The Gustine City Council has tasked city staff with finding ways to reduce costs on the long-awaited renovation of Pioneer Park, aiming to fit the ambitious project within the $1.3 million grant provided by the Proposition 68 Statewide Park Program.

Rising costs and funding setbacks are making it necessary to scale back plans for the project, which has been in limbo since 2020. At its meeting on April 1, Council members provided direction to move forward with a cost-cutting approach to ensure the city does not lose the grant.

The renovation project, originally planned to transform Pioneer Park into a modern recreational hub, included features such as a full-court basketball court, splash pad, playground for children up to age 12, free-play areas, shaded picnic spots with grills, and updated fencing around the park. The project scope was developed through extensive public outreach in 2019, but pandemic-related disruptions halted production and construction soon after the city received the grant award in early 2020. “For quite some time we were not able to move on it,” said Jami Westervelt, Economic and Community Development Director for the City of Gustine.

As the City looked to resume the project, economic factors—exacerbated by inflation—pushed the project’s cost up by an estimated $900,000, Westervelt said. Efforts by city staff to secure additional funding, including a Congressional allocation through a federal appropriations bill, ultimately fell through due to changes in the presidential administration. Westervelt confirmed there would be no additional federal funding available and no extensions to the project’s March 2028 completion deadline.

Given the budget constraints, the Council weighed three options: reduce the project scope to match the grant amount, allocate city funds to cover the shortfall, or continue searching for external funding. Staff advised that the third option was not realistic due to the tight timeline, and the Council ultimately directed staff to pursue cost-cutting measures. This decision will require scaling back features from the original plan, which must adhere to state mandates for public outreach before proceeding.

To involve the community in the decision-making process, the City plans to host a public hearing to determine which features will remain and which will be eliminated. This will allow residents to weigh in and shape a revised vision for Pioneer Park that balances public priorities with financial realities.