Mayor's Corner: Spring and summer activities in Downey

Mayor Sean Ashton (left-center, wearing hat) at the launch of City of STEM Science Festival. Photo courtesy city of Downey

Hello Downey,

With spring and summer just around the corner, City Hall has been working diligently to deliver educational and fun activities to our community. The Parks & Recreation Department, the Downey City Library and the Columbia Memorial Space Center have planned programs and events with the goal to create meaningful and educational experiences.

On April 21 the Parks and Recreation Department will host its First Annual Summer Expo from noon to 3 pm at the Barbara J. Riley Community and Senior Center. There, staff will showcase upcoming summer programs and be on hand to answer any questions. Registrations and payments will be taken on site.

As part of the city’s continued commitment to improve our parks, the Independence Park Sport Field Lighting Improvement Project is scheduled to commence on Monday, April 16. Installation of new sport field lighting will take about two months to complete. A section of the parking lot will be closed off to allow for storage of temporary materials. Two of our city parks already have their new lighting installed and we will be celebrating the completion of these two projects with a dual ribbon cutting event on Wednesday, April 25. First event will take place at 4 pm at Furman Park and then immediately following a second event at 4:30 pm at Apollo Park. All are welcome to attend!

National Library Week falls in April. To celebrate, the Downey City Library has invited authors and other guest to read to patrons of all ages. Other activities the library has planned are Family Game Nights, Teen Zone events, and Baby/Toddler story times. Libraries have long served as trusted and treasured institutions, and our librarians and library staff continue to fuel efforts to better our community. I encourage all residents to visit the library and explore what’s new.

Mayor Sean Ashton and Ben Dickow, executive director of Columbia Memorial Space Center. Photo courtesy city of Downey

Also this month we celebrate the City of STEM Science Festival. I had the honor to join Los Angeles City Mayor Eric Garcetti and Bill Nye, The Science Guy at the official launch of the month-long festival on the steps of Los Angeles City Hall.

The Columbia Memorial Space Center has coordinated at least one STEM event nearly each day in the month of April happening at various locations all over the region. And all eyes will be on Downey on April 28th as we hold the culminating festival here at the Space Center with over two dozen industries, educational and civic organizations participating. Event will be from 10 am to 5 pm. For more information please visit cityofstem.org.

This year’s student contest is titled “If I Were Mayor”. The contest is open to all students
Kindergarten to Twelve grades who live or attend schools in the City of Downey. I encouraged all students to submit their ideas on how to make our City a better place to live. Entries may be an essay, artwork or a photograph. Winners will be recognized with an official city certificate by the Mayor and the City Council at a City Council Meeting.

Nominations are still open for the Mayor’s Downey DNA Award. The Mayor's Downey DNA Award recognizes individuals and businesses which through their actions have demonstrated extraordinary leadership and exceptional service in an effort to make our community and world a better place. Winners will receive special recognition at a City Council meeting.

Lastly, this Saturday at 8 am, CalMet Services, Inc., the City’s waste hauler, will be providing Downey residents with free mulch at the Civic Center parking. Residents may receive up to 32 gallons of mulch but must bring their own containers.

As always, feel free to contact me if you have any questions, concerns, or ideas. Thank you for allowing me to serve you.

Sean Ashton
Mayor
City Council Office: 562-904-7274
Email: sashton@downeyca.org
Twitter: @realseanashton
Instagram: realseanashton
Facebook: facebook.com/electsean4downey