The $2.9 Million Project Was Funded in part by the Clean California Initiative

Dos Palos, CA- Caltrans announced today construction is underway on a $2.9 million renovation of O'Banion Park in Merced County. This includes featuring a new walking path; lighting improvements for the basketball courts and pedestrian pathways; a small stage and gathering space for community events; new picnic tables, benches, pavilions, and shade structures; a splash pad and hydration stations; along with new planters, sod, and updated water-efficient irrigation system.

These improvements were made possible through Governor Gavin Newsom's Clean California initiative - a sweeping, $1.2 billion, multiyear clean-up effort led by Caltrans to remove trash, create thousands of jobs, and join with communities throughout the state to reclaim, transform, and beautify public spaces and help keep them that way.

"We are grateful to our community partners who helped make this project possible," said Grace Magsayo, Caltrans District 10 District Director and Construction. "Caltrans applauds their great vision and hard work to make a lasting positive impact in the community."

In addition to the Clean California grant, Merced County contributed California Proposition 68 and Measure V funding to help install the pedestrian pathways and upgrade utilities at O'Banion Community Park's, including a new irrigation pump, water service, electrical service, and sanitary sewer connections to ensure long-term sustainability.

This project is just one of 314 Clean California projects beautifying communities throughout the state. Since launching Clean California in July 2021, Caltrans and its local partners have picked up more than 3.4 million cubic yards of litter from highways and public spaces - the equivalent of filling more than 136,000 garbage trucks with debris and trash.

Clean California has substantially increased the department's previous trash collection efforts. Caltrans has now hosted more than 650 free dump days in communities throughout the state - resulting in the collection of 15,500-plus mattresses and 57,000 tires. The initiative has enlisted more than 72,000 community clean-up volunteers and created 18,267 jobs, including positions for individuals who were formerly incarcerated, on probation, or experiencing housing insecurity.

For more information about the Clean California initiative, visit cleanca.com and to learn more about transportation and other infrastructure projects funded with state and federal investments, visit Build.CA.gov.

Motorists should expect 5-to-10-minute delays and use alternate routes whenever possible. All work is scheduled to occur as listed but is subject to change due to traffic incidents, weather, availability of equipment/materials, and construction-related issues.

For the safety of workers and other motorists, please Be Work Zone Alert. For the latest highway conditions, visit quickmap.dot.ca.gov