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SATNA ANA RIVER: SANTIAGO PARK TRAIL AND HABITAT IMPROVEMENTS IMPLEMENTATION resilient. A new automated drip irrigation system will support long-term sustainability, preventing deterioration caused by drought conditions. Site Description: Santiago Park is located in and owned by the City of Santa Ana, Orange County and serves as the city's only designated wilderness park, providing vital natural open space for an otherwise highly urbanized environment. The park supports existing suburban neighborhoods as well as the medium density residential developments anticipated under the City's 2032 General Plan Land Use Element. The park is approximately one mile from Downtown Santa Ana and within walking distance of both Main Place Mall and the iconic Discovery Cube Science Center. A 2021 City of Santa Ana survey identified Santiago Park as the most widely used and popular park within the city, demonstrating its importance as a recreational resource to the community. Although the park is not located directly in a disadvantaged community, it is accessible by three major freeways and can be enjoyed by many of the surrounding communities. Grant Applicant Qualifications: The City of Santa Ana Public Works Agency— Park Services Division has received and managed more than $50 million in grant funding to construct new parks and renovate existing parks and recreation facilities. This includes several grants from the Conservancy to improve the other segments of Santiago Park. The agency is comprised of technical experts that ensure projects are sustainably, innovative, and completed in a timely manner and within budget. Further, the City's competitive contractor selection and bid process ensures that they hire qualified contractors and require performance bonds to ensure that projects are completed on schedule and per plan specifications. The agency received support from both the Board of Recreation and Parks and City Council to manage the improvement of Santiago Park. CONSISTENCY WITH CONSERVANCY'S PROJECT SELECTION CRITERIA: The proposed project is consistent with the Conservancy's Project Selection Criteria, last updated on September 23, 2021, in the following respects: Selection Criteria 1. Extent to which the project helps the Conservancy accomplish the objectives in the Strategic Plan. See the "Consistency with Conservancy's Strategic Plan" section below. 2. Project is a good investment of state resources. The project provides an opportunity to enhance an invaluable resource for the state. Once implemented, it will restore and protect the ecological integrity of a portion of this tributary to the Santa Ana River while also providing a safe recreational space. The budget is reasonable for the scope of work. The Park Santiago Neighborhood Association has expressed strong support for the project, deeming it as "an essential respite within the densely populated urban setting in which [they] live". Residents and visitors will be able to enjoy the interpretive signs that will highlight the critical role that the park plays in sustaining wildlife, even in its urban context. Page 3 of 6