The City of Lancaster is gearing up for a park face-lift, as it kicks off the renaming and renovation of an old favorite – El Dorado Park, soon to be known as Samaritan's Purse Park. Mayor R. Rex Parris tossed around some big ideas at the April 3 groundbreaking, where he revealed the new name inspired by the humanitarian aid of Samaritan's Purse during the city's darkest days of COVID-19.
Lancaster officials have decided to fully revamp the park's look and functionality. With this revamp, they are aiming to not simply just create a new space more attuned to current leisure needs, but also to honor the community's collective resilience. Mayor Parris effused, "This park's renovation is not just an upgrade of its physical attributes but a reinforcement of our commitment to fostering a supportive, engaged, and active community," according to the city's announcement.
But why the name change? It turns out, a resident, significantly struck by the organization's work with Antelope Valley Hospital where Samaritan's Purse slapped together a field hospital for 167 patients, threw the name into the hat. It stuck.
Mayor Parris went to great lengths to underscore the deeper meaning behind this rechristening, "The incredible dedication of Samaritan’s Purse serves as an inspiration, reminding us all to embody the spirit of the Good Samaritan in our daily lives," he outlined in a speech at the ceremony. The city looks to turn over a new leaf with construction anticipated to start this fall and wrap by 2027.
For those not in the loop, Lancaster is a nearly 170,000-strong melting pot aiming to blend science, technology, art, and culture into a future-focused rhubarb pie. With its head in the stars, Lancaster is home to space cowboys and digital pioneers looking to ink the first pages of tomorrow's history books – using both spectacle and spirit.
