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Measure P
Fresno for Parks

A broad coalition of Fresno Area residents mobilized to support a local ⅜-cent sales tax to fund improvements and maintenance of existing public parks, build and maintain new parks and trails, and support local arts and cultural amenities. The Foundation leveraged $530,000 from its Louis M Gundelfinger fund for parks and music to support Measure P, which will generate $1.5B of improvements for parks and cultural arts amenities over the next 30 years.

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Foundation’s Role

The Foundation served as the co-convener of the 2018 Fresno for Parks campaign steering committee, along with Fresno Building Healthy Communities, and was the major contributor and fundraiser for the campaign. CVCF continues its support of parks and music organizations with annual grantmaking, community convening, and monitoring the implementation of Measure P.

Geographic Focus

City of Fresno

What began as a community response to long-standing inequities in park access became one of the most significant public investments in Fresno’s history. Through youth leadership, strategic planning, and philanthropic partnership, a citywide movement took shape—forever changing Fresno’s park system and cultural landscape.

Community Voices Spark Action

After ranking dead last among large U.S. cities for park quality and availability for several consecutive years, Fresno residents mobilized for change. Supported by the Boys and Men of Color initiative and Fresno Building Healthy Communities, youth leaders canvassed disinvested neighborhoods to ask residents how their communities could be improved. The message was clear and consistent: Fresno needed more—and better—park space.

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A Shared Vision Takes Shape

At the same time, the City of Fresno completed its Parks Master Plan Update, outlining a long-term strategy for park improvements. Concurrently, the Central Valley Community Foundation sought a meaningful way to honor the legacy of Louis M. Gundelfinger, whose descendants established an endowed gift dedicated to supporting public parks and musical organizations. These parallel efforts aligned around a shared goal of long-term community investment.

From Coalition to Lasting Impact

In 2017, youth advocacy, city planning, and philanthropic resources converged to form the Fresno for Parks coalition. Together, the coalition drafted the ballot measure, raised campaign funds, and collected signatures to qualify it for the ballot. In November 2018, the measure received 52% voter approval. After two years of litigation led by Fresno Building Healthy Communities, the courts affirmed that citizen-driven measures require a simple majority—confirming that Measure P had passed. Today, the City of Fresno collects and administers the tax, which is on track to generate and invest more than $1.5 billion in public parks and cultural arts amenities over the next 30 years.

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Partners: 2018 Campaign Steering Committee Members

  • Alliance for California Traditional Arts

  • Central Valley Community Foundation

  • Fresno Building Healthy Communities

  • Northern California Carpenters Regional Council

  • San Joaquin River Parkway Trust

  • Tree Fresno

  • Trust for Public Lands

  • Supervisor Juan Arambula (retired)

  • Natasha Biasell

  • Tom Bohigian

  • Joan Eaton

  • Paul Gibson

  • Sabina Gonzalez-Erana

  • Mark Keppler

  • Judith Peracchi

  • Superintendent Larry Powell (retired)

  • Elaine Robles

  • Jolene Telles

  • John Valentino

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