Pico Park Serves Communities In More Ways Than One by Bekka Wiedenmeyer - City News Group, Inc.
View Upcoming Events View Your Local Sales

Community Calendar

◄ OCTOBER ►
S M T W T F S
27 28 29 30 01 02 03
04 05 06 07 08 09 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
View Events
Submit Events

Pico Park Serves Communities In More Ways Than One

By Bekka Wiedenmeyer, Staff Writer
July 20, 2016 at 11:32am. Views: 81

GRAND TERRACE>> Pico Park, located in Grand Terrace, is more than just a place for children to come and play. It is more than just an area for families to barbecue, or to get in their 10,000 steps for the day. Pico Park holds more of a special meaning in the hearts of the residents of Grand Terrace because along with picnic tables, barbecue grills and basketball courts, Pico Park is also the home to the Veterans Wall of Freedom. Since 2011, the city has worked toward developing a monument dedicated to local veterans and their families. The project cost $100,000, but through the support of the community and the hard work of the committee that developed it, led by Chairman Robert Lavin, Veterans Day 2015 marked the birth of the Wall of Freedom at Pico Park. With block letters standing six-feet tall and three-feet wide, the monument expresses the thankfulness in the heart of Grand Terrace for service members who have given, are currently giving or will give in the future their lives to protecting the freedoms of everyone else. “It says a lot that so many veterans from different communities have joined and supported the efforts of the Veterans Wall of Freedom committee in building this memorable structure here in Grand Terrace,” Lavin said in a previous article with City News Group. “They realize it is centrally located and freeway accessible for everyone’s families.” Last year, there were only letters on the monument displaying the word “FREEDOM.” This past May, however, on Memorial Day, there was a little more to celebrate: the names of more than 300 veterans who have served the United States and sacrificed their lives to protecting the freedoms of its citizens. “This is only the beginning as we continue to reach out to encourage other service members and their families to list themselves or their loved ones on the monument forever,” Lavin said on that day. Pico Park, located at 21950 Pico St., Grand Terrace CA 92313, is open from 7 a.m. to dusk and has many opportunities for people of all ages to enjoy. Along with having two basketball courts and two baseball fields with Little League fencing, it also has picnic tables with shelter and barbecue areas, which can be reserved through the City of Grand Terrace. Twenty-four hour recorded video surveillance keeps the park safe for all visitors. Fellow city park Richard Rollins Community Park shares a tie with Pico Park in that Richard Rollins, the man whom the park is named after, was responsible for opening and closing both parks seven days a week. He was the unofficial “caretaker” of both parks and made sure the bathrooms and grounds stayed clean. Even when he was using a cane or a walker, Rollins continued to visit the parks and care for them. When funds were being raised to construct the Veterans Wall of Freedom, the Grand Terrace Lions Club held annual 5K Fun Run/Walks to help contribute. A health fair sponsored by Healthy GT paired with 2015’s Fun Run/Walk, promoting the popular idea of healthy lifestyles for Grand Terrace residents. In the past, Pico Park has also hosted the Annual Halloween Festival, which has since been moved to Richard Rollins Community Park. Pico Park, along with Richard Rollins Community, is also a recipient of a portion of Quimby fees, which the city has allocated to parts of the park system that need financial assistant to help with upkeep and future recreation needs. Visit http://www.grandterrace-ca.gov/parks-and-recreation.html to find out more about Pico Park and the other amenities it offers.

Related Articles

Photo Courtesy of: The CARE Project inc.

By Carl M. Dameron, Contributing Writer

October 20, 2026 at 03:09pm. Views: 673

Photo caption: The CARE Project’s Vice President, Diana Jaurigue, with President & Founder Carrie Madrid, who is wearing the LympheDIVAS compression sleeve on her left arm. Donated compression garments help manage swelling and are essential to daily care for many breast cancer survivors.

Photo Courtesy of: Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino

By Rachel Bonilla, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:37pm. Views: 217

Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino (FARSB) has once again partnered with ALDI for their annual volunteer event, where team members packed over 1,300 food boxes with various shelf-stable items to be distributed for disaster relief as needed.

Photo Courtesy of: CIty News Group

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

October 20, 2026 at 04:11pm. Views: 1637

An October 2026 study from Loma Linda University suggests a simple dietary change may influence inflammation-related measures in older adults. A bowl of walnuts sits alongside a nutritious breakfast, illustrating the everyday dietary choice examined in Loma Linda University research.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group - AI Illustration

By Hattie Strong, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:38pm. Views: 195

Loma Linda University Children's Health Specialty Clinics, a new five-story, 105,000-square-foot facility designed to bring more than 21 pediatric specialties together. The facility is expected to begin serving patients in early 2027.This is an AI-generated illustration, not a verified photograph of the actual building.

Photo Courtesy of: https://wellri.com

By Stella Pierce, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:38pm. Views: 186

An October City announcement draws attention to an everyday household practice with benefits for food budgets, kitchen safety and the environment. A basket of fresh produce can represent a week's worth of meals, the results of a successful backyard harvest or an unexpected bargain at the grocery store. Yet without proper storage, even the freshest fruits and vegetables can spoil before a family has an opportunity to use them.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group - AI Illustration

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:38pm. Views: 280

An October announcement highlights how investigative technology and cooperation among law enforcement agencies can help solve crimes affecting Grand Terrace neighborhoods. For residents of Grand Terrace, home is more than an address. It is where families gather, children grow up and neighbors build relationships over many years. When a residential burglary occurs, the effects can extend beyond the property taken or damage caused. A crime inside someone's home can undermine the sense of security that makes a neighborhood feel safe.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group - AI Illustration

By Amanda Spencer, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:38pm. Views: 184

The rumble of a commercial truck passing through a city can represent two very different things. For a business awaiting a delivery, it may signal the arrival of essential supplies. For residents living near a busy roadway, it may raise concerns about traffic, noise and safety. In Grand Terrace, finding a reasonable balance between those interests is at the center of an ongoing transportation planning effort.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Amanda Spencer, Community Writer

October 20, 2026 at 03:49pm. Views: 582

Secure drop box is located outside the Grand Terrace Library, on the west end of the Civic Center building at 22795 Barton Road. According to the City, it will remain accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3. The San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters is responsible for operating the box, collecting ballots and transporting them for election processing.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By William Cortez, Community Writer

October 7, 2026 at 10:47am. Views: 1348

Young readers made a splash during the County Library’s 2026 Summer Reading Program, discovering new books, building reading skills and celebrating a summer filled with learning and imagination. Read more below to see how local readers made waves this summer.

Photo Courtesy of: Dignity Health’s - Community Hospital of San Bernardino and St. Bernardine Medical Center

By Amanda Spence, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:40pm. Views: 292

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – Oct. 27, 2026 – Dignity Health’s - Community Hospital of San Bernardino (CHSB) and St. Bernardine Medical Center (SBMC), members of CommonSpirit Health, announced today they earned 8 recognitions from Healthgrades, a national leading resource for patients seeking information about hospitals and physicians. The 2027 honors recognize their collective commitment to delivering clinical excellence and compassionate care to patients.

Photo Courtesy of: https://jobs.saic.com/

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:39pm. Views: 268

For veterans returning to civilian life, completing military service is often the beginning of another demanding transition. Finding employment, translating military experience into civilian qualifications and navigating available benefits can require considerable time and assistance. Even veterans with extensive leadership and technical skills may encounter difficulties identifying opportunities that match their experience.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group - AI Illustration

By William Cortez, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:39pm. Views: 261

Running shoes, colorful clothing and a willingness to have fun will take center stage in Moreno Valley on Saturday, November 14, when the city hosts its 2026 Fun Color Run at the Civic Center Amphitheater. Residents will have a chance to experience an event where the goal is not necessarily to finish first, but to participate, laugh and cross the finish line with a colorful memory of their community.

--> -->