Smack dab in the middle of Hart Park, the 370-acre jewel a short distance northeast of the Bakersfield, the Hart Park Adventure Play Area, a $4.6-million project scheduled for completion in December.

Community members of Kern County walk the dry riverbed in protest for the water restoration in the Kern River. The river was shut down in August of 2024, affecting recreational use and wildlife.

On March 20th, the 5th District Appellate Court in Fresno will hold a hearing to discuss the next moves for the Kern River. The river has been shut down in Bakersfield, and residents want it back.

It won’t be ready until next summer, but Hart Memorial Park is set to get a new adventure playground complete with a Kern River-themed water feature.