Attention To Detail: Monument Refresh At Temecula City Park Honors Local Hero

TEMECULA, CA — The City of Temecula has recently repainted the city park monument at Kent Hintergardt Memorial Park, Mayor Brenden Kalfus shared.

Each of the city's 39 parks bears a special monument decorated with the city seal and the park name. Keeping the monuments fresh is an ongoing process. Every has a story, many with themed play structures, all managed by the city's parks department. The park, named after the fallen Riverside County Sheriff's Department Deputy Kent Hintergardt, is located at 31465 Via Cordoba, was dedicated in 1994, and is just down the street from Erle Stanley Gardner Middle School. It is over 10 acres in size, with a whole field, two half-court basketball courts, a tot lot play structure, and picnic tables.

Over the weekend, Hintergardt's daughter, Kena Gunter, visited and found the memorial monument in need of refurbishment. She reached out to Temecula's Mayor, Brenden Kalfus, to see if he could help.

"I reached out Sunday after visiting my dad’s park the day before to see if he would be able to get us in touch with someone to repaint and clean up the sign," she said. The paint, she noticed, was peeling and had faded from sun damage.

By Monday morning, the Temecula Public Works Parks Department got to work with a new task: brightening the monument at Kent Hintergardt Memorial Park. Two days later, Kalfus sent her a picture of the bright and refinished monument.

"(Mayor Kalfus) sent me the picture of the sign already painted and cleaned up, along with a sincere message about growing up playing at his park," Gunter said. "We are so grateful for the ongoing respect and memory of my dad, Kent Hintergardt."

Kalfus shared that for him, coming back to the park where he played as a child was "a full-circle moment. Deputy Hintergardt will forever be a hero," he said.

City Manager Aaron Adams also shared his thoughts on how the city departments work together to get the job done when residents present concerns, especially when it comes to one of the city's honored heroes.

“Public Works Director Ron Moreno and I take immense pride in the City of Temecula’s dedicated Public Works Department," Adams told Patch. "Our Public Works professionals’ unwavering commitment to excellence was on full display. When a concern or issue is brought to our attention, it is addressed with care— and urgency whenever possible."

Behind the scenes, this is the “Temecula Way,” according to Adams.

"Throughout all departments and divisions, along with the active engagement of our Mayor and City Council Members, who also play a vital role in ensuring our City remains beautifully maintained. Not every request can be addressed in short order, but we always try, and this request had significant meaning for all involved," Adams said. "The City of Temecula holds profound and eternal respect in honor of Deputy Kent Hintergardt, who made the ultimate sacrifice and died in the line of duty in service to the City of Temecula in 1993. He will never be forgotten and is forever etched in our hearts and in our history.”

The memory of Deputy Hintergardt and his family's ultimate sacrifice remains fresh in the minds of many longtime Temecula residents. He was 33 years old, with a wife and baby daughter, when he was shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance call, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department memorial website. He left behind his wife, Linda Hintergardt, 16-month-old daughter, Marissa and unborn daughter, Kena.

If you haven’t visited the parks lately, it’s a great way to get outdoors with the kids and see al the community has to offer.

The city's list of parks includes:

1. Bahia Vista Park
2. Butterfield Stage Park
3. Calle Aragon Park
4. Crowne Hill Park
5. Daisen Park
6. Friendship Park
7. Harveston Community Park
8. Harveston Lake Park
9. John Magee Park
10. Kent Hintergardt Memorial Park
11. Loma Linda Park
12. Long Canyon Creek Park
13. Meadows Park
14. Michael "Mike" Naggar Community Park
15. Nakayama Park
16. Nicolas Road Park
17. Pablo Apis Park
18. Paloma Del Sol Park
19. Paseo Gallante Park
20. Patricia H. Birdsall Sports Park
21. Pauba Ridge Park
22. Redhawk Community Park
23. Riverton Park
24. Ronald Reagan Sports Park
25. Rotary Park
26. Sam Hicks Monument Park
27. Serena Hills Park
28. Skyview Park
29. Stephen Linen Jr. Memorial Park
30. Sunset Park
31. Temecula Creek Trail Park
32. Temecula Duck Pond & Veterans Memorial
33. Temeku Hills Park
34. Town Square Park
35. Vail Ranch Park
36. Veteran's Park
37. Winchester Creek Park
38. Wolf Creek Park
39. Wolf Creek Trail Park

Read also:
Recalling a Fallen Deputy—and a Wife's 'Three Times' Broken Heart

Officer Kent Hintergardt's Sacrifice Remembered By Loved Ones, Friends

This report has been corrected.