City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: SEPTEMBER 1, 2026 FROM: PARKS, RECREATION AND COMMUNITY WARD: 3
SERVICES DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: grant resolution APPROVING ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDS FROM THE California sTATE cOASTAL cONSERVANCY for the Santa Ana River Gateway at Martha McLean Anza Narrows Park IMPROVEMENTS project and authorize an APPROPRIATION AND increase in revenues in the amount of $6,000,000 – supplemental appropriation ISSUE:
Adopt a grant resolution approving the acceptance of grant funds from the California State Coastal Conservancy (Coastal Conservancy) for the Santa Ana River Gateway at Martha McLean Anza Narrows Park Improvements project and authorize an appropriation and increase in revenues in the amount of $6,000,000.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Adopt a resolution approving the acceptance of grant funds from the Coastal Conservancy for the Santa Ana River Gateway at Martha McLean Anza Narrows Park project; With at least five affirmative votes, authorize the Chief Financial Officer, or their designee, and upon grant award, to record an increase in revenue and an appropriation in the amount of $6,000,000, or actual award amount, in the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund, Martha McLean Anza Narrows Park Improvements project revenue and expenditure accounts; and Authorize the City Manager, or designee, including the Assistant City Manager or Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department Director, to execute all necessary documents to implement the approval and acceptance of the grant and to carry out the grant project on behalf of the City, including making minor and non-substantive changes.
BACKGROUND:
In 2003, the Santa Ana River Task Force was created, followed by a series of Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Committees throughout the Santa Ana River Watershed.
In 2014, through Senate Bill 1390, the California state legislature created the Santa Ana River Conservancy Program within the Coastal Conservancy. The program addresses the resource and recreational goals of the Santa Ana River region including open space, trails, wildlife habitat, agricultural land protection, water quality protection, educational use, and public access. The Conservancy has grant funding available to help agencies and non- profit organizations move forward with projects to meet these resource and recreational goals.
On March 14, 2018, the Coastal Conservancy approved the Santa Ana River Trail and Parkway Open Space Plan – ‘Expanding the River’s Reach’.
On December 26, 2019, the City of Riverside entered into a grant agreement with the California Coastal Conservancy for the Riverside Gateway Project Suite Design and CEQA project in the amount of $1,960,000. This planning effort received extensive community input concerning the design of 250 acres of undeveloped or underutilized City owned parkland over 8 park sites, that can serve as gateways to the river.
On May 11, 2021, the City Council approved a Professional Consultant Services Agreement with Studio-MLA to perform community outreach, master plan preparation, and California Environmental Quality Act compliance work.
In June 2021, Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson created a Working Group, co-chaired by Ward 1 Councilmember, Erin Edwards and Ward 7 Councilmember, Steven Hemenway to determine methods of attracting: 1) City Investment; 2) Private Investment; and 3) Public Awareness. The Santa Ana River Working Group is comprised of dedicated community members and public service professionals who aspire to put the river back in Riverside. The group’s purpose was to identify opportunities for development along the Santa Ana River, provide recommendations on feasible projects, and suggest strategies for implementation. The group used the Design Thinking process to focus all discussions: What If, What Is, What Wows, and What Works.
On April 21, 2026, City Council adopted the Martha McLean Anza Narrows Park and Jurupa Avenue Trailhead Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, with the condition that Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan requirements will be completed and approved by the Western Riverside County Regional Conservation Authority prior to starting design development; adopted the Martha McLean Anza Narrows and Jurupa Avenue Trailhead Master Plans; and authorized the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director to execute all necessary documents to carry out the grant project on behalf of the City, including making minor, non-substantive changes.
On April 23, 2026, the Coastal Conservancy Board approved award of $6,000,000 in grant funds to the City of Riverside for the Santa Ana River Martha McLean Anza Narrows Park Improvements Project.
DISCUSSION:
The Santa Ana River Conservancy Program, managed by the Coastal Conservancy, envisions the river as a vibrant, continuous parkway that serves as a regional centerpiece for recreation and nature. Its primary goals are to complete the 110-mile Santa Ana River Trail from the mountains to the sea, restore critical wildlife habitats, and expand equitable outdoor access for the millions of residents in the surrounding urban communities. A significant focus of their 2023–2027 strategy is environmental equity, specifically directing funding to "park-poor" or disadvantaged communities along the river to reduce barriers to nature.
The City of Riverside has taken a multi-pronged approach to “put the river back in Riverside,” from the River District feasibility study to create a vibrant public realm along the river, to the Riverside Gateway Project suite, which proposes improvements to create both active and passive recreational opportunities at 8 undeveloped and underdeveloped park spaces along the Santa Ana River to give the community a reason to visit the river.
Martha McLean Anza Narrows Park serves as a gateway connecting the community to the Santa Ana River. It is an existing 40-acre developed park situated on a bluff overlooking the Santa Ana River. Martha McLean Anza Narrows Park is actively used for disc golf and passive recreation, but the park is generally turf and trees, with few recreational amenities for families. The park does not currently have a playground nor a restroom. The new master plan proposes to add a playground, re-circulating water play area, restrooms, outdoor classroom to support river camps and outdoor education, a small bandshell and grassy community meadow, and river overlook swings. All the proposed park improvements take place within the existing developed footprint of the park. The Santa Ana River Trail (SART) runs along the northern edge of the park. The SART will span over 100 miles from the mountains to the sea once completed. The entire 100-mile trail is about 70% completed with just a couple of gaps (outside the City of Riverside) yet to be constructed. The project includes dedicated trailhead amenities and signage for the Santa Ana River Trail. The estimate of probable cost for the entire project is around $12,000,000.
The Coastal Conservancy has awarded the City a $6,000,000 grant that will be used to pay for design development and construction documents for the entire park, and partial construction of the proposed new park improvements such as a playground and restroom building. Site improvements to prevent unauthorized vehicles from driving through the park and into the Santa Ana River will also be prioritized. Vehicle intrusion to the river has been a significant problem that causes degradation of the river environment and increases wildfire risk. The Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department (PRCSD) will continue to seek additional grant funds to pay for the rest of the planned improvements.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The fiscal impact of this action is an increase in revenue and expenditure of $6,000,000. The Coastal Conservancy has awarded the City grant funds in the amount of $6,000,000. No matching funds are required. Upon Council approval, an increase in revenue in the amount of the amount of the award will be recorded and an equal amount appropriated in the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund, Martha McLean Anza Narrows Park Improvements project revenue account 9412300-334300 and expenditure account 9412300-440220. Martha McLean Anza Narrows Park is an existing developed park and already being operated and maintained by the City. Operating and maintenance costs are not expected to increase significantly.
Prepared by: Alisa Sramala, Principal Park Project Manager Approved by: Pamela M. Galera, Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Certified as to
availability of funds: Julie Nemes, Finance Director Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager Approved as to form: James Johnson, City Attorney
Attachments:
Martha McLean Anza Narrows Park Master Plan
Grant Agreement
Grant Resolution
Martha McLean Anza Narrows Park – Coastal Conservancy Grant Resolution ● Page 2