WATSONVILLE — Currently in the middle of a massive restoration project, Hazelwood Park is almost unrecognizable.
Gone are the cactuses that lined a fence bordering nearby backyards. Tall shrubs have been sheared down, while low-hanging branches have been trimmed up.
Perhaps the most noticeable improvement is a new, widened asphalt walkway, replacing the crocodile-like blacktop that was traversed daily by dozens of residents and neighbors alike.
The one-acre park is a stretch of trail that connects Herman Avenue to Melwood Court, and is a popular path for nearby Rolling Hills Middle School students.
Working with Watsonville Wetlands Watch, the City of Watsonville received a $180,000 grant through the California Natural Resources Agency’s Urban Greening Program in 2016, according to Principal Engineer Murray Fontes.
After two years of planning, Watsonville Wetlands Watch Executive Director Jonathan Pilch said he is looking forward to seeing the end result.
“We are really excited to see this project get off the ground,” he said.
Construction on the project, which is being done by Earthworks Paving Contractors of Capitola, is expected to wrap up in mid-September. Then, crews from Watsonville Wetlands Watch and the city will plant 1,200 native plants, including 10 large trees.
To help with the monumental task, officials will be seeking volunteers from the community, with a public planting day set for Nov. 17.
“It’s a fun neighborhood event that will substantially improve the park,” Pilch said.
Pilch said he was particularly excited about the project’s benefits to the environment, which will improve water quality and storm filtration into West Struve Slough.
Not only that, but the revitalization of the park will also improve its safety for visitors, Fontes said, with the added visibility and the expected increased foot traffic.
“There’s a much better line of sight,” he said.
Hazelwood Park has been receiving some attention from the community in recent years, such as a number of mural painting days aimed at curbing graffiti in the park.
Watsonville City Councilman Jimmy Dutra, whose district covers Hazelwood Park, said he has talked to neighbors in the area, who’ve expressed concerns about safety in the park.
With the improvements, that shouldn’t be an issue anymore, Dutra said, adding that the community murals have given residents a sense of ownership in the park.
“There’s been so many community hands involved in this,” he said. “When someone feels that something belongs to them, they tend to care for it.”
