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Four months after Eaton Fire destroyed Altadena, normalcy is still a long way to go, but the county wants to provide one beacon of joy and hope.
Dedicated to 1954 and most recently home to the Altadena Farmers Market, the park was damaged by the Eton fire and blocked from public access. The park’s restoration efforts received funding from local heavy hitters, including the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation and the Los Angeles Clippers, and received a $2.4 million grant from the Fireaid Benefit Concert to help rebuild and expand the playground. When reopened, the expanded and enhanced products will be expanded and enhanced to become an enhanced “superpark.”
Saturday’s reopening event features free family-friendly activities and picnic days. The celebration begins at 9:30am with Bob Baker Marionette performances and children’s arts and crafts. At 10:30am, Mickey and Minnie Mouse are on hand to help cut the ribbons in the playground, and there is a pool party soon after.
There is also an open house, including the Alta Chat open house, a local favorite bevel coffee, a renovated gym called the La Clippers Court, a new computer and high-tech room, the Altadena Library and the satellite location of the Senior Center.
At noon, Dodgers pitcher Evan Phillips and host Kirsten Watson will help the Central Altadena Little League unveil two new Dodgers Dreamfields that will allow them to resume playing their home games. Youth baseball, softball and basketball clinics continue at 12:30pm. Altadena community picnics, DJ sets and concerts (with talent that hasn’t been announced yet) conclude the community-centric afternoon.
Norma E. Garcia Gonzalez is helping to restore Loma Alta Park. Photo: Courtesy Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation
Until the reopening, hundreds of volunteers have appeared over the past few weekends to help paint trees, landscapes and murals. However, the decision to restore and reopen the park was filled with mixed reactions and some controversy, especially from locals who were directly affected by the fire and were still being kicked out of their homes.
Several people have shared their concerns in a Facebook post from county superintendent Kathryn Berger, with many questioning the city’s priorities and the choice to reopen the park rather than directly assisting residents. They also expressed serious concern about the safety of children’s soil, parks and surrounding areas. However, according to LAIST, it is worth noting that director Norma E. Garcia Gonzalez of LA County Parks asserted people that “it was thoroughly cleaned, the ashes were cleaned and the ashes were cleaned” before volunteering. (You can see the results of recent soil tests here.)
From now on, the park will be open daily from 6:30am to 9pm. Please consult the park’s website for updated pool times.
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