The Wonderful Company Community Sports Complex in Shafter breaks ground

A groundbreaking ceremony in October marked the beginning of construction on The Wonderful Company Community Sports Complex in Shafter - the area’s first state-of-the-art recreational facility. Thanks to a historic $5.5 million gift to the Shafter Recreation & Park District, the project will support three phases of development on a 42-acre, cutting-edge park, and recreational facility.

The largest gift in Shafter’s history and the largest to a recreation and parks district in Kern County was made possible through a private-public partnership, with support from The Wonderful Company’s co-founders, Lynda and Stewart Resnick, their foundation, local government agencies, and state funding.  

The project is part of a broader $30 million master plan to meet the rising demand for outdoor and sports activities. Last year alone, the Shafter Recreation & Park District served 2,000 children - a 40% increase in participation over the past five years.

Over 100 local elected officials, community leaders, and residents celebrated the groundbreaking at the October ceremony, with The Wonderful Company Chief Operating Officer of Corporate Social Responsibility Andy Anzaldo giving remarks and sharing the company’s commitment to being a Wonderful Neighbor in the communities where we live and work.

Shafter is also home to the Wonderful Industrial Park and Wonderful Career Center, which offer higher-skilled, higher-paying roles and free career training to residents for jobs of the future.

The sports complex, whose first phase of construction is expected to be completed in August 2025, will bring amenities often unavailable in smaller cities, such as several baseball and softball fields, soccer pitches, basketball and handball courts, playgrounds, and miles of jogging paths. Facilities will include parking lots, office spaces, equipment storage, restrooms, and a concession area - creating an all-inclusive hub for physical and social activity for families and residents across the region.

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