As noted here last weekend, the EmPOWERment Park media event took place today. This is the socially-inclusive park that will be built at Bell and Irma using funds from the Proposition 68 Park Bond of 2018. The project was put together by four of our local park districts, with SMUD providing the land. The Mission Oaks Recreation and Park District will operate the park, which will provide Arden Arcade and other communities in the area with a first-of-a-kind park where kids with a disability, their families, their friends and everyone else can enjoy a fun park experience together. Mike Grace, General Manager of the Fulton-El Camino Recreation and Park District, introduced the project on behalf of the Sacramento Parks Foundation. He noted that the state grant requires that the project must be ready for public use within two years. He also said the community will be invited to help with the park’s landscaping. Gregg Fishman of the SMUD Board spoke about the role of SMUD’s Shine awards in making the land available and about the park’s energy conservation theme. Perhaps most importantly, Keri Sternberg, whose son became severely disabled after battling brain cancer as a toddler, spoke on behalf of parents of children with a disability about the crucial importance of this kind of facility for children like hers. We are all very fortunate to be getting such a wonderful facility right here in our community! For some specifics about the project see: https://odellengineering.com/2020/02/27/empowerment-park-awarded-6-28-million-in-prop-68-funding/