Mill Creek Linear Park

Written by Bakersfield Magazine

It started with a vision; a project that would take time, money, effort, community support, and a whole lot of gumption. It wouldn’t be easy, but the reward would be great.

When Mill Creek Linear Park Project was finished, Bakersfield would have a burgeoning, revitalized section of town for people to enjoy in both recreation and business. But no one could have foreseen just how big this endeavor would become back in 2000...

On a recent sunny afternoon, Donna Kunz, the Economic Development Director for the City of Bakersfield, is all business. And rightly so...there’s much to discuss. The topic at hand is the development and subsequent economical impact of an expansive redevelopment project known as the Mill Creek Linear Park Project.

What was once just a simple plan to clean up Central Park has become a multifaceted, multiphase, multi-million dollar undertaking to create an area of town where people will live, visit, and thrive.

Back in 2000, concerned citizens and city officials were looking to turn the park around. In so many words, they wanted to give it a bit of a face lift.

“The area was suffering,” Kunz explained. It was a sore spot for the city.

“Families were avoiding it. So as part of our goal to ensure the heart of downtown was never lost, fixing up the park became one of the points we wanted to address.”

As Kunz explained, the only other project in the area under development at the time was a senior housing project, which was unrelated. But in a lucky turn of events, almost eight acres of land became available from the Kern County Superintendent of Schools, which the Economic and Community Development Department happily purchased (which went on to become Parkview Cottages)

But while the land offered many opportunities, the question was posed: what will most benefit this area with the Kern Island Canal running through it? Would additional quality housing be the ticket? What about new commercial buildings? Then the city got an idea: could these ideas be linked?

As the scope of the project increased, so did the necessary budget and space.

The following years would see the city applying for, and occasionally receiving, state bonds, grants, and loans. Part of those funds were aimed at not just visualizing this project, but making it an actuality; bringing more urban housing to that part of town as well as more business. Because as Bakersfield knows, you can’t get one without the other.

Ultimately it was determined that Central Park and the area up and down the Kern Island canal should be fixed up simultaneously. The plan was to revitalize the entire area surrounding the canal that was so often overlooked.

“This was the largest redevelopment project for downtown that our city has ever done.”

But this sort of thing takes time. Dollars have to be counted, buildings have to be designed, and there needs to be interest. So where to start?

What’s In A Name?

Firstly, where did Mill Creek even come from? Did the name come from a some late-night brain storming session? A moment of kismet?

There is a very unique, and historical, reason for this burgeoning area being named as such.

If you’ve ever visited Hill House on Truxtun Avenue, you may have noticed a historical marker in the parking lot. On that site, in 1871, Horatio P. Livermore and William Muehe built the Kern River Flour Mills. At the time, they were centered on the southern end of the Kern Island Canal.

Throughout the 1870s and 1880s, interest in the property changed hands until 1890, when the Kern County Land Company became the owner.

While flour production ceased in 1923, the mills continued to process and store grain until the 1952 earthquake.

“David Lyman came up with the name after discovering this marker,” Kunz said of one of the project’s principal planners. The rest is history. The name Mill Creek just fit perfectly with the entire scope of the project, from both the setting to the details of this development.

The city even hopes to one day construct a replica mill on-site to bridge the gap between Bakersfield’s history and its future as it redevelops the Kern Island Canal into Mill Creek Linear Park.

Firstly, where did Mill Creek even come from? Did the name come from a some late-night brain storming session? A moment of kismet?

As Donna Kunz explained, there is a very unique, and historical, reason for this burgeoning area being named as such.

If you’ve ever visited Hill House on Truxtun Avenue, you may have noticed a historical marker in the parking lot. On that site, in 1871, Horatio P. Livermore and William Muehe built the Kern River Flour Mills. At the time, they were centered on the southern most tip of the Kern Island Canal.

Throughout the 1870s and 1880s, the interest in the property changed hands until 1890, when the Kern County Land Company became the owner.

While flour production ceased in 1923, the mills continued to process and store grain until the 1952 earthquake.

“David Lyman came up with the name after discovering this marker,” Kunz said of one of the project’s principle planners. The rest is history. The name Mill Creek just fit perfectly with the entire scope of the project, from both the setting to the details of this development.

The city even hopes to one day construct a replica mill on-site to bridge the gap between Bakersfield’s history and its future as it redevelops the Kern Island Canal into Mill Creek Linear Park.

The Space Between

The 1.5 miles of canal-front property is not vacant, however, as various businesses still maintained a well-defined presence. Mainstays were holding up their respective areas just fine while abandoned industrial plots craved attention.

“We knew we wanted to utilize the entire area,” Kunz mused. “And we also knew it was critical to have the proper recreational amenities in the area. To do that, we would have to get rid of the old industrial plots.” The stigma needed to be removed.

If this project was to be a total success, these businesses needed to be on board and the land in between needed to be reclaimed. As the rough concepts were further developed, businesses surrounding the canal saw the potential for the Mill Creek Linear Park Project to create a unified, cohesive part of downtown that, once completed, would be a major bragging point for our city.

But these plans didn’t come together overnight.

Redevelopment is not a fast business. However, the Mill Creek Linear Park Project has only taken 10 years to get from concept to construction. Much of that success that is because of the monetary opportunities the city sought and successfully has been awarded. Originally, Mill Creek was thought to be a 20-year project.

This wasn’t just landscaping the medians or planting trees in the park, it was a full-scale redevelopment. It would have a cost, but it would have a payoff.

Revitalization and Beauty in Downtown Bakersfield:

The Birth of Mill Creek By Alan Tandy, City Manager

Mill Creek is unlike any other amenity in Bakersfield. What once was a fast moving canal in a dirt ditch surrounded by dilapidated cyclone fencing is now a lined, natural-looking creek meandering through downtown Bakersfield, which will soon link housing, commercial, entertainment, and recreational venues with a safe and healthy path.

This exciting project has brought renewed attention back into the urban core by providing a beautiful park setting with much-needed recreational opportunities in downtown Bakersfield. Thanks go to numerous private contractors and many city departments working together to create the first phase. When completed, Mill Creek will be a 1.5 mile linear park that will transform the downtown area. The phase that includes Central Park has been completed with the placement of three million pounds of boulders from the Kern River during a year and a half of construction.

You may have seen the construction work and the streets that were closed for long stretches of time. What was less visible was the coordination of the work that had to be completed within a very short window, as the canal is closed only two weeks each year for regular maintenance. It was within those two-week windows that critical work on the canal had to occur. We did not want to create interruptions to the agricultural users who rely on the water for their crops.

At the north end of Mill Creek, the new Village Park senior apartments have recently opened, adjacent to the Park Place senior apartments. Residents of both can now use the path and amenities in a secure and enjoyable setting.

Next door, the Park View Cottages are nearing completion. Families in this urban in-fill development find themselves looking out on Bakersfield’s newest park and water feature. A few blocks south, residents of an older downtown residential area are now within walking distance of Mill Creek. Soon, two new additional senior housing projects will be under way, bringing an additional 123 housing units to the area. At the south end of Mill Creek, three separate housing developments will soon break ground, providing 163 new housing units. All of this new housing, both for sale and for rent, takes advantage of compact building designs with multi-story units.

In such tight economic times as those we face now, how was the City of Bakersfield able to complete the first phases of Mill Creek? Because Mill Creek is located in two redevelopment areas, some redevelopment monies were used.

We also were fortunate to have secured $10 million from the State of California Infrastructure Bank and additional $10.8 million in state funds from Proposition 1C to help pay for future phases of Mill Creek.

Nearby, work will soon begin on the Q Street Streetscape project, bringing additional landscaping and street improvements between 24th Street and Truxtun Avenue. This $5.9 million project is in the final design stage with completion expected by November 2010.

Both the Mill Creek improvements and those along Q Street will upgrade the larger area’s appearance and attract additional businesses, creating an expanded tax base.

The investment of public funds for Mill Creek has already spurred additional development in the adjacent area. Maya Cinemas opened its 16 screen theater complex in July. Grading has begun on a mixed-use commercial and residential complex adjacent to Mill Creek. Across from that project, the iconic Mexicali Restaurant soon will begin making improvements to create outside dining along the waterfront and attractive improvements for pedestrians walking alongside.

Not only can Mill Creek can be enjoyed by Bakersfield residents, it also is a point of pride to show off to our many visitors who attend numerous conventions and meetings here each year.

The Face of Redevelopment

Once the finances were in order, and the logistics were ironed out, the project shined as a testament to the ingenuity of the Economic and Community Development Department and the perseverance of a community of like-minded business owners.

So it should come as no surprise that many businesses were jumping on board the Mill Creek train from the very beginning, seeing it as an opportunity.

You’d be hard-pressed to find someone from Bakersfield who hadn’t heard of Mexicali. The historic restaurant has been dishing out traditional Mexican food since the 1930s, and they’ve been at their 18th Street location for over 50 years. It just so happens the back of Mexicali restaurant faces the Kern Island Canal.

As soon as the Mill Creek Linear Park Project was a go, Mexicali was willing to help. For Ruben Crews, grandson of Santos and Trinidad Gamez (the founders and original owners), it was the perfect excuse to redesign the facade of the restaurant. Taking advantage of the improvements the canal will be seeing, Mexicali, with the help of manager Crews, plans to accentuate the rear of the restaurant, expanding the dining area outside, where diners will have a wonderful view of the landscaped creek.

“Any improvements to the downtown area will affect each and every business,” Crews said. “People will come to see the amenities, and this will bring back some life to what was once an underused part of town.”

Mexicali was contacted almost seven years ago regarding the plans for the Mill Creek Linear Park Project.

“We saw it as an opportunity, absolutely,” Crews said. “We began putting money away and planning the improvements.”

Once construction is complete, people walking along the path will no longer see a stucco wall but rather a Mexican-inspired wrought-iron fence with an open vista. Additionally a facade wall will cover the infrastructure of the building and give it more character.

“There will be some outside seating off the current lounge, where people can view the creek,” Crews elaborated.

That construction will begin by the end of this year. And Crews couldn’t be more excited to see the work completed.

“Anything to get people out of their houses and into the community is a good thing,” he said of the changes.

Let’s Go To The Maya

Since the Kern Island Canal winds south to California Avenue, Bakersfield will benefit from cornerstone businesses setting up shop all around the canal. So although Central Park was the initial focus, many existing projects have fallen under the umbrella of the proposed Mill Creek Project. One of those projects was Maya Cinemas, which officially opened in August 2009.

Earlier this year, drivers had a hard time missing the construction at the intersection of California Avenue and P Street, where the 16-screen theater resides. The construction of the cinema had actually been in talks since 2002, when Kunz says negotiations began with Maya Cinemas board members.

Like we said, redevelopment takes time. But doing things right will benefit us all and the attraction of a movie house downtown will be bringing more traffic to the previously industrial area. It’s all still about location, location, location, right? Well Maya Cinemas saw the potential in this area.

Frank Haffar, Maya Cinemas’ president said, “We saw Bakersfield as the best city to expand. The location would be close to downtown and could utilize the existing businesses and grow with the community.”

Haffar explained that Maya Cinemas will benefit from the locale immensely, being close to McMurtrey Aquatics Center, The Marriott Hotel, and various government buildings. Their goal was to complement the businesses already there, as well as encourage future development.

And they have done just that: opening up opportunities for more business in that area of town.

Maya Cinemas will be the base for additional in-line retail in the area, which is being touted as the “entertainment/hospitality district.” As more investors come in, the area will become prosperous and, ultimately, the city will benefit.

The theater will draw residents who will stay to experience the amenities that Mill Creek can offer. Additionally, folks who are already downtown to stay, dine, shop, or simply go for an evening stroll can have the opportunity to take in a movie at this opulent new cineplex.

Maya Cinemas is happy their second location is based right here in Bakersfield and when construction gets underway for both the housing and retail complexes, the city’s feelings will be mutual.

Moving In

And for those businesses looking to relocate, the area is full of possibilities. Who wouldn’t want their business nestled by a waterway, where a walking and biking path will be laid out; where public art, street furniture, and ornate lighting fixtures will decorate the route; and where a new pedestrian plaza will be created at 17th and R streets.

And perhaps most importantly, where new housing will be drawing retirees, young professionals, and families alike.

That influx is what Kunz is looking forward to. “We have already secured three developers to help build these housing complexes, which will cater to different income levels, but will be very dense in location.” Built along South Mill Creek, the housing units will vary in style, but the utilization of space will be ground-breaking. “We’re really setting a statement [with the layout]. It is a model sustainable project.” Because while many cities grow out, the unique spacial design along the canal will allow growth to be both inward and upward.

It was a big undertaking, but an exciting one, said Darnell Haynes, a principal planner for the Economic and Community Development Department and project manager for South Mill Creek.

“Housing is critical to supporting the business activities,” Haynes explained. “And these developments are all a part of our plan to house urban Bakersfield. We want to bring more rooftops to downtown.”

That means Mill Creek Courtyard, Creek View Villas, and the other housing developments will only add to the prosperity this area of downtown will be seeing when construction begins later this year.

It might seem easy, but as Haynes explained, the city had to create new streets, mainly located on 14th between R and S streets.

“We want to see people come out from behind the concrete walls of subdivisions.”

Extensive planning was done by not only a council of citizens, but by stakeholders and architects on exactly how they could make these developments work.

“It was important for the downtown economy that we modify what used to be an agricultural canal to a whitewater urban creek next to amenities that would bring people downtown and keep them there. Naturally, the next step was housing.”

The Creek View Villas, for example, will encompass 36 up-scale condominiums that face westward toward the revitalized canal. And the Mill Creek Courtyard will be a 57-unit apartment complex.

“People want to live where they work,” Haynes explained. And they want to live where they play. So with the addition of Maya Cinemas and the burgeoning retail complexes, it’s not hard to see that these housing units will be sought-after.

Construction on Village Park Senior Apartments, a housing complex near Central Park, was completed earlier this year. By the time the doors opened, there was already a waiting list of residents. And with the attractions in the surrounding area, the benefits have been great for both tenants and visitors. While Central Park has become a hot spot for weddings, and the Mill Creek Bridge a perfect photo op, Bakersfield residents have been seeking the use of this area for receptions as well, banking on the Senior Villas garden area as well as their reception hall.

And these kinds of mutually beneficial relationships are just the beginning.

Coming Soon to Mill Creek:

Sister City Gardens by Mayor Harvey L. Hall

When I visited Bucheon, South Korea in 2007, I saw the “City of Bakersfield Park” that honored Bucheon’s relationship with our city. From that visit sprang the idea of a series of gardens to spotlight Bakersfield’s sister cities. As far as I know, no other city has Sister City Gardens like the ones soon to come alive in Bakersfield.

Alive is an apt description of this wonderful project. It will honor Bakersfield’s friendship with cities throughout the world: their culture, their customs, and their history.

The City of Bakersfield’s recent success in securing a large state grant for Mill Creek, and the generosity of Parsons Corporation in developing the concept drawings, has allowed this project to move forward. The Sister City Gardens will spring from the grounds of Central Park, the latest of many improvements of our Mill Creek project, with plantings and sculptures that represent landmarks in each of our Sister Cities. For example:

Wakayama, Japan. Our longest Sister City relationship is with this harbor city located on an inland sea, an area rich with industry and farming. The Colors of Wakayama Garden will take its inspiration from the Wakayama Castle and its grounds: the blooming of Cherry Blossoms and the fall colors of the Japanese Maples. Paving will employ stone pavers reminiscent of the castle.

Cixi, China. Another harbor city is Cixi (pronounced “Soo-Shee”). This city is connected to Shanghai by the Hangzhou Bridge, the second largest in the world. Cixi is a national leader in agriculture, a large exporter of fruits, and is known as the “home of the red bayberry.” The Garden will create the experience of traveling through the low-lying agricultural areas to the mountains in the surrounding area, giving the garden its name “The Road through Cixi.” The entrance to the garden will take its shape from the architecture of the Hangzhou Bridge.

Santiago de Queretaro, Mexico. Tracing its history back to the early 1500’s, this city is Mexico’s equivalent to our Philadelphia: Mexican Independence of 1810 started there, the Constitution was forged there in 1917, and the city was the site of the first college of the New World. Of great regional significance is the historic aqueduct built in the 1700’s that stretched six miles to bring water to a growing city. The Constitution Garden will reflect those events, with an Aqueduct Trellis running across the garden’s width.

Bucheon, South Korea. Located between Seoul and Incheon, the city of Bucheon has preserved more than 50 percent of its area in parks, greenbelts, and public green spaces. The Sister City garden will give visitors a sense of tranquility and separation from the more active areas of Mill Creek. Bucheon is famous for hosting various festivals, including Peach Blossom and Cherry Blossom festivals. The canopy of this Sister City Garden will not only provide a cool respite from the summer sun, but will be reminiscent of the flowering trees celebrated in these Bucheon festivals.

As Bakersfield adds more Sister Cities, there will be room in the park for future gardens. One of these newer Sister Cities is the holy city of Amritsar, among the oldest in India. Home to the renowned Golden Temple, Amritsar is a major commercial, cultural, and transportation center near India’s border with Pakistan.

In 2010, a Bakersfield delegation will visit Wakayama, while a delegation from Wakayama will visit Bakersfield in 2011 with the goal of officially dedicating the Colors of Wakayama Garden.

In the meantime, these four gardens will be the first visible dedication to almost 50 years of Bakersfield’s participation in the Sister City program. They will make Mill Creek a truly one-of-a-kind place for Bakersfield residents and visitors alike.

Court Is In Session

With the completion of a federal courthouse east of Central Park, establishments along the creek will indeed see an increase in residents and visitors frequenting the area.

But this locale wasn’t always in the blueprints.

“There were discussions early on within the city that if a federal courthouse was to be built, it should be downtown,” Kunz mused.

So while plans in 2007 had the courthouse being built in Southwest Bakersfield, the community rallied behind a relocation.

“The one hurdle about downtown is that construction and expansion is restricted by city blocks,” she added.

But not to worry. The flexibility with the designs for Central Park allowed planners to utilize a section of the park for additional courthouse space without impacting the park’s amenities.

The benefits of having the federal courthouse downtown would far outweigh any inconveniences were they to arise.

City officials point out first that it will bring additional security to the area. Not to mention business and visitors. Plus, it will save Bakersfield residents the hassle of driving to Fresno for any federal court cases.

We’ll see these benefits soon. Much sooner than anyone could have anticipated. And all because Congressman Kevin McCarthy lobbied to not only have this courthouse federally-owned instead of leased, but to have it fall under the recent stimulus.

“Congressman McCarthy helped get this project fast tracked under that stimulus,” Kunz explained. “For that reason, we’ll be breaking ground on the $30 million-plus courthouse in mid-2010 and construction will be completed by March of 2012.”

Redevelopment Rediscovered

With the beautification of an area comes the added perk of new foot traffic. Not only will businesses in the area see increased patronage but the visitors already in the area will have one more thing to do.

That’s something that has Carlos Navarro, general manager of The Marriott at the Convention Center, very excited.

“This project can only benefit us because it’s giving our guests something additional to tour or visit,” Navarro explained.

“All around us expansion is happening, be it Maya Cinemas, the shopping centers and housing that will be built, and the river walk behind us. It will all help to give this part of town the energy it needs to continue growing.”

Navarro is also excited to see what the addition of the Federal Courthouse will do for commerce in the downtown area.

“It means big things for the expansion of business. There will be people spending a great deal of time downtown and that will help all the businesses tremendously.”

Not only are people needing a place to stay, but places to eat, shop, and relax. And this is the perfect location for that.

Economically Driven

Once completed, the variety of amenities housed under the Mill Creek Linear Park Project will benefit each other. People staying at The Marriott will have more to do, thus making that particular hotel more desirable for tourists. And more tourists means more business for the shops along the path. Folks looking for a place to live will be drawn to the proximity to retail centers and Maya Cinemas. And businesses, banking on those tenants, will want to invest more in the area.

The growth is mutually beneficial, which is why so many people are excited at what lies ahead for this once discarded industrial part of Bakersfield.

One of those people is Dianne Hoover, the Recreation and Parks Director for the City of Bakersfield.

As Hoover explains, this is not just about putting in a few park benches and lamp posts.

“It’s one thing to put in a streetscape; you’re improving the look and feel of an area. But this project is different, it’s bigger. This is economically-driven development.”

While the landscaping will help the area visually, Hoover is more excited with the functionality of this project.

“It’s the perfect example of the beauty of redevelopment. So much commerce will be generated in this area and the investments will be beneficial. All that energy will funnel right back into our city.”

With all these developments, prepare to see a lot of programming coming out of the Recreation and Parks Department, including new amenities and improvements to Central Park—the catalyst for the entire Mill Creek Linear Park Project.

While this project will generate millions for the city once completed, the economic impact is only one facet. Sure, it’s a fortunate and much sought after facet, but the positive impact this project will have on the community makes any funds rolling in seem like icing on the cake. It’s a big cake and one that took years and years to bake. But like we said before, redevelopment takes time. And no matter how you slice it, cake tastes good.

Article appeared in our 26-4 Issue - October 2009