Construction will start on the long-awaited Campus Park in central Oxnard as the $23.1 million activation project kicked off June 26.
Oxnard City Council member Gabe Teran and Mayor Luis McArthur both spoke of the community’s anticipation for the park development at the groundbreaking.
“People really want to see this happen,” Teran said during the ceremony. The council member, whose district includes the site, noted how often people approach him in public or reach out to him for updates on the park as a testament to the public’s interest.
The project’s first phase will transform the 26-acre property between Fifth and Second streets and K and H streets, according to a city news release.
Oxnard first acquired the land in 2002. It was home to the former Oxnard High School, which moved to Gonzales Road in 1995, city officials said.
The project faced budget challenges until the city secured state and federal funding.
Sources of funding include $8.5 million from the California Department of Parks and Recreation, $3.5 million from the California Natural Resources Agency, $3.5 million from the California Department of Transportation and $6.7 million from the National Park Service, city officials said. The city also provided about $800,000.
The park will be built in two phases, with the first phase set to open fall 2027 with several different new amenities, including a community garden, multipurpose lawn, inclusive playground and a Pelota Mixteca field, said Jennie Ibanez, senior project manager with the city.
The second phase will begin after the park’s grand opening and will include more additions such as a new dog park to replace the existing one and an airplane viewing mound, Ibanez said.
Ernesto Centeno Araujo covers breaking news for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at ecentenoaraujo@vcstar.com, 805-437-0224 or @ecentenoaraujo on Instagram and X.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Oxnard officials break ground on $23.1 million Campus Park
Reporting by Ernesto Centeno Araujo, Ventura County Star / Ventura County Star
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By Ernesto Centeno Araujo, Ventura County Star | USA TODAY Network
