The elevated stage at Ryon Memorial Park in Lompoc is set for a major renovation, with construction expected to begin later this fall.
The stage, located in the northern section of the park, has been used by the community for decades. City records show it was built between the 1950s and 1960s and has not undergone any major renovations since then.
The Lompoc City Council approved the renovation project in February, and the bidding process has now closed. Community Development Manager Chanel Ovalle said the project is part of a broader effort to improve accessibility throughout the city’s parks.
We are looking to renovate all of our city parks in order for all of them to be accessible to all people within our city, with pathways, parking, multi-use structures, Ovalle said. Making the community more accessible, not just for kids, but for the whole community for elderly, seniors and teens.
Ovalle said the existing stage does not currently meet Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility requirements, making the project eligible for federal Community Development Block Grant funding.
Community Development Grant is a federal grant that we receive, and its supposed to be used for areas of low income, Ovalle said. We are going to be using $300,000 of those funds toward this project.
The Lompoc Rotary Club is contributing an additional $50,000 to the project.
Robert Klug, a former Lompoc Rotary Club president and current club member, said the organization wanted to help improve a space that is used for community events.
It needed a lot of help and upgrading, Klug said. Our community is growing, and we want to make sure that the stage in the park represents our community well. Were always looking to upgrade and make our community better and make it more accessible to the community as a whole.
As part of the renovation, the existing stage will be demolished and replaced with a new structure that will be named the Rotary Centennial Stage.
Plans include an accessible ramp, a concrete area in front of the stage for multi-use activities and a windbreak wall.
Community members have mixed opinions about the project.
Lompoc resident Karin Rivera said the stage has needed improvements for years, particularly because it is used for community events.
We have festivals here on the stage, and its always really bad, Rivera said. Only when its the Flower Festival, for example, do they fix the stage a little bit, but thats about it.
But Lompoc resident Jorge Ramirez said he believes other areas of the park should receive more attention because the stage is only used a few times a year.
Usually, its only used once, twice or three times a year, Ramirez said. I feel it would be better to expand other areas, like the childrens area.
Construction is expected to begin in late fall, with the project anticipated to be completed by the end of this year.