Merced welcomes first part of Gen. Vang Pao Park

Around Town Merced welcomes first part of Gen. Vang Pao Park By Andrew Hardy On Nov 12, 2026 Share The first phase of the long-awaited General Vang Pao Park and Aletha June Playground project in Merced has been completed and is now open to the public. This major milestone was celebrated by local elected leaders, Hmong elders and residents during a ribbon-cutting event on Nov. 7. While there is still much of the project left to be completed, the park and playground at Freemark Avenue and Heitz Way is already an incredible achievement and fantastic demonstration of the good work being done to improve our city and represent the diversity of our community. This is the first public park to be named after the famed Hmong military and civic leader, the late Gen. Vang Pao, who helped the United States with combat operations in Laos during the Vietnam War, and later led many of his people to a new future in America.

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