Our Accomplishments

  • Increasing Neighbohood Watch to approximately 25 groups

  • Initiated the Rank Security Patrol

  • Worked with Public Works to get over 20 streets re-paved, 2011-2012

  • A Safety Survey defined the need for safer parks and neighborhoods. Worked with MPD to get more park coverage. Their outreach and patrol of problematice businesses on McHenry Ave that impacted Graceada and Enslen parks was helpful in making positive changes for the parks.

  • Virginia Corridor's maintenance projects coordinated by Sandy Clark : Morris to Coldwell, replacement of 6 vandalized crepe myrtle trees and 175 plants, and a large turnout participated in Love Modesto and worked cleaning and planting at the playground on the Virginia Trail/Morris & Virginia Avenues.

  • Donation of funds to Enslen and Roosevelt music departments  - As a tribute to the memory of Bette Belle Smith, a longtime supporter of the schools and music programs throughout Modesto, CANA presented $225 each to Enslen and Roosevelt School's music programs for their 2013-14 school year. This money was earned through a few CANA Taco Tuesday events. Eating couldn't be more fun and rewarding! 

  • Formed Mitigation Nuisance Committee. Reached out to Doctor’s Hospital and Aegis Treatment Center located in the neighborhood.

  • Placement of recycling labels on the green recycle bins within the CANA area & graffiti removal

  • Social events (i.e. Neighborhood Social,  Root Beer Splash Party, and neighborhood Bike Ride)

  • Reporting blight and following the Modesto Inn (now called Motel 6) improvements

  • Neighbors helping to remove graffiti in their area (especially on garbage and green bins and on fences)

  • Hosting neutral forums and General meetings to share ideas and learn about issues that effect our neighborhood (i.e. College Ave Road Diet, homelessness, traffic, and crime).

  • Taco Tuesday Fundraisers: Starting around 2013, Sandy Clark has coordinated these ongoing fundraisers. Donations are given to the three schools in the CANA area each year: Enslen and Fremont Elementary, and Roosevelt Junior High. 15% of sales at our CANA Taco Tuesdays at Taqueria El Compadre, Roseburg Square (7 each year) are used to buy Student incentive reward gift cards from the Yogurt Mill and given to the schools. This program is going on 11 years now and is a yearly activity for CANA.

  • Formed a N.E.A.T. team in partners with the City of Modesto Parks & Rec. It is called the Neighborhood Environmental Action Team. The focus as of 2017 is to assist in trash pick up in Graceada & Enlsen parks and along the Virginia Trail.

  • Love Modesto project of working on the Virginia Trail from College Ave. to Roseburg Ave.

  • Residents worked with the Focus on Prevention Initiative sponsored by Stanislaus County to help find solutions for care and housing for those experiencing homelessness. CANA residents along with members of the Emanuel Lutheran Church helped with the Homeless Point in Time Count in January 2017.

  • Partnered with Modesto Police Department for A Cops in the Park gathering at Graceada Park along with a K-9 demonstration at Enslen Park.

  • Rank Investigations and Protection, Inc. made a donation to put up 5 cameras in Graceada Park. CANA neighbors donated the balance needed. Modesto City Parks, Recreation & Neighborhoods Dept. provided the electrical work needed. An arson in the park was apprehended with the help of the cameras.

  • Park Improvements: Created a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Modesto Parks, Recreation & Neighborhoods Department to work on improvements in Graceada and Enslen parks (2017-2018). - The repair of the Graceada Park pool and splash pad was made possible by Jake & Katie Barber (CANA residents). They received donations from all sectors of the city, family members, and friends, along with Nancy Simas (CANA resident) who brought in funds from The Beard Family Companies, who had initially put the splash pad in many years ago. Leadership Modesto 2018 lead the way to collect donations to replace and install the burned tot playground equipment in Graceada Park. We are all very grateful. All of these projects were celebrated with ribbon-cuttings June 2018.

  • Enslen plaza and recreation activities at the Boy Scout Clubhouse in Enslen Park, Stoddard and Enslen Avenues. - From the 2019 Gala To Go fundraiser the installation of a new plaza and children’s playequipment was started with the help of Boyett Petroleum, Valero Energy, City of Modesto Parks, Recreation and Neighborhoods Department, Beard Family Companies, Collins Electric, Stuart McClanahan Construction, and Simile Construction. This completed Phase One. Phases Two and Three are now being worked on to expand the recreation activities to Bocce Ball Courts and Horseshoe Pits. Later on, there will be some renovations to the Boy Scout Clubhouse.

  • GALA in Graceada 2019 and because of the pandemic during 2020, the GALA in Graceada was retooled to be compliant with COVID19 restrictions to a GALA to GO at Graceada Park. Both these events were very successful in raising funds for improvements in Enslen and Graceada parks.

  • In 2022 the second playground structure for Tots-5 was installed at the playground in front of the Boy Scout Club House, Enslen Park. The funds came from the CANA Gala To Go and a private donation for the installation.

  • A Traffic Calming Committee was formed. It was instrumental in providing ideas to the city. A detailed presentation for neighborhood improvements were introduced to the neighbors and city. Signage and striping was completed around the three neighborhood schools to increase safety for the school children and their families. These ideas also supported the city’s new program for traffic calming city-wide.

  • Also, in 2022 the Central Valley Pickleball Club, City of Modesto Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhoods Department, and CANA teamed to repair four of the existing tennis courts. To do the job, Dave Hansen, contractor, was the mastermind, and volunteered his time along with over 50 volunteers. The Pickleball enthusiasm has brought back to Graceada a family friendly atmosphere.

  • Modesto City of Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhoods Department then repaired the two remaining tennis courts for tennis and local Futsal (a soccer like game for younger children wanting to learn soccer).

  • Derek Castle has been instrumental in working with the City to get the park hours changed to Dawn to Dusk (2023/2024) and bring improvements to Graceada Park through guidelines on how the Pavilion can be used (by reservation only, 2023/2024) so it is not hampered by illegal behavior. He continues to work on improving the parks.