Folsom’s $1.1 million Castle Park remodel is underway with volunteer help
Folsom is taking Castle Park into the future but not without giving a nod to the past.
Volunteers are working to renovate the park, 201 Prewett Dr., this week. The move is a nod to the volunteers who first built the park about three decades ago. Builders are scheduled to work on the playground through Sunday.
Mayor Justin Raithel joined volunteers Tuesday morning, saying the approach keeps costs down. He helped set up base boards on the larger play structure.
“It reduces our timeline,” he said. “It also reduces our cost to have volunteers out here, which is very important to Folsom, and it gives us a sense of ownership and pride in our community.”
Folsom’s Castle Park project costs nearly $1.1 million, according to a November 2025 City Council packet. About $779,000 comes from the Parks and Recreation General Fund, $135,000 from the Measure A Fund, and the remainder comes from donations.
Donors include, but aren’t limited to, Granite Construction, Little Folks University, the Rotary Club of Folsom, Folsom Rotary Annes and the Folsom Police Foundation, according to a banner posted outside the park.
The 2.1-acre park will remain castle-themed, according to the city’s website. There will also be a gold rush-themed toddler play area, a group picnic spot, a “Folsom History” timeline and more.
A site plan shows the main play area will include a ship with a steering wheel, multiple slides, swings, monkey bars, a wobbly bridge and a rock wall. The fenced toddler area will include a slide, crawl tunnel and swings.
Castle Park drew a crowd leading up to the remodel, according to Raithel, even in poor condition.
“When you come out here on a Saturday and Sunday, even with the park in bad shape, there were families out here back in the park,” Raithel said.
Folsom spokesperson Christine Brainerd said that a grand opening ceremony is expected, but a date has not been set.
