Long-overdue upgrade to Merced County Park coming soon

A long-overdue overhaul of Houlihan Park in Planada is on the way thanks to a $2.4 million grant secured by Merced County.

The California Department of Parks and Recreation announced the grant this week. The money will fund:
• A splash pad;
• Five picnic areas;
• A lighted walking loop;
• Eight public art benches;
• Ten outdoor gym exercise stations in five areas;
• An outdoor performing arts stage with lighting;
• A new water-efficient irrigation system throughout the park;
• A playground;
• A basketball court with lighting;
• And a renovated picnic area.

In addition to the work being funded by the grant, the County is upgrading the restrooms at Houlihan Park and making them ADA compliant.

In total, $2,451,250 was awarded to Merced County through the Statewide Park Program Round 3 Grant Awards. The grant was highly competitive, as the State received 478 applications with 62 projects receiving funding.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Rodrigo Espinoza, whose district includes Planada, said the grant resulted from a significant amount of hard work and dedication from Merced County and the residents of Planada.

“When you look at how many applications the State received versus how many were actually awarded, this is a significant achievement by Merced County and the local community,” Espinoza said. “A lot of work went into this grant process, and the community of Planada can now celebrate these much-needed improvements to its park.”

The park upgrades will be completed by early 2022, Merced County also plans to submit grant applications for other communities in future rounds of parks funding.

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