When local resident Michael Smith and his Councilman Ray Friend got to talking recently, they agreed that McCarthy Street Park in the neighborhood needed major improvements.
Before long, the two were working with local architect David Huboi and others—such as the San Andreas Continuation School principal—on ideas such as putting in a music stage and improved fields. Now, Friend is confident the city has the available money and can get a lot of the work done this year.
Smith gets regular reminders of McCarthy Park’s lack of use and need for repairs as a resident of the area who often walks his dog past it. As an avid supporter of the arts, and a musician himself, Smith is keen on the idea for some sort of cultural use there, whether it be a stage or something else. He mentioned how several years ago he tried to get a drama program going at the nearby San Andreas school. But it didn’t work out and it has bothered him since then, he said, since he believes in benefits of such programs for at-risk youths.
“They deserve some type of liberal arts structure over there whether it’s liberal arts or drama,” Smith said.
After talking to San Andreas Principal David Burke, he realized the school official was a “frustrated musician” as well.
“What he really wants to do is to work with the City of Hollister to help rehabilitate that eyesore next door so his kids can have use of it,” Smith said.
Smith knew Friend and approached him about prospects for improvements. Friend said he talked to Mike Chambless who oversees parks, and realized there was money in the budget to “re-do” the basketball courts and lawn area. Friend said. Upon talking with about 20 of the students at the school, it became apparent many of them would like a stage and fixes to the basketball court area. There are several options, though.
“It’d be nice for them to have something to do outside like handball, soccer, whatever,” Friend said.
Smith and Friend then approached local architect Huboi, who is working on design concepts for the renovation. Huboi said he went out to the park and saw a lot of mud, unused equipment and a “dilapidated ballpark” and figured, “We should be ale to do something—this is unused.”
Huboi said he’s excited about the collaborative effort going forward.
“What we want to do is, we want to get as many people as involved as possible,” he said.
