Contact: Bob Ford (209) 577-5437
No. 08-076
February 27, 2008

Sanders Neighborhood Park Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

The City of Modesto will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Sanders Neighborhood Park, located at the corner of Litt Road and Isabella Drive, on Saturday, March 1, at 10 a.m.

This is the third neighborhood park in the Village One Specific Plan Boundary, with Ustach Neighborhood Park completed in 2004 and Freedom Neighborhood Park completed last year. The location of Sanders Neighborhood Park presents great opportunities for joint use programs, involving both Mary Ann Sanders Elementary School and the needs of the residential community. Design workshops were held where neighbors of the park and other interested people had the opportunity to provide input into the design of the park.

Parks in proximity to schools are named after the school; as such, the park has also taken on Mrs. Sanders’ namesake. Mary Ann Sanders Elementary School was named after the distinguished retired Sylvan School District administrator, Mrs. Mary Ann Sanders, who was the national Elementary Principal of the year in 1992.

“I am excited to open the third and final park in Village One,” said Mayor Jim Ridenour. “The three parks are the result of great community planning and will be terrific assets to the residents of Village One and the surrounding area.”

The seven-acre park was built by Goodland Landscape Construction, Inc. of Tracy, CA, for $2,449,356.60.  Construction included grading, paving, road improvements adjacent to the park, underground utilities, landscaping, irrigation system, children’s play area with play apparatus, park furniture, drinking fountains, walking paths, half-court basketball, water play area, family picnic areas, picnic shade structures, arbor structure, restroom facility, park sign and security lighting.

Royston Hanamoto Alley and Abey of Mill Valley, CA, designed the park. Funding for the construction will be provided through the City of Modesto Parks Capital Facilities Fees, Community Facilities District No. 2004-1 (Village One #2).

The ceremony will include comments from Mrs. Mary Ann Sanders; Mayor Jim Ridenour; City staff; and Martha Gausman, Assistant Superintendent of Sylvan Union School District.

For more information, contact Bob Ford at (209) 577-5437 or email: bford@modestogov.com.

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To contact the City of Modesto Public Information Office, 
call Jessica Smart at (209) 342-4707. Email: jsmart@modestogov.com