The City Shows Some Love To South Stockton

Republished from Stocktonia

At a recent forum, District 4 City Council candidate Jason Lee made a pointed claim about Stockton city government: it has neglected South Stockton for decades. "South Stockton has been disrespected for decades," he said, echoing a long-held sentiment that City Hall has not prioritized the area’s needs.

While it’s true that South Stockton has suffered from under-investment in the past, recent developments suggest the city is working to change that narrative. Stockton is now pouring millions into projects and improvements aimed at revitalizing South Stockton. But is it enough?

City spokesperson Connie Cochran defended Stockton’s efforts, stating, “The city spends hundreds of millions of dollars in projects, programs, and services that benefit South Stockton.” While projects aren’t specifically designed for individual districts, Cochran noted that many of the larger infrastructure projects do benefit the older areas of Stockton, including downtown and South Stockton.

One example of the city’s new investments is the $14 million renovation of Van Buskirk Golf Course, an area that had been left to deteriorate. The redesign, which includes community-driven features like a skate park, basketball courts, bike trails, and multipurpose fields, marks a shift in attention toward the south side.

Other projects currently underway include:

• The McKinley Park Project: A $750,000 investment bringing improvements like new trees, turf installation, and pool renovations.
• Urban Forest Renovation: In partnership with Little Manila Rising, the city is planting over 1,500 trees in South Stockton, addressing urban heat islands.
• Stockton Mobility Collective: A $7.5 million initiative that will introduce e-carsharing and e-bikeshare programs to improve local transportation.
• Grade Separation Project: A $237 million project aiming to reduce railway congestion at Stockton Diamond, the busiest rail bottleneck in California, bringing environmental and traffic relief to South Stockton.

These efforts signal the city’s intent to remedy years of underinvestment, but critics argue more needs to be done—especially in food deserts and areas lacking access to healthy groceries. Some believe the city should incentivize markets offering nutritious options and expand community-driven projects like urban farms.

While South Stockton still has a long way to go, recent city investments show a commitment to building a better future. Whether it’s enough remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the city is digging itself out of a legacy of neglect.

Originally published in Stocktonia, republished with permission on Fat City Feed