Historical Mural Completes the Picture at Las Palmas Park

Recent completion of a 400-foot-long mural in Las Palmas Park depicting the history of the city of San Fernando marks the beginning of a new era for the recreation facility, city officials say.

“It’s a good example of a community reclaiming a park,” said Ed Montan, director of the city’s Department of Recreation and Community Services.

The peace in the park was disturbed with increased gang activity several years ago, and it was the site of a 1991 gang shootout in which a woman and her three children were wounded. Following that incident, the city banned gang members from the area and launched an ambitious park renovation project.

The city obtained funding from the state Land and Water Conservation Fund Program to build a new picnic area, which includes new tables, barbecue grills and two covered eating areas. Other improvements include construction of new restrooms and a snack bar and renovation of two baseball diamonds. The improvements were paid for in part through a California Department of Parks and Recreation bond and federal block grant funds.

In addition, a new ceiling was installed in the recreation center and the bathrooms were upgraded. Las Palmas Senior Club donated 10 palm trees for planting in the park.

The mural, painted by several established area muralists including Otto “Tito” Sturcke and Lalo Garcia, includes 26 17-foot panels telling the story of the city from the mission era to the present. Garcia’s history-oriented proposal for the mural impressed city officials, who reviewed dozens of proposals from other artists.

Garcia and Sturcke began work in December on the 6-foot-high series of paintings, aided by a group of “at-risk” teenagers from the San Fernando area.

Montan said the next park project is construction of a youth center to relieve overcrowding in the park’s gym. Funding would come from future county parks bond measures.