Altadena’s Loma Alta Park, which was damaged in the Eaton Fire, will reopen in May, the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation announced Friday.
In addition to rebuilding what was lost, plans are to enhance and expand current facilities and install new amenities.
“Under normal circumstances, for LA County Parks to build a new park, it takes roughly 18 months, but due to the expedient measures taken by both the state of California, County of Los Angeles, and the tireless efforts of countless LA County staff, our partners, and volunteers, that timeline has shrunk to merely 2 months,” Parks and Recreation Director Norma E. García-González, said in a statement. “The people devastated by the Eaton Fire need their community back, and LA County will heed the call. I am heartened to see how much support we’ve already received.”
Officials said financial support for the park repairs and upgrades came from:
- Fire Aid, the Jan. 30 benefit concerts in Los Angeles, announced a $2.4 million grant to rebuild the park’s fire-damaged playgrounds and also expand playground features and accessibility.
- “With neighborhoods devastated by the fire, and families displaced, Altadena residents needed a place to congregate with their community,” according to LA County Parks. “Identifying this need for social connections, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger announced she would fund Alta Chat — a new meeting place and ‘hub’ for the community to relax and connect.” This new space at the park will feature comfortable Adirondack chairs and other amenities intended “to inspire a much needed lost neighborhood connection.”
- Dodgers Foundation CEO Nichol Whiteman announced funding for two Dodgers Dream Fields as well as baseball and softball programming, to help ensure that the Central Altadena Little League will play their last games at home in Loma Alta Park. “All profits from the Dodgers opening day and World Series Ring Ceremony games will go toward funding these projects and will be heavily advertised for those games,” officials said.
- The Los Angeles Clippers’ Community Clippers Court program will fund a makeover of the gymnasium and its sports courts and will offer the Junior Clippers Basketball Program for Altadena youth.
Loma Alta will be the first of Altadena’s county parks to reopen following the devastating wildfire that caused 17 deaths and destroyed or damaged over 10,000 structures. It will be a “super park” with these additional new services:
- After Altadena’s senior center burned in the fire, the parks department will work with the LA County Department of Aging and Disabilities to create a satellite senior center at Loma Alta.
- In another partnership with the county health department’s Office for Advancement of Early Care and Education, parks officials will provide 100 after-school slots for children ages 5 to 12, and in the summer the program will run all day. The OAECE will also provide the 25-slot Tiny Tots program for children ages 3 to 4. The Eaton Fire caused the loss of 2,802 early childhood education licensed spaces, 34 early childhood education licensed facilities and four facilities that were damaged. “Supporting families and children after the Eaton Fire with child care continues to be a priority for LA County Parks after the department ran its Care Camps,” officials said.
- In collaboration with county Department of Economic Opportunity, parks officials will provide 25 Altadena youth with jobs through the Youth@Work program.
- The Altadena Library District will host a satellite library at the park with an variety of programming for children, families and seniors.
- The Altadena Rotary Club is moving their concert series to Loma Alta Park. The club previously held its annual summer concert series at Farnsworth Park which was damaged extensively — especially the Davies Building, a structure on the National Register of Historic Places.
García-González also said that the community has the opportunity to play a key role in reopening the park by volunteering every Saturday in April to replant, clean and repaint the park. Tree People and the Los Angeles Conservation Corps will help organize the effort.
“Instead of ‘Earth Day’ April will be ‘Earth Month’ to focus on the rejuvenation of Loma Alta Park, and rebuilding of the Altadena Community Garden,” according to the Parks and Recreation Department.
To sign up for volunteer work, go to bit.ly/3QIsyxK.
Officials said Metabolic Studio will provide new, clean soil for the community garden following the removal of 6 inches of topsoil. Rotary Clubs from throughout Southern California have pledged $10,000 for volunteer meals during the Saturday repair and rehabilitation work in April.
The park’s rebirth will also feature local artists and muralists. The county has commissioned works by Victor Ving and Eric Junker to “commemorate the resilience of Altadena and its people,” officials said.
“Reopening by May 10 is ambitious, but to effectively serve the community in its time of need, LA County Parks and its partners realize the need to be bold”, García-González said. “Local leaders, philanthropic and community partners, and LA County Parks are inspired by the residents of the greater Altadena area to do more and go big. Reopening Loma Alta Park can help strengthen the community as it also seeks to rebuild.”
The park is located at 3330 N. Lincoln Ave. The senior center lost in the Eaton Fire was located at 560 E. Mariposa St.
