A park can be a place to play, walk the dog or meet a neighbor. It can also be a place to notice how close everyday life is to the routes that carry goods through Stockton. On Monday, November 16, Little Manila Rising’s environmental justice youth organizers will use five local stops to explore that relationship on the Stockton Toxic Tour.
The free tour runs from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and starts at 27 S. Grant Street. The organizers are focusing this second Toxic Tour on freight transportation and air pollution in the broader South Stockton area. They’ll also share ways residents can get involved in local clean-air advocacy.
Five stops, with time to look around
The route begins at Independence Park, then continues to Stribley Park, Mormon Slough, Hazelton and Louis Park. The registration page lists the fourth stop as Hazelton. Organizers say the group will drive between stops, park and walk around each area for a few minutes. They ask attendees to bring a phone to take pictures for a discussion later in the tour.
That exercise gives participants something concrete to compare. A photo might show how a road, a path or a public space fits into the surrounding neighborhood. Those observations can help residents frame questions about where air is monitored, what the monitors measure and how freight moves near the places they use every day.
How Stockton tracks air quality close to home
The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District’s Stockton community air protection program gives residents a way to follow those questions after the tour. Stockton was selected for California’s AB 617 program in 2019. The program includes neighborhood air monitoring, an emissions reduction plan and a community steering committee that helps shape local priorities.
Residents can look up monitoring locations and weekly air monitoring updates, with reports available in English and Spanish. The monitoring records give readers a starting point for asking how air quality varies by location and over time.
What to know before registering
The tour will be conducted in English. Lunch is provided, and participants will be asked to sign a waiver on the day of the tour. Organizers say they will follow up by email with minors who register. The listing does not specify whether vehicles are provided or describe accessibility at the stops. Contact youth organizer Mickey Perez before attending to confirm transportation and discuss any mobility or other access needs.
Event Details
- Event: Toxic Tour, led by Little Manila Rising’s environmental justice youth organizers
- Date: Monday, November 16, 2026
- Time: 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Meeting location: 27 S. Grant Street, Stockton. Follow the written meeting instructions. The registration page’s map pin displays 21 S. Grant Street.
- Admission: Free and open to the community. Space is limited and advance registration is required.
- Official links: Register for the Toxic Tour or view the Downtown Stockton Alliance event listing.
- Contact: Mickey Perez, [email protected]
The tour begins with places Stockton residents may already know. The youth organizers’ invitation is to look at those places together and bring more specific questions to the next conversation about neighborhood air quality.