City of Menifee celebrates opening of Talavera Park

City and regional officials cut the ribbon on the new Talavera Park in Menifee on Saturday. (Staff photos)

By Doug Spoon, Editor

City officials and community members gathered Saturday morning to celebrate the opening of the new Talavera Park in northeast Menifee.

The 3-acre park, at 27931 Calle Talavera, is located in the middle of the Talavera community by KB Homes. It features a premier playground structure, picnic shelter, restrooms and a large grass play area.

“With the vision of our city council, we were able to fund and work with our developer partners to capitalize and expedite a whole bunch of parks we will be opening this year,” city manager Armando Villa said during a grand opening ceremony.”

“What a cool playground this is,” said Mayor Bill Zimmerman. “This is something special. The City of Menifee … we are growing like crazy, and it’s because of amenities like this.”

Zimmerman was joined in the ceremony by Mayor Pro Tem Dean Deines and council member Bob Karwin, in addition to Assembly member Kelly Seyarto and Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, as well as a representative from County Supervisor Jeff Hewitt’s office.

“This is your park to enjoy,” Deines said to a small crowd that gathered for the ribbon cutting. “Take some family time, get some fresh air, use it as much as you can and enjoy it.”

Although the park is located east of the 215 Freeway, Talavera Park – like the fairly new Centennial Park – is operated by the City of Menifee, not Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District.

“Usually on these new parks, we work directly with the developer,” said Jonathan Nicks, community services director. “We give them the option to work with us to maintain the park. Usually it’s a little more efficient for them because we do the maintenance. Compared to some of the other Valley-Wide areas, it’s actually a lower tax rate for the property owners.”