City of Calipatria Community Center Park

The City of Calipatria is developing a new public park and community center on a 3.0-acre segment of the Cliff Hatfield Memorial Airport site, located at the northern frontage of West Main Street. The project aims to address the city's park acreage deficiency and includes the construction of a 12,655 square foot community center equipped with a solar power system. Additional site amenities consist of an 80 by 60 foot accessible playground, a 2,500 square foot splash pad with a recycled water tank and shaded seating, a 4,500 square foot paved walking path, and shaded picnic areas featuring solar lighting. Infrastructure requirements include an 11,840 square foot parking lot with 28 stalls, four of which must be ADA compliant, as well as site fencing and a bioswale and bioretention basin for stormwater management. The project has undergone environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act, resulting in a Mitigated Negative Declaration. Key compliance requirements include the implementation of a Burrowing Owl Plan approved by the CDFW and strict adherence to protocols for the discovery of human remains. To mitigate hazardous material risks, the contractor must perform soil testing and locate four underground storage tanks to prevent exposure to arsenic and organochlorine pesticides. The project was officially approved on December 9, 2025, with the City of Calipatria serving as the lead agency.