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Harvey L. Hall Family Plaza
The Harvey L. Hall Family Plaza, officially opened in October of 2021, is the welcoming point for Roadrunner fans heading to the Icardo Center as well as a gateway to California State University, Bakersfield from the south end of campus.
The Plaza now serves as a place for CSUB students and fans to come together before heading inside to root for the `Runners, one of Mayor Hall’s favorite pastimes.
On Jan. 5, 2019, California State University, Bakersfield President Dr. Lynnette Zelezny announced plans for the Harvey L. Hall Family Plaza, located on the concourse of the Icardo Center. A year and half later on Oct. 14, 2021, President Zelezny joined Lavonne C. Hall, the wife of Bakersfield’s late Mayor Hall, to formally open the Plaza with grand unveiling ceremony.
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Gallery: (10-11-2021) Hall Family Plaza Ribbon Cutting Cutting
A generous, undisclosed gift from the Hall Family made the facilities improvement possible. A private groundbreaking ceremony on Oct. 20, 2020 started the renovation and the work was completed in Summer of 2021.
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Gallery: (10-11-2021) Hall Family Plaza Progress Photos [hidden]
The open space features a two-tone brick walkway punctuated by an eight-foot tall bronze Roadrunner monument that welcomes visitors near the south side parking lot. Park benches, trees, and landscape accent the renovation.
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Gallery: (10-11-2021) Hall Family Plaza Statue Progress [hidden]
The Harvey L. Hall Family Plaza is symbolic of the relationship between Hall and the University, which dates back to the early 1970s when he founded Hall Ambulance Service, Inc. and began providing standby ambulance service at each of the school's home athletic contests. That relationship has only deepened over the past 47 years.
Avid Roadrunner Basketball fans, the Hall Family could always be seen courtside during home games and enjoyed traveling to Las Vegas each year for the Western Athletic Conference Tournament donning their blue and gold apparel, including Hall's custom CSUB leather jacket.
"Harvey was so passionate about CSUB and the educational experience it provided for the student-athletes to succeed," Lavonne C. Hall said of her late husband. "Our family has a lot of good memories of attending Roadrunner games and this project will give his name a permanent place on the campus."
Harvey Hall’s relationship with the University and higher education extended beyond athletics as evidenced by Hall donating his salary as Mayor to award more than $250,000 to nearly 300 community college and CSUB students.
CSUB has recognized Hall's accomplishments and impact on the Bakersfield community on more than one occasion. In 2010, the CSUB School of Business and Public Administration Executive Advisory Council honored then-Mayor Hall with the prestigious John Brock Community Service Award for his strong record of exemplary community engagement and service.
In 2014, CSUB President Horace Mitchell presented Mayor Hall with the CSUB President's Award for his leadership, commitment, and service to the University and the community; and, in 2017, President Mitchell conferred upon Hall an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters in recognition of his lifetime of selfless service, leadership, philanthropy, and distinguished achievements.
"Harvey Hall was dedicated to Kern County, to Bakersfield, and to CSUB," said CSUB President Zelezny. "He, his wonderful wife Lavonne and the rest of his family loved to support CSUB athletics, so it is only fitting that the Hall family will now have a permanent tribute at the entrance to the Icardo Center. Their transformational gift will enable CSUB to continue to be outstanding in service to our faculty, staff, students, alumni and community."
