The groundbreaking for the Bagdouma Park expansion was attended by city officials, community leaders, and the residents who hope to benefit from the additional recreational space. The first phase of the construction will add 14 acres to the park and should be completed by November 2012. PHOTO: Johnny Flores/Coachella Unincorporated
By Johnny Flores, Jr.
Coachella Unincorporated
COACHELLA, Calif. – In this Eastern Coachella Valley city with over 2,000 registered soccer players there are only three regulation-size soccer fields.
Residents hope that the forthcoming expansion to Bagdouma Park will change this.
“The expansion to Bagdouma Park is going to help our team because there’ll be more space to play games on and practice,” said Johnny Ortiz, a member of the Little Arabs team.
Ortiz will be among the many residents who will enjoy the expansion, which will include three soccer fields, football field, sand volleyball courts, parking lot, bathrooms, sports lighting, playgrounds, walking paths, and a water play area.
The grant-funded first phase is estimated to cost $3.5 million dollar and is being constructed by C.S. Legacy Construction Inc.
The project should be completed by November 2012. The second phase will begin shortly thereafter and will include an extension of Frederick Street to Avenue 51 with two added signal lights.
This is not the only parks and recreation project in the works in Coachella. Rancho Las Flores Park is also under construction in the Rancho Las Flores neighborhood as the city attempts to meet the standard parks and recreation acreage for a city its size.
The ceremony featured remarks from various city officials, including Mayor Eduardo Garcia, who declared September as “Soccer Month” in the city, and Jonathan Hoy, the city engineer. Maria Machuca, president of the Coachella Valley Unified School District School Board, addressed the meaning of additional parks to the community.
“We are in hopes that this expansion of Bagdouma Park will offer a positive outcome on our students and keep them off the streets,” said Machuca.
For more information regarding the ongoing parks and recreation projects in Coachella, residents are asked to call (760) 398-4202 or visit www.coachella.org.
