Work begins on Watsonville’s ‘crown jewel’

Watsonville leaders, state officials and community members gathered Thursday afternoon at City Plaza to celebrate the start of a long-awaited revitalization project aimed at preserving the historic downtown gathering place while expanding its use for future generations.

The project, which city officials said is expected to take about a year to complete in two phases, will renovate the plaza’s historic gazebo and fountain and add new amenities including a permanent stage, public art, seating areas and ADA-accessible pathways.

Deputy City Manager Nick Calubaquib called the plaza “the heart of the city,” noting it has hosted cultural celebrations, rallies, markets and community events for more than a century.

“In too many communities, access to quality parks and open space is considered a privilege when it really should be a right,” Calubaquib said.

The first phase of construction will focus on restoring the historic gazebo and fountain and upgrading electrical infrastructure. That work is expected to take five to six months. A second phase, projected to last another eight to nine months, will include construction of a new permanent stage, expanded seating and picnic areas, public art installations and other improvements designed to support the more than 20 annual events held at the plaza.

The project received $3.35 million through California’s Proposition 68 Statewide Park Program grant, along with local funding through Watsonville’s Measure R parks initiative, officials said.

Georg Romero of the Pajaro Valley Historical Association said the plaza has been central to Watsonville life for 166 years and has evolved alongside the city itself.

“The plaza has served and continues to serve Watsonville well, providing a place for speeches, for rallies, for concerts, for protests, for festivals, for markets,” Romero said.

Romero also reflected on the generations of residents who have gathered there, noting the many languages spoken at the plaza over the years, including Spanish, English, Chinese, Japanese, Tagalog, Zapotec and Mixteco.

Mayor Crystal Salcido credited former city councils and years of community feedback for bringing the project to fruition.

“This is our crown jewel,” Salcido said. “This is the epitome of what we mean by cultural designation.”

City Manager Tamara Vides described the project as part of a broader effort to create a more vibrant downtown that attracts residents, visitors and businesses.

“When I think about this project in particular, I don’t think it’s only improving infrastructure,” Vides said. “We are preserving history and we’re lifting culture and the identity of Watsonville while we are creating a space for future generations.”

Representatives from the offices of U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren and state Sen. John Laird also attended the ceremony, along with California State Parks officials, who praised the project as an example of community-driven investment in public spaces.

Construction is expected to begin immediately.