{"id":818107,"date":"2026-07-23T05:34:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T05:34:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/818107\/"},"modified":"2026-07-23T05:34:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T05:34:14","slug":"will-a-fresno-community-health-program-at-kearney-triangle-park-survive-city-scrutiny","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/818107\/","title":{"rendered":"Will a Fresno community health program at Kearney Triangle Park survive city scrutiny?"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Omar S. Rashad, Fresnoland
July 22, 2026<\/p>\n

Dakari Cleveland could go on and on about the impact of a health and wellness program he and his friends have organized on Fresno\u2019s westside since 2024.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no way to talk about it without explaining how Wellness to the West<\/a> redefined the under-utilized and almost abandoned Kearney Triangle Park in southwest Fresno as a place to find community and to also get outside for exercise.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The twice monthly program combines low-impact exercise and walking, light weight workouts, yoga and even massage therapy \u2014 something its organizers say southwest Fresno has never had before, especially not bottled up into a single morning.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a health and wellness space that is truly needed in a community that has hundreds of articles talking about the health disparities in the neighborhood and the lack of wellness and health facilities,\u201d Cleveland told Fresnoland.<\/p>\n

More than two years since its first session, Wellness to the West is at a crossroads today.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In an interview with Fresnoland, PARCS Director Aaron Aguirre said he doesn\u2019t want his department to be a barrier to community programs. However, he said massage therapy presents special liability concerns that other aspects of the community program \u2014 like yoga and light weight training \u2014 do not.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just need to make sure we’re covered as a city and the PARCS Department, and really want to make sure that they’re covered as well,\u201d Aguirre said. \u201cI mean, there may be liabilities that they’re unaware of too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Kearney Triangle Park in southwest Fresno has a smattering of trees, a children\u2019s playground and a wide grass area. It’s where Wellness to the West has met on the first and last Saturday of every month for the last two years. Omar Rashad | Fresnoland<\/p>\n

So far this summer, Cleveland has received two emails from the PARCS Department directing him to fill out a special events permit application for Wellness to the West, which on average draws 20 regulars at most.<\/p>\n

Submitting the 15-page form<\/a> to the city costs $378 in processing fees alone.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Special events permits are typically required for big events, ones that close down an entire block like parades or farmers markets.<\/p>\n

Cleveland doesn\u2019t think Wellness to the West, a volunteer-led community program addressing disparities in community services in southwest Fresno, should have to pay the city to continue its work \u2014 whether it\u2019s a park reservation or several hundred dollars to get a special events permit from the city.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think anything like a special events permit should be needed,\u201d Cleveland told Fresnoland.\u00a0<\/p>\n

On days with bigger turnouts, up to 60 people show up, although the program\u2019s organizers typically expect 20 people at most. Attendance also skews older, which is why the program has massage therapy in the first place \u2014 to cater to the needs of aging residents who want to still go outside and exercise.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cleveland added that offering massage therapy is a type of luxury that people in southwest Fresno should be able to access in their own community.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need access to all these things because wellness is not a privilege \u2014 it’s a necessity,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"\"Kearney Triangle Park is located right next to the adorned entrance to Kearney Boulevard, which leads into a street lined by dozens of palm trees. Omar Rashad | Fresnoland
\nIs a twice-monthly program with 20 regular attendees a special event?<\/p>\n

Kearney Triangle Park is a small patch of land with a smattering of trees, a children\u2019s playground and a wide grass area. It\u2019s located right next to the tall palm trees that line Kearney Boulevard in southwest Fresno.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Known as west Fresno by the residents who live there, it\u2019s a part of the city that has long been underserved. For decades it has dealt with the intersection of several disparities: Poor air quality<\/a>. Limited tree canopy<\/a> and shade. Few grocery stores<\/a>. No major commercial banks<\/a>. Parks there aren’t in great condition<\/a>. Additionally, neighborhood residents face generally worse health outcomes than those in the rest of the city.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Southwest Fresno was also among dozens of communities<\/a> across the country redlined in the 1930s, as the federal government and local banks used racist housing policies to decide who could be entitled to low-interest home loans. They also mapped undesirable places to live based on the racial and ethnic backgrounds of residents at the time.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A fact that\u2019s more than a decade old<\/a>: The lifespan of southwest Fresno residents is, on average, 20 years less than residents in wealthier parts of the city.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Wellness to the West\u2019s organizers said they are addressing southwest Fresno\u2019s reality. They wish their efforts were better supported instead of being faced with having to pay up for the city\u2019s approval of a now two-year-old grassroots community program.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe try to come in with a pick yourselves up by the bootstraps mentality and they\u2019re like, \u2018Alright give us your boots,\u2019\u201d Cleveland said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

At Wellness Fest in late May<\/a>, commemorating the two year anniversary of the program, its organizers were approached by a city employee from Fresno\u2019s PARCS Department who had concerns to share.\u00a0<\/p>\n

According to the organizers, the city employee pointed out a few issues: Adults can\u2019t be exercising near the children\u2019s playground, vendors and food trucks can\u2019t be at the park, organizers can\u2019t bring out portable toilets and having a massage therapist out there may be an issue.\u00a0<\/p>\n

On the two-year anniversary of the program, organizers were also told they should consider moving Wellness to the West to a different park and start paying for reservations. The organizers told Fresnoland that while concerns were shared, no specific city code was cited as being violated.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Kaja Wilson stands for a picture at a yoga studio where she holds classes. Wilson is one of the organizers behind Wellness to the West and is in charge of leading the program’s yoga sessions. Omar Rashad | Fresnoland<\/p>\n

\u201cIt just makes us have to think 10 steps ahead,\u201d said Kaja Wilson, one of the program\u2019s organizers who also leads its yoga session. \u201cBecause we understand we are not only trying to serve the community, we have to go against the people who want to continue to leave our community underserved.\u201d<\/p>\n

After the annual Wellness Fest, the organizers typically switch back to just the usual four-part programming. Near the end of June, the city employee came back on another Saturday. According to the organizers, he repeated two concerns he shared from his last visit: a massage therapist can\u2019t be at the park helping people and Wellness to the West should consider moving elsewhere and start paying to reserve a city facility.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThey want their money, whatever way that may come in,\u201d Cleveland told Fresnoland. \u201cI hate to say it like that, but every time we’ve had the conversation, when it ends, it’s \u2018reserve the parks, minimum two hours.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

It was after those visits from the city employee that Cleveland received emails from the city directing him to fill out the $378 permit application for special events.<\/p>\n

Looking at the \u2018liability standpoint\u2019<\/p>\n

Fresnoland sought an interview with the city employee who shared concerns with Wellness to the West\u2019s organizers, but was instead redirected to PARCS Director Aaron Aguirre, who clarified some of the city\u2019s concerns.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI’m looking at it from a liability standpoint,\u201d Aguirre told Fresnoland. \u201cI don’t know the ins and outs of massage therapy, but definitely I think once you have those \u2014 that’s really what kind of raises some concerns on my end.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aguirre didn\u2019t point to specific liability concerns, just that the city would need to determine whether there were any, including having insurance on file from Wellness to the West.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Submitting the special events permit application<\/a> would be the formal way to begin that process, Aguirre said, which would be reviewed by the city\u2019s Risk Management Department, and potentially the Fresno City Attorney\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n

He added that the city employee recommended that Wellness to the West relocate to a different park since another location may have more facilities than Kearney Triangle Park, like more parking and restrooms. Aguirre said the PARCS Department does not want to be a barrier to community programs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When asked about the cost to apply for permits or reservations, and whether an all-volunteer grassroots community program addressing disparities should have to pay for them, Aguirre pointed to the city\u2019s Measure P grants program<\/a> for local organizations as a potential solution.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Those competitive public grants haven\u2019t stayed out of controversy, especially after an embezzlement scandal<\/a>, followed by city leaders approving changes to funding guidelines<\/a> \u2014 without any public discussion \u2014 that community advocates criticized for reducing the number of grants and funding available.<\/p>\n

\u201cGathering as a community and having yoga classes \u2014 perfectly fine,\u201d Aguirre said. \u201cIt’s anything kind of you know above and beyond that. You know, where we’re impacting other elements of the park with some of those other issues that could create liabilities in a city and\/or you know maybe themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Councilmember Miguel Arias prepares to speak during the Jan. 29, 2026, Fresno City Council meeting. Omar Rashad | Fresnoland<\/p>\n

Miguel Arias, the Fresno city councilmember who represents southwest Fresno, took issue with the idea that massage therapy could present novel liability concerns that require the city to examine them through the special events permitting process.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpecial events permits were designed for events that attract thousands of people at once and then by definition require additional security, policing, building permits, fire inspections,\u201d Arias told Fresnoland. \u201cIt’s your FresYes Festival<\/a>. It wasn’t meant for small events taking place at city parks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Considering Wellness to the West\u2019s turnout, which stays under 100 people, Arias said that\u2019s all the more reason why it shouldn\u2019t be subject to the special events permit.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat concerns me overall is this potential trend that anytime there is some level of activity that occurs at our city parks that may generate minimal revenue, the city wants to insert itself and require special events permits that make the cost 10 times higher,\u201d Arias said.<\/p>\n

Arias said back in the 1960s and 1970s, the PARCS Department operated several soccer and baseball leagues across the city. In Arias\u2019 eyes, the department today operates more like a property manager and landlord of green space instead of first and foremost focusing on activating park space with programming.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“In this case, when the community has stepped up to do what traditionally would be done by the PARCS Department, we should be getting out of the way, celebrating them and supporting them, instead of trying to control every aspect through, in my view, the argument of liability,\u201d Arias said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He added that if the city is concerned about reducing liability, it should be focused on the city\u2019s police, fire and transportation departments.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“They are the largest liability to the city of Fresno when it comes to insurance claims, settlements and injuries,\u201d Arias said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018Never in my wildest dreams\u2019<\/p>\n

Before Wellness to the West, Wilson, one of the program\u2019s organizers, recalled unhoused people frequenting the park\u2019s playground. That\u2019s one of the reasons she and Cleveland were surprised to hear that there could be an issue with adults utilizing the space near the playground for exercise.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThey said adults can’t be on the playground because sometimes we’ll do our workouts near the playground area,\u201d Wilson told Fresnoland. \u201cThat never really seemed to be a problem when there was a lot of homeless over there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aguirre confirmed to Fresnoland that there is no issue with adults being or exercising near the playground at Kearney Triangle Park.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cMessaging maybe got miscommunicated, and you know, unfortunately, they may have taken it a certain way,\u201d Aguirre said, adding that he wants to address any concerns and answer questions in a meeting with the program\u2019s organizers.<\/p>\n

\"\"Kearney Triangle Park, which doesn’t have an official sign with its name on it unlike most other Fresno parks, is located on the intersection of Fresno Street and Kearney Boulevard. Omar Rashad | Fresnoland<\/p>\n

Cleveland told Fresnoland he\u2019s open to meeting with the city, but said he hadn\u2019t received any request so far \u2014 just two emails about the city\u2019s special events permit application and how to reserve a park in Fresno. He added that he wants to ensure the community program follows all rules.<\/p>\n

But for Wellness to the West, having a massage therapy component has been a core part of the program since it first launched in May 2024. Now, the prospect of having to change the program after the city belatedly found out about it just two months ago doesn\u2019t sit right with him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just don’t think it’s fair,\u201d Cleveland told Fresnoland. \u201cI can’t really see the experience without it (massage therapy). That’s something that a lot of the participants really do enjoy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cleveland said he doesn\u2019t know exactly what will happen next. But there\u2019s no way Wellness to the West is going away.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s up in the air up until I can have some conversations hopefully with some individuals with the city, or just with the PARCS department,\u201d Cleveland said.<\/p>\n

In the last two years, Cleveland has personally seen Wellness to the West go beyond just community exercise. It has managed to bring residents together in unique ways, from organizing walks for identifying public infrastructure in need of fixing to even helping some of the community\u2019s most vulnerable residents.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Last summer, Wellness to the West organized walk audits where residents started at Kearney Triangle Park and walked throughout their community<\/a>, taking note of where \u201cpublic infrastructure supports or undermines safety, health, and dignity.\u201d<\/p>\n

The audits had dozens of findings in southwest Fresno, as well as downtown and Chinatown \u2014 identifying everything from factory odors and limited shade near bus stops to broken sidewalks and the need for local grocery stores within walking distance.\u00a0<\/p>\n

On top of mobilizing participants to think about how their community could be better, Wellness to the West has also become a rare space for some to improve their lives.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Both Cleveland and Wilson said they drew inspiration from a gentleman in his 60s who has been showing up to Wellness to the West for the past couple months.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When they first met the man, they learned he was formerly paralyzed but currently on a path to rehabilitating his body. At first when the man first showed up, he was using two walking sticks. Since then, they\u2019ve seen him progress to only using a cane, and now he\u2019s even doing some of the workouts without any help or support from others.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cHe’s with community and he loves it,\u201d Wilson said. \u201cHe makes sure to come out every week, and he brings his friends now. It’s just so beautiful to really witness that.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked if he could\u2019ve ever imagined more than two years ago that Wellness to the West could one day help people through their physical therapy journey, Cleveland took a moment to answer.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cNever in my wildest dreams.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Kearney Triangle Park is located in southwest Fresno, neighboring the iconic palm trees of Kearney Boulevard. For more than two years, it became the home of Wellness to the West, a community program that has redefined what the park means for its surrounding community. Omar Rashad | Fresnoland<\/p>\n

This <a target=”_blank” href=”https:\/\/fresnoland.org\/2026\/07\/22\/wellness-to-the-west-kearney-triangle-park\/”>article<\/a> first appeared on <a target=”_blank” href=”https:\/\/fresnoland.org”>Fresnoland<\/a> and is republished here under a <a target=”_blank” href=”https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nd\/4.0\/”>Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License<\/a>.<img src=”https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/fresnoland.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/cropped-Fresnoland_FacebookProfile.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;quality=80&amp;ssl=1″ style=”width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;”><\/p>\n

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