LAMONT, Calif. (October 1, 2026)— State Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) joined local leaders Thursday afternoon at Bear Mountain Park to celebrate $150,000 in state funding she secured for public safety improvements in Lamont.

The funding will support safety upgrades at Bear Mountain Park and other community facilities, including improved park lighting, mitigation of unsafe public pool facilities and the removal or rehabilitation of unsafe restroom facilities.

“The investment we’re making in Lamont is about more than lights or facilities. It’s about what this park means to the families who call this community home,” Senator Hurtado said. “This $150,000 investment is about giving something back to Lamont — a safe, welcoming place where kids can play, families can come together, and every child can feel that their community believes in them and their future.”

The investment is part of millions of dollars Hurtado secured through the 2026 state budget for communities across the Central Valley, directing state resources toward public safety, water, infrastructure, health care and other community needs.

“Parks are more than just open spaces. They bring families together. When we invest in our parks, we are investing in the happiness, health, the well-being of our children and in the strength of our Lamont community,” Lamont Elementary School District Superintendent Brandy Charles said. “Thank you, Senator Hurtado and many others for continuing to make Lamont a place where our children can grow, play, smile and thrive.”

Bear Mountain Park serves as a community gathering place for Lamont families and is operated by the Bear Mountain Recreation and Park District. The new funding will build on ongoing efforts to improve recreational facilities and strengthen public spaces throughout the community.

“For generations, this green space has been a place where kids played, families gathered and memories were made,” Hurtado added.  “It gave young people somewhere to go, something to do and a place to belong. That’s what we’re fighting to restore. Our children are growing up in a different world, facing challenges we never had to face. We have to work even harder to keep them engaged, give them opportunities and surround them with places that bring out the best in them.”

Senator Melissa Hurtado is Chair of Senate Budget Subcommittee #4 on State Administration and General Government and currently represents the 16th Senate District in the California Legislature, which includes portions of Fresno, Tulare, Kings and Kern Counties.

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