Since the Charles S. Farnsworth Park opened in 1934, it has served as the center of civic, cultural, and social life for generations of Altadenans. The park’s upper and lower ball fields — popularly called “The Hill” — has been the primary home venue of the Central Altadena Little League. Four permanent pickleball courts and several tennis courts have regularly hosted community-wide competitions. The outdoor basketball courts have been the site for local three-on-three community tournaments, pickup games, and youth sports skills camps.
For 90 years, the William D. Davies Memorial Building at Farnworth Park has been the scene of community meetings, scout gatherings, and neighborhood association functions. Private celebrations — weddings, birthdays parties, and family receptions — have been held there, as well as school and community reunions, concert receptions, historical talks and local film or photo shoots.
Its WPA-built wood amphitheater has been the longtime home of the Altadena Music Theatre staging community theatre productions, tribute acts, and live musical performances. The Altadena Rotary Club and Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Department have been hosting the long-running free Saturday evening concert series there.
The Eaton Fire demolished more than 9,000 structures in Altadena, including the William Davies Memorial Building, the 500-seat outdoor amphitheater, the Ranger Office and adjacent garage and the north and south picnic tables. Farnsworth Park remained fenced-off in the aftermath of the fire due to debris removal and safety assessments. It was a loss of enormous proportion to a community that had already endured much heartbreak when all their possessions and homes burned to the ground.
Restoration planning and fundraising began immediately following the Eaton Fire, which brought some consolation for Altadenans still grieving after the devastation. In November 2025, LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger announced the county had secured over $60 million for recovery projects — $8.75 million of which was allocated to fund Phase I and II of Farnsworth Park’s restoration.
In July this year, LA County Parks published formalized amenity and infrastructure recovery timelines. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers managed debris removal and architectural preservation to clear the site for the incoming construction crews. In September, the LA Dodgers Foundation announced support of Altadena’s recovery with the development of two new Dodgers Dreamfields at the park.
On Thursday, Nov. 5, Barger, LA County Parks and the Los Angeles County Parks Foundation will lead a groundbreaking ceremony for LADF’s $1.4 million donation that will build the two new Dodgers Dreamfields and reintroduce safe spaces for local youths and families to gather at. It is another milestone in the ongoing recovery efforts that Barger has prioritized.
By email Barger discusses her initial thoughts when she visited Farnworth Park, the progress on the recovery efforts, and the impact of the restored park to the community.
“I visited Farnsworth Park on January 8, the day after the fire began — it was one of my first stops as I toured the burn area in those early days,” Barger recalls. “My first feeling was disbelief. I have so many memories anchored there: concerts, little league games, picnics, community events. It was hard to take in that a place that had anchored so much of this community’s life was suddenly gone. That is why restoring it matters so much to me. Farnsworth has been part of the lives of generations of Altadena families, and I wholeheartedly believe parks are the heartbeat of this community.”
The LA Dodger Foundation’s involvement was voluntary.
“The LA Dodgers Foundation took the initiative and came forward of their own volition, looking for ways to help wildfire survivors and the Eaton Fire recovery effort,” Barger discloses. “Their generous support and commitment will be visible in the two Farnsworth Park Dodgers Dreamfields where baseball will restart for local kids and families. LA County’s Department of Parks and Recreation is leading the restoration, and the park will also include a Reflection Garden honoring Altadena residents and a STEM wall. We’ll share a firm timeline for completion as construction progresses.”
Barger emphasizes, “The Los Angeles County Parks Foundation secured $64 million in grants and from philanthropy for our parks. To clarify, these are not County funds. LA County’s Department of Parks and Recreation is using those resources to restore Altadena’s parks after the Eaton Fire. Loma Alta Park was the first to reopen, on May 17, 2025 – just four months after the fire. We broke ground on Charles White Park on October 3, 2026, and on November 5 we will celebrate the groundbreaking at Farnsworth Park. The LA County Parks Foundation is still raising private funds to complete Farnsworth and to support other sites, including the Eaton Canyon Nature Center and Natural Area. I appreciate and thank every donor who has stepped up.”
For the second anniversary of the Eaton Fire, Barger said she hopes that “Altadena’s parks are among the clearest signs of progress. Loma Alta reopened in May 2025, Charles White broke ground on Oct. 3, and Farnsworth breaks ground on Nov. 5. Behind each of those milestones are families rebuilding and neighbors supporting one another. On the second anniversary, I hope to continue seeing a community that is becoming whole again: more families back in their homes, more home and business corridor construction, parks and gathering places open and full, and Altadena’s resilient spirit on full display.”
A completely rebuilt Farnsworth Park will be of great significance to the community, as Barger declares: “Farnsworth Park was like a historic town square for Altadena. Its return will bring back sports, community, and culture. Neighbors will reunite, baseball will restart at two beautiful Dodgers Dreamfields, and families and visitors will again enjoy this special gem nestled in the foothills.”