Construction crews have moved into Melville J. Courson Park in Palmdale, kicking off a $5.4 million revitalization that will close the park's main grounds to the public for months while leaving the neighborhood pool open for business. The city announced the start of work in a Wednesday Facebook post titled “Huge improvements are coming to Melville J. Courson Park,” signaling the start of a project years in the making for the longtime community park.
A Historic Park Gets a Modern Makeover
Courson Park dates back to 1963 and was acquired by the City of Palmdale in 1988, according to the city's Facebook announcement of the construction start. The $5.4 million project had been expected to begin in July, with construction projected to continue through September 2027, according to a report from the Antelope Valley Press.
While the work is underway, the main park grounds will be closed to the public, but Courson Pool will remain fully open and accessible during its regular operating hours, the newspaper's report noted. The city has contracted with Zeco Inc. to carry out the construction, per the same report.
New Play Features and Shade Structures Planned
The overhaul brings a long list of upgrades designed to modernize the park for visitors of all ages. Plans call for new accessible play equipment aimed at children ages 5 to 12, along with a separate challenge course built for ages 13 and older, according to the Antelope Valley Press report. The project also includes a new prefabricated restroom, an outdoor performance structure, and custom metal shade structures scattered throughout the park.
Beyond the recreation additions, the project folds in water-efficiency upgrades that reflect a broader push toward drought-tolerant landscaping across the region. The plan will replace one-third of the park's turf area with drought-tolerant plants and upgrade the landscaping and irrigation in the parking lot, the outlet reported.
How the Project Is Being Paid For
The revitalization is being funded through a mix of sources, including the Community Revitalization Program, which was awarded in 2021, Measure AV funds, and a $4.5 million Proposition 68 State Parks Grant, according to the Antelope Valley Press. The scale of that funding reflects years of planning that predates this week's groundbreaking.
Public input shaped the design well before shovels hit the ground. A city project-page snippet describes a 2020, three-part study that gathered feedback from 332 park design surveys and 61 community meeting attendees, according to the City of Palmdale's project page. That process helped steer the mix of amenities now heading into construction, from the shade structures to the performance space.
For now, Palmdale residents will need to find other spots for park activities while crews work through the site, though the pool remains a year-round option during the buildout. The city has not provided a detailed construction schedule beyond the general completion window reported over the summer.
