Fresno nears reclaiming control of Granite Park from private operator. Here’s what happened.

Fresno appears poised to move on from Granite Park operator Terance Frazier, but it could take some more time in court to finally do so. 

A Fresno County judge ruled in favor of the city on Friday during pretrial proceedings in its lawsuit to evict Frazier from Granite Park, but an appeal is expected. 

The backstory: Last year, the City of Fresno filed an unlawful detainer against the Central Valley Community Sports Foundation in an attempt to evict the nonprofit. 

The city claimed that the foundation, which is led by Frazier, has not paid rent as part of its agreement. 

The city sent Frazier a rent notice that expired on April 1, 2025, for nearly $82,000. 

LandValue Management, LLC filed an intent to intervene in the case last year, after it assumed a $1.5 million loan originally issued to finance Granite Park improvements nearly a decade ago. 

Fresno City Manager Georgeanne White said at the time that the city was pausing its litigation in order to open a direct dialogue with LandValue. She also said the city would reopen litigation to evict Frazier if the lender did not cure the foundation’s default. 

The big picture: A judge interpreted the lease agreement between the city and the foundation in-line with the city’s interpretation, entitling the city to take possession of Granite Park. 

The city said on Friday that the foundation admitted during a deposition that it did not pay a single dollar of billboard revenue to the city, despite being contractually obligated to do so.

The foundation also did not have appropriate insurance coverage to protect the city. 

What we’re watching: The city expects the foundation to appeal the ruling and file a motion to stay on Tuesday. 

Once that appeal is filed, the city will file its opposition by June 3 with a hearing scheduled for June 12. 

What they’re saying: “I’m pleased the judge validated the City’s position that CVCSF violated its lease,” White said in a statement. “I look forward to moving on from this saga and ensuring that Granite Park is a resource for our residents.” 

“I spent nearly 10 years fighting for this park and sacrificed nearly everything trying to keep it alive,” Frazier told GV Wire. “This was never just business, politics, or a legal fight to me. It became personal because of what this park means to kids and families in our community.”

“I won’t pretend I’m not frustrated with today’s rulings. But my commitment has never changed. I’ll keep fighting for the kids, the families, and the community that believed in Granite Park. And I trust that the appeals process will give us the opportunity to fully be heard and uphold our rights.”