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Nov 02, 2024

New playground at Fletcher Park offers fun, imaginative space for active outdoor play | Local News | santamariatimes.com

A new playground structure at Fletcher Park is open in Santa Maria, featuring a log climber, swings, a twisting slide and the charming “Fletcher Frog”. The Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department

A new playground structure at Fletcher Park is open in Santa Maria, featuring a log climber, swings, a twisting slide and the charming “Fletcher Frog”.

The Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department announced the official grand opening of the park's new forest-themed playground Thursday.

“We are thrilled to bring this new playground to the community,” said Dennis Smitherman, recreation services manager. “Our goal was to create a space that not only encourages active play but also highlights the park’s natural environment. It is a wonderful addition for families and children to enjoy.”

Fletcher Park, located at 2200 South College Dr., is named in honor of the late Harrell and Betty Fletcher, who contributed greatly to the city and region.

Betty, a Santa Maria native, and Harrell, who settled here in 1941, dedicated their lives to improving the area. Harrell, who died in 2011, was a former business owner and long-standing Chamber of Commerce member, and Betty was known for her community involvement.

The City Council officially renamed the park in 2004 as a tribute to their commitment to the community.

Longtime Santa Marians Harrell and Betty Fletcher, right, unveiled the official sign in 2004 as Santa Maria leaders joined with the couple's friends and family to dedicate a park in their name. Harrell was a former 5th District Santa Barbara County Supervisor and Betty a local advocate for child development and family issues.

At the March 16, 2004 Santa Maria City Council meeting, then Santa Maria Mayor Larry Lavagnino, who lived next door to the couple, was quoted by the Santa Maria Times as saying; "I worked for Harrell for six years when he was a supervisor. There isn't a more honest and straight shooter in the world than Harrell Fletcher. He is one of the most genuine men you will ever want to meet in your life."

Jim Diani, of A.J Diani Construction said at the time; "Not only did I know Harrell and Betty as I was growing up - as parents - but getting to know them, working in the community and so forth, they have only one thing in mind - they want to do what is best for the community."

Betty Fletcher was a member of the Child Care Task Force that inspired the City Council to create the Families for the First Decade Project, as well as a board member of Head Start and the Orcutt Unified School District.

The three-acre park sits across the street from the Crossroads Basin sports fields which were recently illuminated with light banks for evening games and practices, along with the Adam Basin Fields.

Fletcher Park is also home to a rock-climbing surface, a basketball court, skate park and a bicycle-pump track.

Follow the Recreation and Parks Department on their social media pages, Facebook and Instagram, to stay updated on events and programming. Register for classes, courses, camps and more on the department's website.

This snippet from the March 17, 2004, edition of the Santa Maria Times is available for viewing, along with more than 140 years of historical coverage, on SantaMariaTimes.com/archives.

A new safety study is underway on a 7.4-mile stretch of State Route 166 between Guadalupe and Santa Maria that seeks to identify potential safety and mobility investments needed on the corridor.

UPDATE: Nov. 1, 2024 at 7 a.m. - On Friday morning, the Santa Maria Police Department announced an arrest in connection with a Thursday stabbing incident near Santa Maria Town Center that left a man in critical condition.