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The much-anticipated renovation of Danville’s Diablo Vista Park was completed this year and celebrated in a grand opening last month – but minus what had been a much-anticipated addition eyed by many.
Construction kicked off in May on the playground renovation that had originally been approved alongside a new multi-sport skate park – which would have been the town’s first – but the only portion to move forward after the Town Council decided to forego the skate park and move forward with the renovation on its own.
According to the town, that decision was spurred by “rising construction costs post-pandemic”, with bid amounts during the RFP process earlier this year coming out to less than the amount that would be needed to fund both the skate park and the renovation.
The renovation work was completed by Suarez and Munoz Construction Inc., which was awarded the contract on March 18 with all other bids rejected. As of that update from the town on June 4, the skate park concept was officially off the table.
That news came months after dozens had flooded into the council chambers for its regular meeting on Dec. 1, 2024 to voice support for the development of a skate park as part of the renovation, and to urge the council to take action.
While the skate park wasn’t an agendized item at that meeting – meaning councilmembers were restricted by the Brown Act from commenting at that point – next steps for the Diablo Park renovation project that had been in the works for years were the topic of discussion at a Dec. 10 study session.
Although input from the public at the previous meeting was one factor of the study session discussion, another was the challenge posed by funding both the playground renovation and the skate park with the $3.3 million that had previously been approved for both projects.
The renovation and skate park had been presented as a package when the project first went to bid in 2024. Following allegations and protests from both developers who responded to that RFP, the council ultimately voted to reject both bids, with staff directing the council to reimagine the renovation and skate park as two separate projects.
While there are no signs of the previously anticipated skate park at Diablo Vista Park at 1000 Tassajara Ranch Road following its renovations, there was also no sign at the grand-opening ceremony on Nov. 25 of the strife that led up to that portion of the plan being nixed.
“After months of transformation, one of the Town’s most popular parks has welcomed the community back into its playground with fun new features and a renewed sense of place,” town officials said on social media.
In addition to new playground equipment, Diablo Vista Park now hosts shaded seating areas, game tables, outdoor fitness areas, and expanded picnic spaces. The new playground consists of musical elements and “contemporary, nature-inspired design, innovative play structures”.
The renovation also meant a makeover for the park’s distinctive landmark, the “Large Serpent” sculpture, which was carefully restored to “preserve its artistry and ensure it continues to delight future generations.”
“We invite you to go there; we invite you to visit our other parks,” Councilmember Renee Morgan said at the end of her one-year term as mayor at the Mayor’s Installation and Community Awards Ceremony on Dec. 2. “These play structures and amenities welcome the young, the old, and the young at heart.”
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