Richmond’s athletic field shortage is a well-known problem, but this spring there’s some good news: Multi-million dollar upgrades at several local parks will provide more room to play, especially for soccer teams.
Shields-Reid, Wendell and Boorman parks are undergoing renovations to make them more accessible year-round and to reflect growing interest in a diversity of activities, especially soccer. And Nicholl Park is next on the list.
“Soccer is just growing rapidly,” said Richmond Recreation and Parks Supervisor Troy Porter. “Richmond was mainly a baseball city, so we had lots of fields of just grass. (Soccer) is a huge demand and it’s a very active community.”
Local soccer leagues have struggled with field shortages. West Contra Costa Unified School District announced last October it’s changing how it handles facility reservations for non-school use. Reservations are now handled centrally by the school district instead of school sites.
The change was at least partially due to tensions between local soccer players and the large regional Berkeley-based Albany Berkeley Soccer Club (ABSC), some of whose members live in Richmond. The club was booking Kennedy High School for seasons of play, blocking access for local groups, critics said.
Richmond is already underserved when it comes to recreational space and having improved neighborhood fields is helpful for lower income families who lack reliable transportation, or for working parents struggling to get kids to activities.
Richmond is under the state average of park land per 1,000 residents, at 2.4 acres, according to a 2021 Contra Costa Local Agency Formation Commission document, not including its East Bay Regional Parks, which don’t include playing fields. The state average is about 3 acres per 1,000 people.
The renovated parks won’t be bigger, but they’ll be better, Porter said, with the addition of modern amenities.
Shields-Reid set to reopen July 11
Shields-Reid, 1410 Kelsey St., is set to reopen July 11 — in time to host the North Richmond Blues Festival.
Porter said the $8 million renovation, from Prop. 68 funds, is 95% complete. The park will feature a new artificial turf sports field, new lights, a children’s play area, a zipline, a bike pump track, a stage and performance area, a fitness zone, public art, a habitat garden and tree shade area, lighting and fencing throughout the park.
“There’s lots of fun stuff we’re going to put there,” said Richmond Capital Project Manager Darcie DeLashmutt, adding that the park’s community center is getting $200,000 worth of roof repairs and a few other upgrades.
According to the city’s website, the park hosts festivals and community events, and the new stage and performance area will provide a venue to accommodate these significant community events.
Shields-Reid will also get new basketball courts and restrooms with electricity so they’ll have features such as automatic flushing and hand dryers.
The field will also get a new baseball diamond and three soccer fields (one long and two small ones).
“It was just a grass field,” Porter said. “(Soccer players) had to map out their own lines. Now those (fields) will be permanent and will be used year-round and kids can play into the night.”
The city had to close the fields during the rainy season due to drainage problems. Now the turf fields will drain in 20 minutes and can remain open all year.
“We’re reimagining the park, which was designed in the 1920s or ‘30s,” Porter said.
Boorman improvements to be ready later this year
The new and improved Boorman Park, between 23rd Street and Maine Avenue, will be ready sometime between June and September. Porter said the $12 million overhaul will include a new play structure, a new miniature soccer field, outdoor walking paths, exercise equipment, a skating area, a basketball court, new electric restrooms, and more parking.
A 2019 Contra Costa County assessment identified Boorman Park as a high priority for improvements due to safety concerns and its location in an area with high poverty rates and a large youth population.
The project is funded by California’s Prop. 68 and a $5 million Caltrans Clean California Local Grant for cleaning up toxic dirt left behind from industrial uses.
Wendell Park renovation underway; Nicholl to be next
Wendell Park, at 2598 Wendell Ave., has 2.2 acres featuring a playground, a lawn area, softball fields, soccer field, and a basketball court.
Porter said its renovation should be done by summer. New amenities will include restrooms with electricity, renovation of existing turf soccer and softball fields, a new irrigation system, new fencing, and new electric restrooms.
Wendell Park’s renovation is funded by a $2 million American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) grant.
Porter said the city is also beginning to plan its renovation of 21-acre Nicholl Park, at Macdonald Avenue and 33rd Street.
The park currently features a playground community center, picnic area, barbecues, baseball fields, a lawn bowling area, a putting green, tennis courts, and a soccer field. Porter said it’s too early to say what will change.
Samantha Torres, a soccer coach, president of Richmond United Soccer Club, and a city Recreation and Parks commissioner, said the upgraded fields will be welcomed.
“We’re very excited and very anxious to get those fields up and running,” said Torres, saying Richmond soccer players could regularly fill 20 more fields and sports complexes. “Those fields will definitely be in high demand and will provide relief.”
Hi Richmondside,
Could you do a report on which local athletic fields use turf made with crumb rubber?
The recent news of increased cancer rates among childhood soccer players and its association with crumb rubber based turf makes me concerned about these grass to turf conversion projects.
It would helpful for parents to know which local fields, and playgrounds, are exposing their kids to crumb rubber.