioners a series of event recaps and previews and updated the commission on two notable staff initiatives.
Anna Casillas, recreation supervisor, summarized the May 1 Cinco de Mayo event and said new elements — including youth mariachis, a headline group, a GTO contest and artisan vendors — helped push attendance to roughly 3,000 people. “We did about 3,000 people,” Casillas said, and reported strong vendor feedback and plans to expand successful features next year.
Recreation Supervisor Andy Shupe described the 61st annual Global Playday at Vincent Lugo Park (May 16), which drew nearly 500 attendees and hosted roughly 11 community‑run activities; staff flagged layout adjustments to reduce vendor and activity wait times in future years.
Staff also previewed the Summer in San Gabriel event series: a June 25 kickoff concert (Santana tribute) followed by a screening of Lilo and Stitch, an Independence Day drone and laser show on July 3 (5:30–9:30 p.m.), and National Night Out on Aug. 4 at the Mission District plaza.
In staff comments, the department announced a $500,000 planning and design grant from RPOSD for Smith Park pool construction documents; the grant funds design work only, and staff said they will apply for a separate construction grant. Staff asked commissioners to help promote a series of community engagement meetings tied to the Smith Park planning process and emphasized the importance of broad community participation — especially within a half‑mile radius of the park and among non‑English speaking residents.
Staff also reported progress on Mission Playhouse centennial planning for 2027, including finalizing a new centennial logo and proposing a series of events (fundraisers, a plaza fundraiser, a candlelight‑style concert) designed to raise awareness and revenue for the theater.
What happens next: staff will circulate digital flyers for the summer series, provide community meeting dates for Smith Park pool planning, and return with further details as planning and grant applications progress.
