The Ceres City Council approved the purchase of $126,275 in new playground equipment for Independence Park to replace what was damaged by vandals in 2025.

The discussion took up 13 minutes of the council’s lengthy meeting and resulted in a 4-1 vote with James Casey casting the lone vote.

Public Works Superintendent Josh Casas said that the city received an insurance settlement for $131,658 and suggested using the leftover funds of $5,383 to go towards future fitness equipment.

Mayor Javier Lopez said he was fine with the interim city manager buying what fitness equipment pieces with the extra funds.

Councilwoman Cerina Otero asked if there was a deadline for buying the equipment and said the public needed to provide input on it first.

Concerns about the park having no video surveillance were brought forth by Councilwoman Rosalinda Vierra.

“This whole thing happened at a park that does not have any security cameras and …I’m also concerned about the lack of cameras in there and the ability for this to repeat and then the children and the families in that community losing their playground again as well as ongoing police issues in that park,” said Vierra.

Casey voted no because “we didn’t have the proper information for the public to participate.”