Community
Redding California: Caldwell Park Is Getting A Major Makeover
A major makeover is taking shape at Caldwell Park in Redding, California, with a bike park, recreation amenities, lighting, restroom replacement and parking improvements. Here is what is planned, how the project is funded and what visitors should expect.
A bike park. Places to climb and exercise. More lighting, upgraded facilities and a rebuilt parking area. Caldwell Park in Redding, California, has a much bigger transformation ahead than a fresh layer of asphalt.
So, is Caldwell Park getting a major makeover? Yes. The Caldwell Park Expansion Project combines new recreation opportunities with repairs to the infrastructure people use to reach and enjoy the park.
For Shasta County families, skaters, cyclists and people who enjoy the Sacramento River Trail, the changes will touch several parts of a familiar community gathering place.
What the makeover includes
The upcoming work includes a bike park, a fitness plaza, climbable boulder structures and a shade structure. Bicycle parking and a repair station are also planned.
Lighting improvements will serve the skatepark and river trail. The project also includes replacing the restroom, repairing existing facilities, adding some parking, resurfacing asphalt and upgrading irrigation.
The broader state grant description includes public art, an exercise circuit, illuminated recreation areas and trail improvements. Some elements of the overall expansion have already moved forward, while others remain part of upcoming construction.
A piece of the transformation is already there
One visible addition is the Dragon Dancer, a public artwork created by the RAiNFOREST Art Project and highlighted by the city in April.
The lighted steel sculpture depicts a mosaicked dragonfly resting on a cattail. It stands 19 feet tall, measures 7 feet across and doubles as a bench near the Sacramento River Trail.
The city also outlined plans for students and teachers from local schools to help create mosaics for its concrete base. That April announcement described an expansion reshaped by inflation and supply chain challenges, with the bike park, trail lighting, public art and other amenities prioritized.
How the work is being funded
The expansion is supported primarily by a $6,736,000 Proposition 68 Statewide Park Program grant. It is designated as an improvement and expansion of an existing park.
The Redding City Council approved moving the project forward at its August 18th, 2026, meeting. The city’s meeting recap described approximately $6.7 million for the expansion, including project development, administration, inspection and construction contingencies. That figure covers more than the physical construction alone.
Earlier, in April, the city described a remaining budget of $4.4 million after revising the scope. That was an earlier planning snapshot, rather than a new total for the entire grant.
Parking construction starts November 9th
The next disruption visitors should prepare for begins Monday, November 9th, 2026. Work will affect the parking lot near the skatepark, North Valley Art League Carter House Gallery, Caldwell Recreation Center and Teen Center.
Crews will remove damaged pavement, address tree root damage and reconstruct deteriorated sections. The parking lot closure is expected to last about a month.
Two other lots will remain available: the lot near the gazebo and Lake Redding, and the lot near Market Street and the soccer field. Street parking may also be available.
What to expect through spring
The monthlong parking closure is only one phase. Additional construction impacts and closed areas are expected through May 2027. Visitors should follow signs and stay clear of construction zones.
The city’s earlier April schedule anticipated completion in June 2027 and identified a state deadline in 2028. Those dates describe different milestones, and the parking lot reopening will not mean every part of the makeover is finished.
For people who use Caldwell Park regularly, the project means some inconvenience now and more recreation options ahead. Plan extra time for parking as this Redding park moves through its next chapter.