By City Manager Ken Striplin
The holiday season is in full swing once again, with festive lights, favorite traditions and the joy of gathering with loved ones. As I look back on 2025, I am filled with pride for all we accomplished as a community.
This year, our City Council adopted an on-time and balanced budget once again. Our conservative fiscal policies secured a prestigious AAA issuer credit rating from Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings.
We also celebrated major milestones across our award-winning park system. In June, Pioneer Oil Refinery Park – the City’s 39th park – opened to the public, transforming California’s oldest surviving oil refinery into a one-of-a-kind destination that blends historic preservation with open space access and educational opportunities. Just weeks later, the City completed the transfer of William S. Hart Park and Museum from Los Angeles County, officially welcoming this beloved landmark as our 40th park. With its historic structures, barnyard, trails and festivals, Hart Park will remain a community treasure for generations to come. In July, construction began on the Haskell Canyon Bike Park, a 720-acre biking destination that will feature more than 15 miles of trails, a dirt jump course and pump tracks. The City also completed major upgrades at Old Orchard Park – one of our oldest and most beloved parks – adding new playground equipment, shade structures, a multi-purpose court, expanded picnic areas and renovated facilities designed to serve residents well into the future.
Our commitment to innovation and public safety continued to transform the community. In April, the City launched the Library Express, the City’s first mobile library. This “library without walls” brings books, technology and learning opportunities directly to neighborhoods across the community, ensuring every resident has access to resources that spark curiosity and creativity. We also strengthened emergency response capabilities with the acquisition of our new Emergency Mobile Command Unit, which serves as a mobile Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during large-scale incidents. By bringing the EOC into the field, we enhance coordination between agencies and improve response times during emergencies.
Lastly, Santa Clarita would not be the remarkable place it is without the involvement and community pride of our residents. In September, nearly 1,000 volunteers participated in the 30th annual River Rally, removing close to 11,000 pounds of trash and debris from the Santa Clara riverbed. In October, Make a Difference Day mobilized more than 300 volunteers for service projects across the valley. In November, 43 participants supported Graffiti Removal Day, using more than 40 gallons of paint to refresh nearly 25,000 square feet of surfaces. Thanks to our volunteers, our City remains clean, beautiful and full of spirit.
I wish everyone a joyful, peaceful and memorable holiday season. It is an honor to celebrate another remarkable year with you.
Ken Striplin is the City Manager for the City of Santa Clarita and can be reached at kstriplin@santaclarita.gov.
