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be created next to the canal, on the old access roads. The plan also called for the redevelopment of
Central Park (which the canal ran through). This included constructing winding paths, replace lighting, and expanding the canal to a lake. The bridge across the canal was replaced with the covered “Mill Creek” bridge. The park reopened in 2009. The rest of the linear park opened in 2010.
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first foot bridge was constructed over the canal. In 1956, part of the land was used for the
Cunningham Memorial Art Gallery (later the Bakersfield Museum of Art). A camellia garden was added in 1956 in memory of Aram Adams (who was a local automobile dealer). In 1964, another section of the park was used for the establishment of the Community House.
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In 2001, city planners started to consider how to redevelop the area. After years of planning, and raising funds, the Mill Creek project was born. The plan was to create a linear park which would run along the Kern Island Canal. The canal would be altered to look like a natural stream. A path would
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Central Park was created August 21, 1921. The same day, a bid was accepted from MacRori and McLaren
Company for its construction. Originally called Stark Park (for about one month), the name was changed to Central Park since the park was located between Bakersfield and East Bakersfield. In 1938 the
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There is a gap in the park, between 19th Street and the BNSF railroad yard. Access across the yard is provided by the Q Street underpass. The section between the yard and
Truxtun Avenue was not changed since it was already improved when the Beale Memorial Library was built in 1988. The section
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The length of the park is approximately 1.5 miles (including the gap segments). The path runs along both sides of the canal, except between Golden State Avenue and 21st Street, where it only runs on the west side. That segment is also lined with an iron fence (with pedestrian gates), since it
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The construction of Mill Creek is only the beginning of the changes in the area. In the near future, a four-story office building and a waterfront condominium complex will be constructed next to the new “river.” There will also be a senior center and an apartment complex built near the new
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development. The east side of
Central Park will be the location of a new federal courthouse. In addition, located near the railroad yard is a possible location for a California High Speed Rail train station.
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primarily runs next to a residential neighborhood. Central Park has public restrooms, as well as a playground. It is also equipped with Wi-Fi service (for a fee).
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between
Truxtun Avenue and 19th Street could not be improved because the parking lots and buildings of the Hill House (a
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Mayer, Steven. High hope grows where the water flows. The
Bakersfield Californian. March 14, 2010. A1, A6-A7.
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Plus hotel) were constructed too close to the canal to allow for improvements at the present time.
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U.S. Geological Survey
Geographic Names Information System: Mill Creek (Bakersfield)
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Bakersfield
Department of Recreation & Parks: Central Park at Mill Creek
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The park is named after a flour mill which was located on 17th Street.
311:. Bakersfield Historic Preservation Commission. Accessed: 03-28-2011.
333:. City of Bakersfield Recreation & Parks. Accessed: 04-03-2010.
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between Golden State Avenue and
California Avenue in
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45:Location of Central Park within Bakersfield
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73:Mill Creek (Bakersfield) (California)
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302:Rehabilitate Bakersfield Right
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19:Central Park / Mill Creek
384:Bakersfield, California
274:. Accessed: 12-16-2011.
148:1.5 miles (2.4 km)
100:Bakersfield, California
484:The Park at River Walk
461:Kern River County Park
129:35.37667°N 119.00778°W
76:Show map of California
197:. It runs along the
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134:35.37667; -119.00778
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415:Kern River Parkway
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107:Coordinates
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259:References
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183:Mill Creek
117:35°22′36″N
471:Southwest
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305:Archived
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173:Status
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