Children First Campaign Inc

The Children First Campaign seeks support for the construction of an innovative pocket park to benefit disadvantaged children and families of East Bakersfield. The proposed park site is a 16,000 square-foot vacant lot at the corner of Brown and Monterey streets (where Monterey and Niles intersect), one block east of Williams Elementary School in the heart of East Bakersfield. The longstanding vacant lot, in the middle of a neighborhood teeming with young families, has become an eyesore, a collection site for litter and illegal dumping. Children First is seeking to transform this vacant lot, brimming with unrealized potential.

 

A Beacon of Hope

The pocket park will serve as a beacon of hope and pride for East Bakersfield families, and will foster a sense of community ownership among residents. Over 10,000 people who live within the census tract around the proposed site of the park will benefit directly from this project, including the 450 students at Williams Elementary school and their families. Among these residents, 25% are children between the ages of 0 and 9 years old; 24% of families are led by a single female parent; 55% fall below the federal poverty line; and 80% are renters. The odds are simply stacked against students at nearby Williams Elementary. For example, 96.7% of students at Williams are socioeconomically disadvantaged, and 51.4% are English learners. These residents rarely see quality-of-life improvements and severely lack nearby green space.

 

The Center of a Community

A pocket park, or parkette, is a small green space carved out of unused or underutilized space in an urban environment that is accessible to the general public. The pocket park concept was conceived by a group of mothers whose children were students at Williams School. They wanted a safe place for their children to play and a gathering place for friends and family, especially during evenings and weekends when the school is closed. The park will provide space for both informal and organized activities that build community, promote physical activity and reduce crime. During the school year, the park will serve as an outdoor classroom for Williams students. During the summer months, Children First will provide enrichment opportunities for families to combat summer learning loss. On the weekends, neighborhood residents will utilize the park for informal gatherings and exercise. In addition, we are working with community partners to provide programming throughout the year, including parent classes, Zumba and fitness lessons, farmers markets, soccer games, etc. In this way, our park will inspire community pride and healthy living.