Grand Opening Celebration of Bernal Community Park

Pleasanton, Calif. — The City of Pleasanton is pleased to announce the grand opening of the Bernal Community Park (Phase II) on Saturday, October 29, 2016, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., with the park dedication ceremony taking place at 10 a.m. The grand opening will unveil the latest additions to the park, which will include the Patelco Sports Complex and the Stanford Children’s Health Stadium Field.

“We’re thrilled with the opening of the second phase of this park,” said Nelson Fialho, Pleasanton City Manager, adding “which has something for everyone, from the Oak Woodland with its native plants and meandering walking trails, to the state-of-the-art, synthetic multi-purpose sports fields as part of the Patelco Sports Complex. In addition to the dedication of the Council and the wonderful community partnerships we’ve formed, we’ve also been able to achieve our community’s strong desire for more outdoor space and do it all in an environmentally sustainable way,” Fialho concluded.

The Pleasanton City Council initiated planning for the Bernal Community Park in 2000. Since that time, significant planning and resources have gone into this park. Last year, nine local sports groups created Play Bernal to raise $2 million to accelerate the development of the sports complex, and with the sponsorships of Patelco Credit Union and Stanford Children’s Health, in addition to individual donations, the group has successfully raised more than $1 million to date. In recognition of these generous sponsorships, the Sports Complex will be named the Patelco Sports Complex and one of the fields will be named the Stanford Children’s Health Stadium Field. The Patelco Sports Complex will feature stadium lighting for extended hours of play and three lighted synthetic-turf sports fields available for year-round play. It will also provide a much-needed play space within the greater network of Pleasanton’s fields for youth sports practices and games. The complex is part of the larger 54-acre Bernal Community Park, which will also include nearly 40-acres of oak woodland area, as well as the Stanford Children’s Health Stadium Field.

“Patelco is committed to enriching lives in the communities we serve, and we believe keeping kids healthy is a fundamental part of a family’s overall well-being,” said Erin Mendez, Patelco Credit Union’s, President and CEO. “That’s why we’re incredibly happy and proud to see the Patelco Sports Complex at Bernal Community Park come to life. This new, state-of-the-art facility will offer kids and their families a place to play and thrive together year-round.”

“We are thrilled to be involved in supporting youth sports, beyond our clinic walls here in Pleasanton,” said Christopher G. Dawes, president and CEO of Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital and Stanford Children’s Health, whose Pleasanton orthopedics clinic hosts a full-service sports medicine program. “It’s our privilege to serve Pleasanton’s young athletes through our team of Stanford pediatric sports medicine experts, and we look forward to a continued presence in the local community."

“On behalf of the field sports groups of Pleasanton, we are thrilled for our kids to begin play at this amazing new sports complex. We wish to thank the residents of Pleasanton and the City of Pleasanton for supporting youth sports in the first phases of development at the Bernal property. We especially want to thank Patelco Credit Union, our primary, naming rights sponsor and Stanford Children’s Health, our sponsor for the stadium field,” said Jon Asmussen, chair of the Play Bernal Campaign.