Estimated $925,000 going into Hillcrest Park

The city of Clovis is pouring an estimated $925,000 into improvements at Hillcrest Park to construct a new destination playground, pickleball courts, volleyball courts and lighting at two large soccer fields.

Hillcrest Park consists of 157 acres bordered by Sycamore, 14th, Norris and Seventh streets in Clovis.

Parks and Recreation Director Russell Hooper said the project “will improve the quality of life in Clovis. It’s been a long time coming — we’re getting close to finally completing our master plan.”

The new playground is the first in the group of projects to be constructed.

The original playground was constructed 20 to 30 years ago, Hooper said. The entire playground will be removed to make room for a new and upgraded installation.

The design by the Playground Company is three-stories high with multiple slides, he said. It is all-inclusive so children with different abilities can access it.

The preliminary concept design contains a 14-foot-high tower for ages 5 through 12 years, according to the design. It has rubber mulch surfacing and spiral tube slides. An atom spinner and a team swing are part of the design.

Also on the drawing boards are new pickleball courts, which will be installed adjacent to the Hillcrest basketball/tennis slab, Hooper said. The city is breaking up the concrete to install eight permitted, uncovered pickleball courts. The courts will be fenced and lit.

The cost of the playground is estimated to be slightly more than $300,000 and the pickleball courts will cost about $200,000, he said.

The playground is expected to be constructed in about two weeks and the sports center will take about two months to complete.

The city also plans to construct outdoor sand volleyball courts south of the zoo parking lot, he said. The project is expected to start in early spring and is estimated to cost about $125,000.

Another improvement is the city is installing new lighting at the soccer complex located at 14th and Norris streets. The upgrade will consist of six poles to light two large soccer fields.

The project will start about October and will cost an estimated $300,000, he said.

City Manager Justin Howalt said the funds to pay for all the construction comes from the city of Clovis cash reserves, made available from the American Recovery Plan Act.