About 65 people gathered January 21 at the Community Center for a spirited public discussion about Altadena’s park needs. Altadena Heritage hosted the gathering for Los Angeles County as part of a major planning project that combines a survey of current park resources with citizen input to determine future priorities. Such meetings all over the county’s incorporated and unincorporated areas yielded community-created project lists that will be used to write a bond issue to fund parks and recreation infrastructure that citizens will vote on in the future.
Everyone’s voice was heard, and we voted to come up with a list of Altadena’s priorities. All ideas were recorded and will be included in a report to County Parks Department officials. From closing gaps in the Altadena Crest Trail, to urban trails, dog sport fields, a teen center, and infrastructure improvements at Farnsworth and other parks, there was no shortage of good ideas on how to make our community a healthier place.
Altadena Unincorporated Area
— the narrative supplement to Appendix G (Prioritized Project Reporting Form)
Submitted by Michele Zack, meeting facilitator for Altadena Heritage, community group conducting LA County’s Parks Assessment Public Meeting.
The meeting held at Altadena’s Community Center January 21, 2016 was lively and well attended. Sixty-two residents, many with deep experience and feelings about Altadena’s recreational offerings, engaged directly to voice opinions about our park needs and priorities. Varied interests and points of view were all heard, yet everyone was civil.
Projects voted the top ten are listed, along with others suggested, below.
Important to note is that human error played its usual role. By mistake, one project — infrastructure and surrounding hardscape improvements at Loma Alta Park of Equestrian Ring — was not posted on the wall until voting was almost closed. This occurred as team members scrambled to sort through and transfer notes from giant easel pad to project description sheets posted on wall — yet it still received 18 votes. Another proposed project, an urban trail system, also went up late, 10 minutes into voting process, yet still received enough dots to come in #3! Both would probably have received more support if they had been posted at the same time as others. Thought our process was not perfect, it yielded valuable data for future budgets and planning.
- Restoration of the Altadena Crest Trail from Hahamongna to Eaton Canyon. (66)
- A teen center to be added to Charles White or Farnsworth Park. (55)
- An urban trail system/loop for exercise and to connect local to regional parks. (39)
- Dog sports field for obedience and agility training; a place to hold dog shows. (36)
- Heating added to Loma Alta pool for year-round swimming (32)
- Multi-community trail hub at Hahamongna to connect Altadena trails to those further up the Arroyo Seco, and in La Canada and Pasadena. (31)
- Free play Dog Park. (27)
- Rec Building at Charles White Park, including kitchen, dog fountain, art room.(23)
- Improvements and repairs at Farnsworth Park (19)
- Batting cages at baseball diamonds at Farnsworth and Loma Alta Parks (19)
- Improve equestrian facilities at Loma Alta, including reconfigured area, shaded grand stand, facilities for children’s riding events, and restrooms. (18)
- Make all parks ADA compliant, including accessibility to parking areas. (18)
- New Pocket Park on Lincoln across from Super King on County land. (18)
- Improve lighting at all parks to make it “dark sky” rated. (17)
- Add Badminton Court at one or more Altadena parks. (15)
- Update amphitheater at Farnsworth, improved seating and stage area. (15)
- Multi-purpose building on county land adjacent Farnsworth, link to walking path/urban trail. (12)
- Half-court basketball facility at Charles White Park (underserved area) (10)
- Repair tennis and basketball courts at Farnsworth (9)
- Add splash pads, water play areas to all parks (7)
- More picnic tables at Loma Alta Park (4)
- Add zip line to existing park or in foothills. (3)
Clearly, it is impossible to come up with a completely thoughtful and comprehensive list of the most important priorities for Altadena parks in a 2-hour public meeting. The goals were to let everyone be heard and to come up with prospective project ideas, and these were achieved. Overall, it was a valuable process that yielded good ideas, some of which do not exactly fit into confines of LA County’s specific definitions of allowable projects.
Yet they all deserve to be considered, and we hope County planners will not miss the forest for the trees or dismiss projects out of hand because they do not exactly fit into the boxes created for us! It is significant that half of top six vote-getting projects supported by Altadenans have to do with trails, connectivity, and having safe, pleasant, and informal places for healthy exercise in town and in adjacent mountains. A total of 136 votes were cast for such projects!
Another significant interest is for a place where people may recreate with their dogs; two projects of this type received a combined 63 votes. A total of 75 votes targeted use of county-owned land adjacent to Farnsworth Park for this or another purpose.
Our park metrics and community profile snapshot clearly indicate that of our 3 main parks, Charles White has the greatest surrounding population density, and people living nearby comprise our most underserved population. That community members recognize this is reflected in a combined 130 votes cast for improvements that would benefit this park. Some of these (including the teen center, lighting, ADA compliance, splash pads) weren’t specified exclusively for Charles White — however, this is Altadena’s neediest park by every measure. In prioritizing projects, budgets, and schedules, we hope planners will take this into account.
