Page 10 - Vallejo_Chamber_of_Commerce_Magazine_Spring_2019

King South Vallejo Community maintained. “No matter what
Center (545 Magazine St.). community you live in, you
They also run sports programs should have nice things,”
at the Mare Island Sports Lanusse said. This belief was
Complex (785 Walnut Ave.). even adhered to during the
GVRD is committed to Great Recession a decade ago.
In 2009, in addition to still
remaining an open government keeping parks and facilities
to us here in Vallejo, the clean and maintained, GVRD
community that they serve. built a brand-new playground
In honor of that, last year downtown for the community,
GVRD received the District with the city, at Vallejo’s historic
Transparency Certificate of City Park on Sacramento Street;
Excellence by the Special City Park is one of Vallejo’s
District Leadership Foundation first parks that is included in
(SDLF), as the Vallejo Times- the original city’s layout, so a
Herald wrote, “in recognition makeover was well overdue.
of its outstanding efforts to When Vallejo residents
promote transparency and passed Measure K in 2012
good governance.” They to fund local parks and the
have won this award multiple recreational district, things
times in the past for their vastly improved for GVRD. “I
continuous transparency. think Measure K is the biggest
As a whole, GVRD is often testament in how Vallejo feels
Turning 75 years old this agency that voters created in acknowledged for its relationship about GVRD,” Lanusse said.
year on June 14th, GVRD will be 1944 when they saw a need in with the community and its GVRD has since been able to
celebrating their big anniversary the community for a parks and activism within it—keeping better maintain its facilities. basketball courts, fixed local Dan Foley Cultural Center and and characters. Some of those The Greater Vallejo
with many great events all recreational department, as parks clean and facilities They’ve also put in more tennis courts, athletic fields, and its park (with roots uplifted in a original pieces have been Recreation District is located at
throughout the year. Look for Vallejo lacked one at the time. fishing docks, as well as updated bunch of areas), and continually restored as a part of the big 2007 395 Amador St., Vallejo, where
their 75th Anniversary exhibit To learn more about GVRD’s their playgrounds. The list goes maintaining the large and restoration to continue sparking you can get ahold of a hardcopy
at each of the program/activities history and roots, I met with on. GVRD also put in a new whimsical Children’s Wonderland. wonder and imagination in our of their latest activity guide.
listed in their Spring 2019 General Manager Gabriel playground for Fairmont Park. Speaking of Children’s community’s youth today. For additional information on
Activity Guide. They will also Lanusse. “Vallejo residents “Vallejo really values their parks Wonderland, I can confirm that While exciting things are park hours, events, programs,
have an anniversary dinner with wanted recreational activities, and recreations because they GVRD will be soon putting happening with GVRD’s 75th and more, feel free to contact
government officials and other so what they ended up doing vote for things to improve them,” in a pirate ship and a real fire anniversary and Children’s them at (707) 648-4600; email
leaders on November 2nd, and was creating a special district Lanusse continued. “I think they truck—all wonderful additions Wonderland, a pressing goal for them at webmaster@gvrd.org;
what I look forward to the most [separate from the city], and have faith and respect that we try to come to the storybook the near future is updating the visit them online at gvrd.org,
is their big block party that is set we get our funding through our best in what we’re given.” and Lewis Carroll-inspired Cunningham pool. “It needs where they have their Spring
for Saturday, September 21st and property taxes,” Lanusse said. Other noteworthy examples park. The park’s very first to be replastered with ADA 2019 Activity Guide online; and
free to the community! Expect “At one point, Greater Vallejo of GVRD’s great work include: constructions came from a upgrades—we’re talking in the “like” their Facebook page to
a fun day with music and food Recreational District was larger upgrading Grant Mahony Park’s group of Vallejo volunteers millions,” Lanusse said. The support, and follow GVRD for
vendor trucks (taco trucks!), than the actual Vallejo city playground equipment just last in 1962, who originally put in pool is highly used by many, updates. I hope to see you at the
where you can learn about limits; our coverage was not just year, gorgeously redeveloping the fairytale and fantasy features including the school district, 75th Anniversary Block Party
local nonprofit organizations, the City of Vallejo, but also the the city, and its nearly 121,000 on Saturday, September 21st!
have good conversations, and surrounding areas.” While the residents. In
enjoy activities for parents and name GVRD gives us a glimpse order to help
children alike—so definitely into its interesting past, its focus meet the
mark the calendar for their is on how to best serve Vallejo. large cost it
celebratory events this year. Vallejo would certainly will take to
GVRD has helped make look very different without fund such an
significant positive differences GVRD; the district manages undertaking
for community members of every 407 acres of public park space of a project,
age—from the facilities (gvrd. including 20 neighborhood GVRD has
org/community-centers) that they parks, 10 community parks (one been fiscally
operate and maintain to their of the biggest being Children’s responsible,
programs such as after-school Wonderland at 360 Glenn St.), and can reach
care, summer camps, classes six special purpose parks, an out to the city
(gvrd.org/classes), and other olympic-size swimming pool at for help as needed.
events (gvrd.org/upcoming- John F. Cunningham Aquatic
events)—with the mission of Complex, and four community
“Building community and centers: the Foley Cultural
enhancing quality of life through Center (1499 N. Camino Alto),
people, parks, and programs.” Vallejo Community Center (225
For those who do not know, Amador St.), North Vallejo
GVRD is a California Special Community Center (1121
District (CSDA), a government Whitney Ave.), and Norman C.

8 Spring www.vallejochamber.com