Dwight Murphy Field Renovation Project

ongoing

The property known as Dwight Murphy Field was acquired by the City of Santa Barbara in 1925. Commonly known as the Municipal Soccer Field, it was named in honor of Dwight Murphy in honor of his civic leadership. Today, it still serves as the City’s only dedicated soccer facility, and also includes include a softball field, outdoor fitness area, and playground. In late 2016, the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation reached out to the Parks and Recreation Department with a vision to develop Santa Barbara’s first all-abilities playground. Dwight Murphy Field was identified as the best site for the new and exciting project. At the same time, the Department was investigating opportunities to redevelop the park to better serve the community. In 2018, the Department began outreach to understand the community’s vision for the future of the park. In addition to the new playground, an overwhelming need was identified for a high-quality sports facility, with a youth baseball field, regulation-size multi-sport field, and an expanded outdoor gym. The community also requested to see improved park amenities like walking paths, community gathering spaces, a new restroom, and improved parking. In 2019, the City Council approved the Dwight Murphy Master Plan. Through a memorandum of understanding, the City and the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation are co-funding the project design and construction. Funding for project construction includes $6 million raised by the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation, $6 million in City funds, and $1.5 million of federal Community Project Funding (CPF) secured by Congressman Salud Carbajal. The Parks and Recreation Department is actively seeking $10 million to fund the remainder of the estimated $23.5 million project cost.

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