McKinley East Sacramento Neighborhood Association (MENA)

McKinley, Rose Garden, Glen Hall parks improved

Jul 13, 2005

There are numerous changes taking place at McKinley Park this year. Most noticeable, is the extensive renovation of the large group picnic area between the tennis courts and the ball field. A concrete pad was poured to support the new tables and benches (and eliminate the mud). A concrete walkway, for easier access by the elderly and disabled, was constructed between the picnic area and 33rd Street and restrooms.
The Clunie Pool in McKinley Park has also seen extensive renovation this year. The perimeter fence around the pool was extended to the south to enclose a grass berm within the pool area. The chain link fence separating the pool from the wading pool has been removed and replaced with a new tiled seat wall.
The project to install new lighting around the perimeter of McKinley Park is scheduled to begin soon. According to Sue Brown in Councilman Steve Cohn?’s office, the lighting project will go to bid ?“within the next few weeks and construction will take place in the fall.?” MENA is providing a portion of the funding for the lighting project.
The city is also making improvements at Glen Hall Park, including a new slide, replacing the chain link fence with decorative tubular steel, and adding a grassy area and shade structures to the pool area. Work will begin on resurfacing the tennis courts within the next few weeks.
MENA has been busy in the parks as well. June 12th a group of MENA volunteers completed an ?“extreme makeover?” on one of the beds surrounding the McKinley Rose Garden. The lavender in the bed had grown quite ?“leggy?” and needed to be replaced. The decision was made to replace the lavender with gazanias, an easy to establish, drought resistant and colorful flower which blooms from April to November. In less than two hours, the MENA volunteers removed all of the lavender, weeded, amended the soil and planted the new flowers. Thank you to all of the volunteers.
Warmer weather has brought out increasing numbers of children to the McKinley playground; and more playground use has brought more wear and tear to the playground. MENA plans frequent events to repair some of the damaged play structures. If you would like to help, please contact Steve Swindel at mena@eastsac.org.