A crowd waits eagerly on April 8 for the grand opening of Russell Park, which received its official name last week during the regular meeting of the Municipal Advisory Council.Peter Day, Lucerne Valley Leader
By Peter Day
Senior Reporter
The newly renovated and dedicated park on Visalia Avenue in Lucerne Valley has been named Russell Park in honor of the neighborhood’s founder, John Russell, and his family.
The new name was made official Thursday during the monthly meeting of the Lucerne Valley Johnson Valley Municipal Advisory Council. The vote was unanimous, 6-0, with seventh MAC member Lorane Abercrombie absent.
MAC vice-chair Roger Peterson read a resolution, which outlined the reasons for the name.
According to the resolution, the property where the new park is located was developed by Russell whose family were original homesteaders in Lucerne Valley. The property was donated by the Russell family to the “Lucerne Springs” tract now known as the “Russell Tract.” Later it was donated to the now defunct Lucerne Valley Pool and Activities Center, which operate first a private swim club and later a public facility. In recent years — and the LVPAC stopped operation — the facility was hit by graffiti taggers, many of the trees died and the building and facilities were rundown.
The MAC, with the enthusiastic support of Beverly Lowry, the venerable field representative of Third District Supervisor James Ramos, spearheaded the drive for the county to take possession of the abandoned parcel and turn it into a neighborhood park enjoyed by all. Last year, the County took possession of the property an placed it into the San Bernardino County Development of Special Districts in County Service Area 29.
The new park was dedicated in the large, festive ceremony on April 8. Featured speaker Ramos thanked CSA 29 manager Reese Troublefield and his hard-working crew and greeted about 60 third-graders from Lucerne Valley Elementary School, who played on the new play equipment.
“I’ve never seen the supervisor (Ramos) happier,” Lowry said Thursday. “I enjoy working with the MAC. You’re our arm here in Lucerne Valley. You can give yourselves a round of applause.”