Four Goleta parks getting renovations before year’s end

GOLETA, Calif. — Four parks in Goleta are getting a facelift. Those parks include Berkeley Park, Winchester I Park, Winchester II Park and Andamar Park.

JoAnne Plummer, who is Goleta’s Parks and Recreation manager, said the total cost is $800,000 of city development impact fees. And these park renovations are expected to last for at least 10 years.

Most of the work will be updating or adding play structures to the park. Plummer said the community was surveyed and the designed were based on the community’s desires. 

At Berkeley Park,  the existing play equipment will be replaced by new equipment for ages 2 to 5 and 5 to 12. At Winchester I Park outdoor fitness equipment will be added for community members 13 years and older. At Winchester II Park the playground structure will be tripled. The city reassures that with the expanded play equipment, there will still be room for t-ball and soccer activities for children eight and under. And at Andamar Park a larger playground structure will be added.

Susannah Holm lives near Berkeley Park. She said she enjoys walking around her neighborhood, especially through the green parts of the parks.

“It’s great. I’m really happy that the city is putting its money into it," said Holm. "Especially now that we’re coming out of the pandemic and people are starting to feel better about going out.”

Alvaro Contreras lives near the Winchester Parks. He's excited to see the outdoor workout equipment installed.

“I think it will be useful actually," said Contreras. "For people who can’t afford gyms and all of that. It’s like local and useful.”

Plummer expects two of the parks to be completed in October, one in November and the fourth in December.

Tuesday Goleta City Council will decide on the name for a climbable butterfly that will be installed at Berkeley Park. Over 160 entries were submitted.