PITTSBURG >> Pittsburg is undertaking two public space improvement projects that will include miniparks, green spaces and a new trail to the Pittsburg Center BART station.

The projects are thanks to two Caltrans Clean California grants awarded to the city. Included is $1,354,000 for the Living Green Pittsburg project that, in part, includes a new trail providing better access to BART, and $2,891,962 for the Reviving the Heart of Pittsburg Pride project for downtown park and landscape improvements.

“I think it’s really awesome that the city received two grants,” Vice Mayor Shanelle Scales-Preston said during a recent council meeting when the city accepted the money. “So, great job, staff, and just happy to see this come to fruition in our community.”

The grants were among 16 awarded in the Bay Area by Gov. Gavin Newsom — a total of $296 million — to underserved communities. Oakland, Richmond, Hayward and San Pablo also received money to improve green spaces and transform public spaces.

The awards are part of Newsom’s Clean California Initiative, a $1.1 billion multiyear cleanup effort led by Caltrans that aims to remove trash, create jobs and transform public spaces. Since launching it in July, Caltrans has removed nearly 7,400 tons of litter from state highways, officials said.

Projects will include “a wide range of community enhancements for cities, counties, transit agencies and tribal governments to beautify public spaces, including such as litter removal, landscaping, and art installations, walking and bike paths, and other complete streets features that enhance safety and access to transportation,” Caltrans District 4 Director Dina El-Tawansy said in a statement.

Scales-Preston, who spoke at the recent groundbreaking in Pittsburg, said in an interview that the Reviving the Heart of Pittsburg Pride project “will focus on revitalizing and beautifying the Railroad Avenue corridor,” adding landscape improvements, a minipark, artwork and a gateway arch sign spelling Pittsburg on 10th Street. Improvements will be made leading into the historic downtown on Railroad Avenue from Civic Avenue to 10th Street, according to the staff report.

Art also will be installed at the medians on Railroad Avenue that will guide people into the downtown area. A new park with a mini-amphitheater will be located on Railroad and 17th Street to provide more green space.

The estimated cost of the project is $3,305,099. Besides the Clean California grant, the program requires a match of $413,137, which the city plans to get from American Rescue Plan funds it received.

The other project, she said, will include a trail to connect bicyclists and pedestrians to the Pittsburg Center BART station, as well as an outreach campaign aimed at reducing litter in the city.

The total budget of that project is an estimated $2,166,250. That includes $1,354,000 from the Clean California Local Grant Program and $812,250 from the American Rescue Plan Act funds, which will be applied as city matching money.

(The Living Green project) “will promote active transportation by creating a trail along the underutilized section of Frontage Road, along with expanding our existing living green garden program out there,” Scales-Preston said.

“I think this will be a model for future green spaces around the city,” the vice mayor added. “And, we hope the trail encourages people to walk over to connect to BART.”

Improvements include replacing an overgrown vacant lot on Railroad Avenue plagued by illegal dumping with a minipark featuring trees, shade, a trail, and informational signage educating residents on the purpose of green spaces and directing them to the city’s Living Green website when it launches.

The Living Green website will be expanded into a hub for educational resources and volunteer opportunities to encourage residents and local community groups to become stewards of their green spaces.

“The focus will be like educating the community about litter, about pollution, transportation,” Scales-Preston said.

A new social media campaign will promote living in an environmentally friendly way and educate residents on proper waste disposal, recycling, composting and gardening, she said.

Both projects also serve “to reduce litter and uplift disadvantaged neighborhoods to encourage an even greater sense of pride within the community,” according to the staff report.

The two projects also encourage healthy living, Scales-Preston said.

“They help improve public health and have walkable spaces that will have a lasting impact on the city and its residents, especially in those underserved communities,” she added.