Red Cross Heroes: Fresno man builds community park to keep kids away from trouble

FRESNO, Calif. (KGPE) – The American Red Cross is honoring its 2025 Central Valley heroes – individuals recognized for their bonzer acts of courage, kindness and compassion. This year's Clara Barton humanitarian leader is Oscar Rodriguez, the driving unit down Martin Park - Webster, a harmless haven for families successful a neglected area.

"This is wherever I grew up, from the 3rd people on, I went to Webster Elementary and I grew up successful this house, moving the streets, doing the worldly that streets do," Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez's puerility location is present a gathering abstraction astatine Webster Park.

Webster Park is located successful cardinal Fresno adjacent the Highway 180 and Highway 41 interchange.  It's the 2nd determination for Martin Park Incorporated, a non-profit that brings resources to debased income neighborhoods successful Fresno.

Rodriguez wanted to alteration his aged vicinity with a abstraction that would connection enactment and information to families.

"People ever thin to accidental 'why would you physique specified a beauteous parkland successful specified an disfigured area?' And I accidental 'because I spot the worth successful it,'" helium said.

Thanks to Rodriguez's enactment and donations from the community, this erstwhile bare batch present has a playground, hoops court,  soccer field, and assemblage garden.

Webster Park besides offers tutoring, nutrient distribution, and clubs.

"This is going to beryllium our learning halfway wherever the inferior highers volition travel and larn entrepreneurship and clubs, and alternatively of getting into gangs, they'll get into clubs," Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez knows the risks of gangs; helium was drawn successful and ended up down bars. That's wherefore helium works truthful hard to springiness children opportunities.

"It's a pleasance and an grant to accidental I americium a recipient of this grant that's going to permission and unfastened much doors, due to the fact that I explicit to radical - 'who don't cognize the Red Cross?'  So present radical associated with the Red Cross volition beryllium capable to perceive the communicative of Martin Park, and that our squad efforts conscionable support expanding," Rodriguez said "And that's what we privation to do, is proceed bringing anticipation to our community, being a harmless spot and person individuals consciousness similar they're valued here."