Kern County Public Works, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District and California Climate Investments joined local leaders and community members to break ground on sidewalk improvements in the unincorporated neighborhood known locally as the Mexican Colony or La Colonia, the county reported on its Around Kern County segment.

County officials said the project will add nearly a mile of sidewalks, curbs and gutters to create safer, more accessible routes for residents to reach schools, markets, restaurants and parks. The segment stated the project has $2,000,000 in funding through AB 617 and California Climate Investments.

A representative of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District told the program that the project is expected to reduce particulate pollution, citing reductions of PM2.5 and PM10 and quantifying an estimated reduction of about 320 pounds of pollution from the air. Construction is already underway, and county communications said work is expected to be completed by December.

Project organizers framed the investment as improving pedestrian safety and supporting cleaner air in a neighborhood the segment described as lacking sidewalks but not spirit.