Pico Park Serves Communities In More Ways Than One

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.