Mayor Valerie Amezcua inaugurates Santa Ana park revamp and police drone demonstration

Mayor Valerie Amezcua led the grand reopening of Santa Ana’s Santa Anita Park after an $18 million, multi‑year renovation. The project added an 8,000‑sq‑ft community center, a police substation, a renovated swimming pool, synthetic‑turf soccer fields with lighting, new playgrounds, basketball courts and upgraded parking, lighting and landscaping, creating a modern hub for recreation and public‑safety programs.

On August 1, the city will host a live demonstration of its new Drone‑as‑First‑Responder (DFR) program. Residents are invited to a “Coffee with the Mayor” event where the Santa Ana Police Department will showcase how uncrewed aerial vehicles can be dispatched from a fixed launch site to provide real‑time video to dispatchers and officers, improving situational awareness, officer safety and resource allocation during emergency calls.