Left to right; Downey Councilman Alex Saab, Mayor Fernando Vasquez, and Councilman Mario Guerra take a stroll along the new trails at Furman Park. The new walking trails at Furman and Apollo Parks were made possible through a grant awarded to the City of Downey by the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District, as part of the 1996 voter approved Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond Act.
Photo by Tammye McDuff.
By Tammye McDuff
As part of the ongoing Healthy Downey initiative, with the health of grant funding, two brand new walking trails were dedicated on November 1, 2014 at Furman Park and Apollo Parks.
The Mayor and City Council were on hand to take the first trek on the new half-mile trail around the 13-acre Furman Park. Family arts and craft activities, community information booths and free giveaways were available to the public from 10:00 am to 11:30 am. Immediately following the dedication event at Furman Park, City Council held a special ground breaking at 12:15pm for additional walking trails that will be constructed at Apollo Park.
The new walking trails at Furman and Apollo Parks were made possible through a grant awarded to the City of Downey by the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District, as part of the 1996 voter approved Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond Act. New outdoor stationary fitness equipment and safety lighting will be installed along the trails in early 2015.
Furman Park has open green space for picnicking, picnic tables, and barbeques and tennis courts. The new walking trails will allow access to county pedestrian and bike paths along the Rio Hondo River nearby.
Apollo park has open green space for picnicking, picnic tables, barbeques, athletic fields, ball diamonds, basketball courts, sand volleyball courts, shuffle board court, bocce ball court, and a gymnasium with indoor basketball and volleyball courts. Apollo Park is close to county facilities at Imperial Highway and Old River School Road. Construction is expected to begin this month and be completed in December for a decomposed granite jogging and walking trail in the 15-acre Apollo Park, 12544 Rives Ave. The trail will be less than two-thirds of a mile long.
On September 23, 2014, the City Council contracted with South Bay Landscaping, Inc., the lowest of five bidders at $118,640. Total cost of the Apollo Park initial phase is $154,000, including soil testing, inspection and contingencies.
