Dozens of Families Volunteer Time to Plant Water Efficient Trees, Shrubs at New Inland Park

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – Parents joined with their children and grandchildren on Saturday to plant several different varieties of Water Saving Garden Friendly plants and shrubs at San Bernardino’s Bryce Edward Hanes Park, which is expected to open to the public in April.

“After all the rain that we so desperately needed, it was a beautiful, sunny morning. So many people came out to see the new park under construction and to help plant drought-tolerant shrubs that will help conserve water in the years to come,” said Susan Longville, president of San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District, which created a joint powers authority with the city of San Bernardino to build the 2.8-acre park on the northwest corner of 9th and E Streets. “We even had young people there from local churches.”

Officials estimated that there well over 70 people involved in the community planting event, including the parents, wife and children of San Bernardino Police Officer Bryce Edward Hanes, for whom the park is named. Officer Hanes was killed by a suspected drunk driver in an on-duty traffic collision in 2015.

The park will also include a skateboard park named in honor of Jonathan Cole, a 21-year-old skateboarder who was electrocuted in 2011 while trying to save his mother and step-father from a downed power line.

Other officials attending Saturday’s event included San Bernardino Mayor R. Carey Davis and Council Members Virginia Marquez, Jim Mulvihill and Henry Nickel.

The $5 million grant funded project is being built by the San Bernardino Regional Water Resources Authority, a joint powers authority consisting of San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District and the city of San Bernardino.

San Bernardino was originally awarded $5 million in Proposition 84 funds to build the park in 2012. However, due to financial issues at the city, Valley District agreed to partner with San Bernardino through a joint powers authority to build and maintain the park so that it could comply with state grant funding requirements. The maintenance of the park will eventually be transferred back to the city.

“This park is a really fine example of how Valley District works with our partner agencies in the area, not just water agencies, but cities,” said Valley District Vice President Gil Navarro, whose division includes the park.

The park will also include a soccer practice field, basketball courts, climbing structures and a splash pad that recycles water to irrigate different types of Water Saving Garden Friendly trees and plants. The park will also include picnic areas and fitness stations for adults.

“This park is just a beautiful gem representing the western part of San Bernardino,” Navarro said, adding, “We’re looking forward to the grand opening.”

The Authority will announce a grand opening date for the park in the coming weeks.

– SUBMITTED FOR PUBLICATION BY: San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District / IMAGES CREDIT: City of San Bernardino