LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Westside Community Park Committee in conjunction with the Lake County Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Westside Community Park on Thursday, July 25, between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
The public is invited to attend. Refreshments will be served.
As phase two of the park’s development is nearing completion, the committee recently installed the “Jane Barnes Field” sign.
The installation follows action by the Lakeport City Council voting to name the field in Barnes’ honor.
Committee Chairperson Dennis Rollins said the committee had requested approval for the field naming based on “Jane’s long history of leadership in programs for young people and her overall activity in working to build a better Lake County.”
Jane and her husband, Vic Barnes, were early financial supporters of the park’s development as well, said Rollins.
When approached by park founder Charlie Jolin at the park’s inception, the Barnes family donated freely to the project and continued to do so until their death.
The Barnes’ children have continued that financial support through the Keeling-Barnes Family Foundation.
“The Keeling Barnes Family Foundation is sponsoring the Committee’s August 3 Grillin’ on the Green Barbecue Cook-Off. The Foundation will match all donations up to $5,000,” Rollins said.
According to Rollins, Jane and Vic Barnes and the foundation have donated nearly $90,000 to the park’s development.
“The sign installation, as with the park’s development, was once again accomplished through support from the community,” Rollins stated. “The committee purchased the sign but the installation was completed at no cost to the committee because of the donation of time, materials and equipment by RAD Construction, Sundance Tile and Granite, Clear Lake Redi-Mix and the city of Lakeport Public Works Department.”
Phase two of the Westside Community Park consists of four and one-half acres of playing fields including a baseball field, Little League/softball field and soccer fields.
The park is located at 1401 Westside Park Road off of Parallel Drive in Lakeport. It is right behind the Kathy Fowler auto dealership.