The exercise equipment, pool, handball courts, and picnic areas are open.  The racquetball courts, playground and gymnasium are closed.  Click Here for park updates. 

Address:
801 West Valencia Drive
Fullerton, CA 92832

Independence Park Project Updates

The City has evaluated improvements at Independence Park for several years, during which time staff pursued opportunities to secure supplemental state and federal funding to support a more comprehensive renovation effort. While those efforts remain underway, delays in the federal appropriations process and uncertainty in national budget negotiations have necessitated a phased implementation strategy.

This approach allows the City to advance priority improvements with currently available funding while continuing to pursue funding for future phases. The phased strategy follows formal City Council actions, including the adoption of the Operating and Capital Improvements Budget and approval of state and federal grant applications, supporting the project. As part of the Fiscal Year 2024–25 budget adoption, the City Council approved Project Number 54261 – Independence Park Improvements and allocated $2,000,000 in Park Dwelling Funds to support the project. Park Dwelling Funds (also referred to as Park Dwelling Fees) are developer impact fees collected on new residential construction pursuant to state law and may only be used for the acquisition, development, or improvement of public parks and recreation facilities. The $2,000,000 allocation was made available through the HUB Development project and funds were received by the City last summer, following the completion of the project.

Consistent with the Council-approved capital project description, Phase I of the Independence Park Revitalization Project will feature an adaptive playground, restroom facilities, landscape and irrigation improvements, and interior upgrades to the gymnasium. Fullerton’s first adaptive playground will provide inclusive play opportunities for children of all abilities. In July 2025, the City restored restroom access through deployment of a Throne Restroom unit funded in part by a $100,000 grant from Orange County Supervisor Doug Chaffee.

Planned gymnasium improvements include replacement of the gym floor, modernization of interior restroom facilities and ADA accessibility upgrades to support year-round recreation programming and community use. Demolition of the existing racquetball building is not included in the current scope due to funding limitations and may be considered in a future phase pending available resources. Staff is preparing construction bid documents and will return to the City Council for contract award following receipt and evaluation of competitive bid proposals.

To supplement local funding, the City has pursued external resources to support broader revitalization efforts. In February 2025, the City Council adopted a resolution approving a $1,000,000 state budget allocation secured by State Senator Thomas Umberg for Independence Park gymnasium renovations. The City also submitted a $7,500,000 Community Project Funding request to Congressmember Lou Correa in both 2024 and 2025. These requests were delayed due to Congress’ reliance on continuing resolutions rather than full-year appropriations bills.

On January 23, 2026, the City was notified that the U.S. House of Representatives passed an FY26 appropriations “minibus” that included $250,000 for Independence Park, maintaining a federal contribution, but at a reduced amount. The legislation must now advance to the Senate and ultimately the President’s desk; however, Senate consideration may be delayed due to the current federal political environment. While the City remains engaged in these efforts, federal funding timelines will not delay implementation of Phase I. At this time, staff is moving forward with the secured funding totaling $3,100,000 ($2,000,000 in Park Dwelling Funds, $1,000,000 in State funding, and $100,000 in County funding).

Although construction has not yet begun, the City has completed incremental improvements that have enabled continued programming and community use at Independence Park. In August 2025, restroom access was restored, allowing the Wednesday Certified Farmers Market to return to the park, where it provides residents with access to fresh produce and specialty goods every Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Additionally, the City successfully launched Community Yard Sales in 2025, creating an organized venue for residents to sell reusable items and support waste reduction efforts. In 2026, the Community Yard Sales will continue on March 7, May 2, August 1, and October 3 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

In October 2025, the City Council directed staff to issue a Request for Proposals for consultant services to develop a comprehensive Parks Master Plan. The Master Plan will establish a long-range framework for future investments in parks, open space, and recreation facilities citywide. Staff is currently preparing the RFP, and extensive community engagement is anticipated as part of the planning process. As Independence Park improvements move forward, the City will continue to pursue additional funding opportunities to fully implement the long-term vision for the site and ensure Fullerton’s recreation system continues to meet the public’s needs.