Named after a true Buena Park hometown hero
Buena Park, Calif. – The new Rick Gomez Park, located at 7501 8th Street, is the first newly constructed park in the city in over 25 years. The park held it's grand opening on-site Saturday, January 22, 2022 at 10:00 a.m.
Neighbors and park goers were welcomed by .46 acres of green landscaping, natural grass, baseball themed elements, play areas with shade structures, fitness equipment, picnic tables and a barbecue area. The park has a stadium feel with precast sphere baseballs serving as bollards near the parking circle.
Lifelong resident
Rick Gomez Park is named after a true Buena Park hometown hero. Rick Gomez lived in Buena Park his entire life, and with his wife, Roilene, raised their children Daniel and Taylor here. Rick was a longtime volunteer in town. In 1991, Rick began serving as a Park & Recreation Commissioner. Rick also coached in the City's Pnut Baseball League and flag football program for many years.
It is said that in order to make a difference in someone's life, you don't have to be brilliant, rich, beautiful, or perfect. You just have to care. Rick cared. Every year, the City would receive far too many requests from players to be placed on his team. He would have had to coach two to three teams to accommodate the requests. The park features Rick Gomez tribute panels to honor his dedication to the Buena Park community.
The City is excited to bring this project to fruition for the community. The City began holding community workshops to solicit input from residents in 2019 and formally broke ground on the park on May 22, 2021. The project was partially funded by a contribution from Providence St. Jude Medical Center and Proposition 68 capita grant funds from the State of California.
