MAYOR STEVE JONES speaks at Thursday’s “State of the City” event at the Hyatt Regency Orange County (OC Tribune photos).

By Jim Tortolano/Orange County Tribune

With a “Back to the Future” theme, Garden Grove Mayor Steve Jones arrived in a DeLorean, clad – initially – like Marty McFly at Thursday’s “State of the City” event  at the Hyatt Regency Orange County.

Making his final address as the city’s top elected official – he’s “termed out” – Jones reflected on the community’s birth, growth and future.

“Twenty twenty four is a milestone year,” he said. “We’re celebrating the 150th anniversary’s formation in 1874. That’s so amazing.

“And while not as history-making as our town’s establishment, 2024 also marks my final year as mayor of Garden Grove.”

“ALONZO COOK” went back from 1874 to 2024.

Over the course of his address, he thanked city officials and noted progress made in the previous year including the start of the “Civic Center Revitalization Project” which will bring a new three-story police facility (connected to a four-story parking garage) and a new park to the area northeast of Euclid Street and Acacia Parkway.

The planned completion date for the police facility and garage is March of 2026, and summer of 2027 for the park.

More immediate in its impact will be the planned “inauguration” of the Central Cities Navigation Center, a homeless shelter and service facility in Garden Grove in cooperation with the cities of Fountain Valley and Westminster and the County of Orange on Wednesday, June 4.

Underscoring the historical landmark of 2024, there was a special guest appearance by Garden Grove’s founder, Alonzo Cook. Portrayed by Matthew Rangel, an actor from the Gem Theater, the bearded founding father, “Cook” praised the community’s progress and wrote a memorable finish to the city’s biggest annual event.

The “State of the City 2024” was staged jointly by the City of Garden Grove and the Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce. The welcome and closing remarks were from Claudette Baldemor, president and CEO of the chamber.

Singing “The Star-Spangler Banner” was 13-year-old Michelle Nguyen Gordon and making the invocation was Pastor James Scheller, Garden Grove Police Department chaplain.