On September 24, 2022, the City of Duarte celebrated its 65th anniversary of incorporation with its annual City Picnic. Planned and executed by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, this year’s City Picnic was filled with family-friendly activities and attractions for the entire community hosted in one of Duarte’s beautiful local parks, Royal Oaks Park. Capturing the essence of Duarte’s tight-knit community and honoring its 65th year as a city, the City Picnic went off without a hitch.
The City of Duarte was officially formed on August 22, 1957, after a group of community members banded together to support the incorporation of the city and the Duarte Unified School District. The community is bordered to the north by the San Gabriel Mountains, creating beautiful walking and hiking paths, and is located on the historic U.S. Route 66, which runs directly through the middle of the city. Before its formation, Duarte was home to two medical institutions that eventually evolved into the world-renowned City of Hope Medical Center, a leading cancer-fighting center. These medical institutions helped inspire the city’s nickname, City of Health.
Today, Duarte is home to almost 22,000 residents, and all residents were welcomed to join the city in celebration of its anniversary at the City Picnic. This year’s City Picnic featured musical entertainment, including young musicians from Duarte’s local high schools, a kids’ stage, food, information booths, a classic car show paying homage to Route 66, a beer garden, games, and rides.
Living up to its nickname as the City of Health, Duarte city staff members always do their due diligence to ensure the safety and health of their residents, according to California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (California JPIA) Senior Risk Manager Maria Galvan.
“With an event of this size, it was very important to city staff that we took all necessary precautions when planning,” said Parks and Recreation Director and Capstone Finalist Manuel Enriquez. “I utilized several of the California JPIA’s resources, including the Contractual Risk Transfer Manual and Special Event Risk Management Checklist, when preparing for the event.”
Duarte looks to continue paying homage to its history while providing public services and community-wide events that unite Duarte residents. Congratulations to Duarte for safely serving your residents for the last 65 years!
Providing innovative risk management solutions for its public agency partners for more than 40 years, the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (California JPIA) is one of the largest municipal self-insurance pools in the state, with more than 120 member cities and other governmental agencies. Members actively participate in shaping the organization to provide important coverage for their operations. The California JPIA provides innovative risk management solutions through a comprehensive portfolio of programs and services, including liability, workers’ compensation, pollution, property, and earthquake coverage, as well as extensive training and loss control services. For more information, please visit the California JPIA’s website at cjpia.org.
