San Bernardino County Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. joined the City of Colton to celebrate continued progress on the comprehensive renovation of Elizabeth Davis Park, a major community investment that will provide residents with a safer, more accessible and welcoming place to play, exercise and gather.
Supervisor Baca initially allocated $1,890,594 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding toward the renovation and has now secured an additional $31,650 in County funding to expand improvements to the park’s batting cages and baseball fields.
Located adjacent to Paul J. Rogers Elementary School, Elizabeth Davis Park has served generations of Colton families but has faced years of aging infrastructure and deteriorating recreational amenities. The comprehensive renovation is designed to address those needs while creating more opportunities for youth sports, outdoor recreation and community connection.
“Parks are where kids play, families spend time together and neighbors build a stronger sense of community,” said Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. “That is why we made the initial $1.89 million investment in Davis Park, and why we are continuing that commitment with an additional $31,650. These improvements will give Colton families a safer and better place to enjoy their neighborhood, while providing our young athletes with facilities they can be proud of.”
The additional $31,650 County contribution will support improvements to the batting cages and baseball fields, including new batting cage fencing and overhead netting, grading of both infields and resetting the bases. These improvements build upon the larger renovation already underway.
The overall project will bring improvements throughout the 6.34-acre neighborhood park, including renovated sports courts with new pickleball opportunities, improved parking and ADA accessibility, upgraded restrooms, picnic shelters, a dedicated dog park, new benches and picnic tables, improved lighting and security cameras, drought-tolerant landscaping and other amenities.
The park’s baseball and softball facilities will also receive improvements to scoreboards, bleachers, dugout areas and other features supporting local youth sports.
“Davis Park has served this neighborhood for generations, but it was showing its age and needed the kind of investment this community deserves,” said Community Services Director Deb Farrar. “When the full renovation is complete, Davis Park will be safer, more welcoming and offer more opportunities for children, families and neighbors to connect. At the end of the day, this project is about more than improving a park. It’s about making life in Colton better.”
The project represents a partnership between San Bernardino County and the City of Colton. In addition to the County’s $1.89 million ARPA allocation and latest $31,650 contribution, the City committed $835,833 from its Park Development Fund toward the comprehensive renovation.
“Elizabeth Davis Park is an important part of this neighborhood, and these improvements represent a long-term investment in the families who use it every day,” said Colton Mayor Frank J. Navarro. “We appreciate Supervisor Baca and San Bernardino County for partnering with the City to help us deliver a park that better serves our children, our youth sports programs and the entire Colton community.”
Once completed, the renewed Elizabeth Davis Park will provide a more inclusive neighborhood destination where children can play, athletes can compete, families can gather and residents of all ages can enjoy outdoor recreation close to home.