The city of Santa Ana inaugurated the Salvador Quintana Park in honor of this Mexican man who helped save the harvest lands of a Japanese family during World War II.
“It is a story of love, of how Santaneros love each other and help each other,” said councilor Benjamín Vázquez at the ceremony. “We must pay tribute to Salvador Quintana, whose efforts made the community’s vision a reality; today we celebrate his work on the Nitta farm and the fact that he worked until he was 90 years old. This is what we have for him and for all of you.”
In October 2025, the City Council of Santa Ana voted to name the park in honor of Salvador Quintana, who worked on the Nitta family farm in Santa Ana between 1940 and 1945..
Two families united forever
When the Nitta family and other Japanese-Americans were interned during World War II, Mr. Quintana was entrusted with the property. Over time, Quintana made monthly trips to the internment camps to deliver essential supplies, and after the war ended, he returned the land that had one day been sold for $1 to Mr. Nitta.
“In 1942, The United States government began forcibly relocating Japanese Americans and imprisoning them in camps surrounded by barbed wire.. They could only take with them what they could carry, so most were forced to sell their properties and businesses,” recalled Rob Quintana, nephew of Salvador Quintana.
“The Nitta family was one of those families and our families have become one over the years. We are honored that today is honoring the solidarity between these two families – our families.”
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening of Santa Ana’s newest park, The children played in the children’s area, trying out the new slides, and on the basketball courtswhere, if they scored a basket, they could win free tickets to the Santa Ana Zoo.
Other residents, some elderly, tried out the park’s exercise machines, while others set up picnics on the grassy area.
From empty lot to park
The park located next to Bristol Street (712 S. Bristol St., Santa Ana, California) It has recreation areas, a playground and a picnic, as well as a 2,000-square-meter bioretention tank to filter stormwater from the neighborhood, thanks to a grant of 3.5 million dollars for the greening of the city. These facilities reduce demand on the city’s drinking water system and improve water quality in the Newport Bay Watershed area.
“This park is also for the community; I live in this neighborhood and I know how families live here, and it is not easy at all,” said Vázquez, the councilman. “When there are three or four different families living under the same roof, The children want to go out and they go to the alleys we have around here. But now, instead of going out and getting into trouble, you can come hereto a safe place to play.”
Among those who gave a few words were Councilwoman Jessie López, Councilman Johnathan Hernández and the co-president of the Pico Lowell Association, Valerie Magdaleno, who was very moved to see the transformation of the land into a park. She and her team worked alongside the public works department and surveyed residents and students about what they wanted for the park.
“As I reflect on the empty lot that once was here, I find it truly emotional to see what this place has become today,” Magdelano said. “I know firsthand how important parks are to residents here in Santa Ana, where we hardly have spaces like these.”
A green space that needed
During the ceremony you could hear the laughter of children running through the park and residents walking with their dogs; Among them was Sandra Domínguez, who attended the ceremony with her children.
“This is a really nice thing for the kids, because the neighborhood — you know — isn’t exactly the safest, so being able to get them out of their houses and into an open space like this is fantastic,” Domínguez said as his children played with a basketball. “I am totally in favor of it and, as you can see, so are they.”
Santa Ana is considered a parkless city, with one of the lowest ratios of green space per capita in the United States.and is significantly underserved compared to neighboring Orange County cities.
The park is located next to Martin Luther King Elementary School. Now, students who often leave school will have a nearby place to enjoy the outdoors.
“Salvador Quintana Park reflects the city’s commitment to utilizing available publicly owned land and collaborating creatively with the council to expand access to parks and green spaces,” said Council Member Hernández.
“This is where you will see generations of families from our community create their memories.”
