From Meetings to Milestones: How Kern County Leaders Are Transforming Ford City Park

In a remarkable showcase of community power, Ford City Park is experiencing a transformation, championed by local residents in Taft—many of them immigrants—determined to enhance their neighborhood.

Nestled in the heart of a small Kern County community, this park has long been a gathering spot. But it wasn’t always a place where you’d linger after dark or feel proud to bring visitors. From broken benches and dimly lit paths to playgrounds in desperate need of an upgrade, the state of disrepair made it clear.

The park needed some love.

Enter our Faith in the Valley leaders in Kern County, who have been energized by a simple yet powerful belief—parks, like our homes, are sacred.

This blog post is more than just a recap of what’s been done to reimagine a local park. It’s a celebration of community spirit and a playbook on how everyday people can stand up, speak out, and create a ripple effect that turns into a wave of change.

“It’s never been about slides, swings, or other things needing improvement at the park,” said Kern County organizer Daniel Rodela. “It’s about the people and what these changes mean to them.”

Before we stepped in, Ford City Park had faced decades of underinvestment.

It wasn’t just the outdated and vandalized equipment or the poorly lit walkways that made residents hesitant to visit after sunset. The park had become a hotspot for neglect, affecting everyone’s quality of life.

Recognizing the park’s potential, our leaders rallied the community and inspired them with a vision of what could be.

Timeline of events

The journey began with a series of townhalls that turned out to be more than just gatherings—they were a foundation for action.

The first major townhall in February 2023 saw more than 250 locals come together—each person eager to discuss the future of their community space. By October 2023, despite a slightly smaller crowd, we had gathered more than 300 surveys that echoed a communal desire for change and secured a promise from the county to collaborate on improvements.

That effort resulted in an agreement that included:

• Additional changes desired by the community not included on the county’s list of projects for Ford City Park
• Meaningfully including Faith in the Valley and community members in the park’s improvement process
• A firm commitment to schedule a meeting within four weeks to debrief and plan

By December 2023, our efforts with the county were fruitful, securing funding for essential upgrades and lighting for the basketball courts.

This momentum carried into 2024 with multiple presentations to the Kern County Parks and Recreation Commission, where community members shared updates about their efforts and advocated for additional county support for the project.

Our biggest breakthrough came in April during a community design meeting.

Over 100 attendees provided input that transformed into a comprehensive petition, which advocated for substantial funding toward unmet needs like resurfacing the basketball courts and more.

This active participation exemplified how engaged our community had become. They weren’t just attendees anymore. They were advocates.

And that advocacy didn’t just make noise—it made a difference, helping what started as a $600,000 project to escalate up to more than $2 million due to concerted advocacy efforts.

“That’s mostly due to us organizing together and demanding that it’s not enough,” Sophia Rodela, a Kern County youth leader told 23ABC in a recent interview.

Impact and outcomes

The tangible improvements at Ford City Park began with the installation of new lights this March, which is transforming the park into a vibrant evening gathering place.

Families now had a safe space to enjoy after dark, adding hours of community engagement that had previously been lost.

The advocacy hasn’t stopped at lighting.

It has spurred a series of upgrades, including the addition of a splash pad slated for later in the year, which will provide a fun and cooling escape for children during hot summer days. These changes are a direct result of our ongoing dialogue with county officials, proving that persistent community involvement can lead to significant enhancements.

But perhaps the most significant outcome has been the shift in community dynamics.

The park’s transformation has fostered a new sense of pride and ownership among residents, particularly the immigrant community. Not only are residents working with decision makers to ensure that public resources are dedicated to park improvements, but they have also adopted Ford City to help ensure its upkeep.

They see the park as their triumph and a symbol of their capacity to influence change and improve their lives through collective action.

“If you’re in a neighborhood that is not clean…that is mistreated…that is abused…and you don’t acknowledge it, it affects the way you see life,” said Cricel Ruiz, a Kern County leader. “So, for me, it was important to fix the environment we live in because, sometimes, small things can have a big impact.”

A community reimagined

What started as a series of meetings has blossomed into a testament to what community spirit and collaboration can achieve.

Ford City Park is no longer just a plot of land.

It’s a beacon of community pride and active engagement.

As we celebrate these milestones, let this story inspire you. Whether it’s a park, a street, or any public space in need of love, remember one of the core PICO organizing principles: Power is the ability to act.

Change truly begins with us, rooted in our capacity to influence and put our faith into action.

Whether it’s rejuvenating a park, revamping a street, or revitalizing any public space that has seen better days, the power to transform your surroundings starts with your willingness to step up and get engaged.

Get involved

Want to help? Keep following the Ford City Park developments and support our Kern County brothers and sisters to see how Faith in the Valley is putting our faith into action one milestone at a time.