Launching Calwa Park Into The Future

Calwa Park Renovation

In 2019, a group of neighbors approached Fresno Building Healthy Communities and Friends of Calwa, inviting us to partner with them to apply for Proposition 68 funds through the Statewide Park Program to renovate the 1955 community park. Thanks to a community-led effort, Calwa Park is receiving a $6.6M renovation to implement the community’s vision for a safer, more accessible park.

Join Us for the Groundbreaking Celebration!

📅 Date: Friday, July 18, 2025
🕙 Time: 10:00 AM
📍 Location: Calwa Park, 4545 E. Church Ave, Fresno, CA 93725

RSVP Today! Learn More →

Fresno Building Healthy Communities is leading a $6.6M renovation to ensure Calwa residents have access to more and better parks! 

Children playing on a modern playground structure featuring a spiked, spherical climbing dome and wooden balance beams, set in a park surrounded by trees. A young girl interacts with musical and sensory play equipment near tall wooden poles in a nature-themed playground, while others play on nearby slides and climbing areas. A futuristic playground with bold blue and yellow climbing structures, a circular play wheel, and a tall slide tower, surrounded by trees and picnic benches. A wide park walkway with benches and trees, featuring a tall rocket-themed water play structure with mist spraying from below. A bustling playground filled with swings, colorful climbing structures, and families enjoying the space, with trees and pathways throughout. Aerial view of a large park showing diverse play areas, walking paths, and trees, highlighting the layout of the renovated community space. Children playing on a modern playground structure featuring a spiked, spherical climbing dome and wooden balance beams, set in a park surrounded by trees. A young girl interacts with musical and sensory play equipment near tall wooden poles in a nature-themed playground, while others play on nearby slides and climbing areas. A futuristic playground with bold blue and yellow climbing structures, a circular play wheel, and a tall slide tower, surrounded by trees and picnic benches. A wide park walkway with benches and trees, featuring a tall rocket-themed water play structure with mist spraying from below. A bustling playground filled with swings, colorful climbing structures, and families enjoying the space, with trees and pathways throughout. Aerial view of a large park showing diverse play areas, walking paths, and trees, highlighting the layout of the renovated community space. Children playing on a modern playground structure featuring a spiked, spherical climbing dome and wooden balance beams, set in a park surrounded by trees. A young girl interacts with musical and sensory play equipment near tall wooden poles in a nature-themed playground, while others play on nearby slides and climbing areas. A futuristic playground with bold blue and yellow climbing structures, a circular play wheel, and a tall slide tower, surrounded by trees and picnic benches. A wide park walkway with benches and trees, featuring a tall rocket-themed water play structure with mist spraying from below. A bustling playground filled with swings, colorful climbing structures, and families enjoying the space, with trees and pathways throughout. Aerial view of a large park showing diverse play areas, walking paths, and trees, highlighting the layout of the renovated community space.
Families and children gather under purple shade sails in a picnic area near an adventurous playground with a tall turquoise slide tower. Park visitors sit near a taco stand named “El Dorado Taqueria,” with yellow tables and shaded seating under modern tree-like canopies. People walk and cycle through a shaded park pathway near the food stand and misting rocket structure, surrounded by lush landscaping. Bird’s-eye view of the park showing the rocket slide structure and colorful playground zones nestled among trees and curving walkways. A tall, vintage rocket-shaped playground structure made of white metal bars and red accents stands in an open dirt area near a fenced playground and large shade trees under a clear blue sky. A peaceful park scene with split walkways surrounded by lush landscaping, ornamental grasses, and flowering plants, leading toward a shaded playground area with a tall slide and canopy-covered seating. Families and children gather under purple shade sails in a picnic area near an adventurous playground with a tall turquoise slide tower. Park visitors sit near a taco stand named “El Dorado Taqueria,” with yellow tables and shaded seating under modern tree-like canopies. People walk and cycle through a shaded park pathway near the food stand and misting rocket structure, surrounded by lush landscaping. Bird’s-eye view of the park showing the rocket slide structure and colorful playground zones nestled among trees and curving walkways. A tall, vintage rocket-shaped playground structure made of white metal bars and red accents stands in an open dirt area near a fenced playground and large shade trees under a clear blue sky. A peaceful park scene with split walkways surrounded by lush landscaping, ornamental grasses, and flowering plants, leading toward a shaded playground area with a tall slide and canopy-covered seating. Families and children gather under purple shade sails in a picnic area near an adventurous playground with a tall turquoise slide tower. Park visitors sit near a taco stand named “El Dorado Taqueria,” with yellow tables and shaded seating under modern tree-like canopies. People walk and cycle through a shaded park pathway near the food stand and misting rocket structure, surrounded by lush landscaping. Bird’s-eye view of the park showing the rocket slide structure and colorful playground zones nestled among trees and curving walkways. A tall, vintage rocket-shaped playground structure made of white metal bars and red accents stands in an open dirt area near a fenced playground and large shade trees under a clear blue sky. A peaceful park scene with split walkways surrounded by lush landscaping, ornamental grasses, and flowering plants, leading toward a shaded playground area with a tall slide and canopy-covered seating. Families and children gather under purple shade sails in a picnic area near an adventurous playground with a tall turquoise slide tower. Park visitors sit near a taco stand named “El Dorado Taqueria,” with yellow tables and shaded seating under modern tree-like canopies. People walk and cycle through a shaded park pathway near the food stand and misting rocket structure, surrounded by lush landscaping. Bird’s-eye view of the park showing the rocket slide structure and colorful playground zones nestled among trees and curving walkways. A tall, vintage rocket-shaped playground structure made of white metal bars and red accents stands in an open dirt area near a fenced playground and large shade trees under a clear blue sky. A peaceful park scene with split walkways surrounded by lush landscaping, ornamental grasses, and flowering plants, leading toward a shaded playground area with a tall slide and canopy-covered seating.

Project Details

Through community design sessions and workshops,  youth, seniors, and families selected and prioritized the project’s amenities and features:

New construction of three playgrounds and a walking loop

New picnic and BBQ areas with shade structures

Outdoor fitness area

Sensory-drought-tolerant demonstration garden

Open market plaza and art kiosks

Lighting and landscaping improvements throughout the improvement area

Renovate the existing snack bar and historic rocket ship sculpture

New drinking fountains

The project includes various integrated sustainable materials, strategies, and techniques, including soil amendments and grading, drought-tolerant plants, and new shade trees to mitigate the summer heat.

Project Partners

About Calwa Park

The Calwa Recreation and Park District (Calwa Park) is a special district founded in 1955 that serves residents in the greater Calwa community. Calwa Park comprises 20 acres of park space, including the historical Calwa Rocket – a 26-foot-tall playground structure and the only one of its kind in Fresno, a dedicated community facility, four (4) sports fields, five (5) picnic shelters, and the only permitted graffiti art wall in central and northern California.

Calwa Park is governed by an elected five-member Board of Directors and is primarily funded by property taxes from owners within the district boundaries.

The park is open seven days a week, from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., with no entry fees.

Calwa Recreation & Park District Logo

Issue Areas

Health

Housing

Economic Development

Land Use

Outdoor Access

Transportation

Community Safety

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    Fresno CA 93702

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