The city of Guadalupe, in northern Santa Barbara County, is bringing back its recreation and parks commission. The commission will allow the city to pursue more state and federal grants to help build, renovate and maintain parks there, and work to resume the city’s overall recreation program.
Guadalupe’s mayor, Ariston Julian, said after the 2008 economic recession began, the city struggled to support a parks and rec commission.
“So back in 2014 or 2013, the city recreation commission was disbanded because there was no money— and we had no resources, no money in the recreation budget for any recreation programs,” Julian said.
Julian said the city has gotten grants to build parks, but lacked the funding to maintain them. He notes the number of children in Guadalupe makes a parks and recreation programs an important local issue.
“Guadalupe has over 3,000 kids under the age of 18, and with a population of 7,800, that's a good percentage,” Julian said. “So we want to make sure that we have our ducks in place when it comes to recreation services as we move forward.”
The city is looking for Guadalupe residents to apply to be appointed to the renewed commission. Contact Guadalupe City Hallfor more information.
