Photo credit: Emma Bowen @ Yelp
For years, city advocates have been pushing for investment in the city’s long-neglected parks, which not only provide valuable recreational opportunities but also contribute to community health and well-being. One such effort was Measure P, a citizen-led initiative that aimed to fund park improvements and expand recreational programs throughout the city.
By: Jennifer Wilson
But what do these improvements look like, how much money has been raised, and what has been done with Measure P so far? We will delve into the details of Measure P, its impact on the community, and what it means for the future of Fresno’s parks.
What is Measure P?
Measure P is a sales tax initiative that was put on the ballot and approved by Fresno voters in November 2018 with the aim of generating revenue for recreation and arts programs in the city. It was initially declared as defeated, but a lawsuit filed by advocates – arguing that the measure required a simple majority, not a two-thirds majority, to pass – eventually led the Fifth District Court of Appeal to declare it approved.
Under Measure P, a sales tax increase of 3/8 of a cent is imposed on every dollar spent in the city. This increase is expected to generate approximately $38 million annually for the next 30 years. The revenue generated by Measure P is intended to fund a wide range of recreational and cultural programs and facilities throughout Fresno, including parks, community centers, and public arts projects.
Last May, Measure P brought in $58 million in revenue according to the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget – well over the expected estimates. When combined with the previous fiscal year carryover, it totaled nearly $75 million to spend on parks, recreation, and cultural arts.
Why is Measure P important?
Parks and recreation programs are essential to a community’s health and well-being. They provide a place for physical activity for people of all ages, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting a 25% increase in residents who exercise at least three times per week.
Parks are also gathering places for families and social groups, regardless of their ability to pay for access, giving communities a sense of public pride and cohesion beyond financial gain. Access to parks has also been linked to reductions in crime and juvenile delinquency.
Prior to its passage, Fresno struggled to maintain its recreational and cultural programs. The city’s parks and community centers were in disrepair and the city’s public arts programs lacked the funding needed to create and maintain large-scale public art installations. Fresno consistently ranked near the bottom in the Trust for Public Land’s annual ParkScore ratings, which evaluates the park systems of the largest 100 cities in the United States.
Recognizing the importance of these programs in maintaining the health of their communities, community leaders and advocates worked to put Measure P on the ballot. By passing this measure, Fresno voters voiced their desire to support investing in their communities and ensuring that all residents have access to well-built parks and recreational facilities.
“In years past, there have been no financial resources for plant and tree replacements,” said Mozier to GV Wire. “But now, a very exciting addition is that we have proposed in the budget a four-person parks detail crew.”
How has Measure P been implemented so far?
For the most part, Measure P has been used to update and beautify Fresno’s parks as intended: completed projects under Measure P so far include a new community center at The Link at Blackstone, restroom roof replacements at Belcher Park and Logan Park, community center repainting at Fink White Park, walk-in refrigerator repairs at Mary Ella Brown, parking lot reconstruction at Romain Park, and shade sail replacements at Woodward Park.
There are many new projects and initiatives in the works to improve these vital resources even further, from bleacher upgrades to a whole new park on the corner of Van Ness Boulevard and Weldon Avenue.
Challenges ahead
There has been controversy surrounding the use and allocation of Measure P funds.
In April 2022, the City Council put them towards the purchase of the Tower Theater without consulting the Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission. The language included in Measure P states that the Commission is meant to work in partnership with the Fresno Arts Council in deciding how to implement funds, and critics fear that the commission may be getting frozen out of the negotiations.
When the Fresno Parks, Recreation, and Arts Commission convened in February, members of many local arts organizations and community members rallied in support of the Fresno Arts Council and spoke in support of the council managing the disbursement of Measure P funds, rather than the Fresno Parks Department.
Lilia Chavez, the executive Director of the President Arts Council, spoke of the importance of holding on to the dreams the community has cherished for years.
“We could have dialogue, and you could ask questions, but that was not allowed,” she said. “It is important that you assist the Arts Council in moving this process forward by supporting an agreement that will be approved by the Council so that we can begin this work and get these funds out to the community, who have waited far too long to realize their dream.”
The final say on what role the Fresno Arts Council will play has yet to be determined and the conversation between the parties involved is still ongoing.
What’s next?
With the continued success of this initiative, the future of Fresno’s parks is looking brighter, even amid the ongoing debate over fund allocations and concerns about transparency in the decision-making process.
Moving forward, it will be essential to prioritize transparency and community engagement. Those interested in following developments concerning Project P are encouraged to subscribe to the Fresno for Parks newsletter for updates. The Parks Recreation and Arts Commission meets twice a month on Monday evenings at 5:30 pm, and everyone is invited to participate in the public hearings.
By working together, community leaders, advocates, and residents can ensure that all funds are committed to giving residents access to safe, vibrant, and well-maintained parks.
Flourishing Fresno 