Calexico to renovate park where teen was recently attacked

Recently, a Calexico teenager was violently attacked at Cortez Park. Police said he was left temporarily disabled. Calexico City Council took immediate action.

Mayor Armando Real said, “Because of the incidents that have happened, and now us spending the money to get this place really brand, spanking new, I would hope that the police department does make an effort to swing by here a little more often.”

Real said the city will invest nearly $300,000 in park renovations.

“New basketball courts. New cement. New lights. New bleachers. New everything,” Real said.

The work is scheduled to begin in mid-April and be completed in three months.

“This park is very historic. It’s been here about thirty-seven years,” Real said of Cortez Park located at the corner of East Second Street and Andrade Avenue.

Many factors led to its neglect.

“Deferred maintenance and budget issues,” Real said.

But now, despite a financial crisis, the city has money for projects.

“Even though our general fund is facing a crisis, we actually do have money for renovations. We have money for streets, we have money for infrastructure. We have over twenty million dollars to go ahead and do renovations in our city,” Real said.

He wants the community’s help in making the park safe.

“And they themselves will see people around here that shouldn’t be here and call the police, ‘hey, there’s some guys there. I don’t see them with a basketball, they shouldn’t be there,” Real said.

“I hope to see more kids and more families and more Calexico residents using the park,” Real said.

Real explained that Calexico has nearly 5 million dollars earmarked for project improvements.