January 23, 2025
Changes are coming to Esparto’s Tuli Mem Park, following action by the Yolo County Board of Supervisors.
Acting recently, supervisors OK’d the $416,000 effort, which will add shade structures in the picnic grounds, a new bistro area, and a playground, which will include a play structure.
Money for the work is coming in part from the American Rescue Act, Esparto Development Impact Fee and Esparto Park Capital Improvement Plan.
According to a report prepared by Ryan Pistochini, director of the county’s General Services Department, the improvements at the 17257 Yolo Ave., park are taking place after a series of meetings with community members.
Tuli Mem Park was officially opened in May 2019 after years of planning and construction. The park is a short walk from the high school, elementary and middle schools and has a youth softball and baseball field, a soccer and football field, a full outdoor basketball court, a walking trail and a gathering area with picnic tables. It also has an eight-lane swimming pool, wading pool and an aquatics building with restrooms, changing rooms, a meeting room, snack bar and indoor and outdoor showers.
The Western Yolo Recreation Center Association, a group of community volunteers, had envisioned building a public swimming pool and recreational facility for Capay Valley communities to enjoy since 2001.
Combined with funds from the county, the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation and the Esparto Unified School District, the park occupies 8.67 acres.
Although the park opened six years ago, both community members and county staff recognized that changes would be made over time as more people made use of the facility.
In 2021, county staff and consultants led workshops to identify improvements with those plans presented in 2024 to the county’s Parks, Wildlife and Recreation Advisory Committee.
In December 2024, staff presented information to supervisors to get permission for a competitive bidding process. The next step is to put the project out to bid, evaluate those proposals and then return to supervisors with a recommendation.
Once supervisors accept a firm to do the work, actual construction will get under way, as long as the work is within that $416,000 budget.