Construction will begin in June 2025, and the park is expected to reopen in Spring 2027.
The property known as Dwight Murphy Field was acquired by the City of Santa Barbara in 1925. Commonly known as the Municipal Soccer Field, it was named in recognition of Dwight Murphy and his civic leadership. Today, it still serves as the City’s only dedicated soccer facility, and also includes a softball field, outdoor fitness area, and playground.
In late 2016, the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation reached out to the Parks and Recreation Department with a vision to develop Santa Barbara’s first all-abilities playground. Dwight Murphy Field was identified as the best site for the new and exciting project, as the Department was exploring opportunities to redevelop the park to better serve the community.
The Department began outreach to understand the community’s vision for the future of the park, leading to the Dwight Murphy Master Plan. The City Council approved the community-led plan and authorized a memorandum of understanding with the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation to collaborate on the fundraising, design, and construction of the renovated park.
Ohno Construction, a firm with over 50 years of experience building parks and community spaces, was selected to lead the construction of the project.