In the heart of downtown Gustine, a once modest and aging community park has undergone a heartfelt transformation, thanks to a dedicated collaboration between the Gustine Lions Club, the Gustine Traveling Library, city departments, and volunteers from across the region.
Lions Park, a small yet meaningful space named after longtime community supporter and Lions Club member Al Nervino, has been a fixture of downtown Gustine for decades. Now, it has been revitalized with vibrant landscaping, fresh paint, and new amenities designed to bring people together—thanks to an outpouring of local support and generosity.
The Gustine Lions Club donated $2,000 to cover landscaping costs, funding the installation of weed matting, decorative bark, and bright white rock that now lines the flower beds—work completed by JF Landscaping. The park’s centerpiece, a succulent garden, was updated with new plants and care from local volunteers.
“It fills our board’s hearts with so much joy to see the community come together to help us with this park,” said Jose Flores, Vice President of the Gustine Traveling Library. “It started with just wanting to add a succulent garden in the corner to bring more life to the space, then grew into a collaboration with the Lions Club and City to enhance the entire park. Now, we even have a fresh coat of paint on the surrounding walls, and it looks better than ever.”
The Traveling Library organized dozens of volunteers to help with various aspects of the project. Walls along the park near the American Motorcycle building were freshly painted, while others worked to weed, clean, and replant the garden spaces. Additional succulents were donated and carefully arranged, building upon earlier efforts to make the park greener and more inviting.
One of the project’s most symbolic touches is what Flores calls "Heart Park." “When you look at the park from across the street at our headquarters, the trees form the shape of a heart,” he explained. “It’s a reminder that this park was built with love—from the Lions Club’s generosity to the City’s Recreation and Public Works Departments and the many hands of our volunteers, young and old.”
The City of Gustine contributed new park amenities, including a picnic bench, a trash receptacle, and a dog waste bag dispenser—small upgrades with a big impact.
“The recent renovation at Gustine Lions Park is nothing short of amazing,” said Tiffany Vitorino, Director of the City’s Recreation Department. “What was once a well-loved but aging space has been beautifully transformed into a vibrant and welcoming hub for the entire community. Volunteers, families, and local leaders came together to bring this shared vision to life, proving once again that when a community works together, incredible things happen.”
While the park remains small—featuring just a table and a Little Free Library—Vitorino highlighted its potential for downtown revitalization. “We’re excited about the possibility of this space being used for downtown events, community gatherings, and as a peaceful lunch spot for families or folks working in town. With local food spots nearby, it’s a perfect place to grab a bite, relax, and enjoy the outdoors.”
For the Lions Club, the project continues a longstanding commitment to public service. Joe Olivera, representing the Gustine Lions Club, was pleased to see the park receive renewed attention. “It’s great that someone took the initiative to care for the park, and it looks much better. Over the years, we've worked on improvements, like painting and touching up the cover, thanks to a donation from Lion Al Nervino’s family,” he said.
Olivera also shared that the Lions Club is helping upgrade the Little League snack shack with new cement and a cover, providing shaded seating and a BBQ area for families. “Our annual Rib-O-Rama event helps us give back to the community with projects like this,” he said. “Held the first Saturday in August, it's one of the main ways we raise funds for local improvements.”
Council Member Mark Melville, who also participated in cleanup and painting efforts, spoke about the park’s personal significance. “It’s great to see the community come together to help care for a park I remember from when I was part of the Lions Club. It’s getting much-needed TLC,” he said. “The new weed mat, fresh bark, and added greenery showcase the pride many have for our downtown and the desire to make it better for everyone.”
Support for the project came from beyond Gustine, with volunteers from Santa Nella, Los Banos, Newman, and Turlock lending a hand. Among them was parent volunteer Lindsey Samotea, who said, “I saw on Facebook that the Traveling Library was looking for volunteers. We try to get our kids involved as much as possible because we want them to understand that it takes all of us working together to improve our community. I plan to bring my kids back down to see the impact they made.”
Youth volunteers also embraced the opportunity to contribute. Oscar Gamacho, a student volunteer, said, “I saw it on Instagram, and my friends and I like to come here to hang out—especially during the summer. So I asked my dad if he’d take us down, and we’ve been having a great time learning about the plants and painting. It feels nice to help, and now I can’t wait to see others enjoy the park.”
From refreshed landscaping and plant beds to new seating and aesthetic improvements, Lions Park now stands as both a green space in downtown Gustine and a shining example of community pride in action.
“The new landscaping has brought fresh energy to downtown,” said Vitorino. “We hope it continues to grow as a welcoming, beautiful part of Gustine.”
With continued care from the community and the strength of local partnerships, Lions Park will remain a small but powerful reminder that transformation begins with people who care—and a whole lot of heart.
