By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
The Pacific Palisades Recreation Center Park Advisory Board met on Thursday, July 18, with an agenda that included the discussion of three options for an updated playground and hearing a presentation about a community garden by board member David Card.
There are three different designs—an ocean/meadow theme, forest theme and desert theme—proposed by Recreation and Parks and Council District 11 for the “revamp and upgrade of the Palisades Recreation Center,” read information shared by Pacific Palisades Community Council, which solicited comments from stakeholders ahead of the meeting.
There was a collective preference—from community members who wrote in to PPCC and PAB, as well as the PAB board members—for Option #1, which is the blue and green theme.
The board deliberated on certain aspects of the playground, including whether or not the slides could be seen through and for what age range the playground would be, with feedback expected to be taken into consideration as the design is finalized. There were also suggestions made for additional shade and benches.
“The Council Office has pledged Quimby funds to this project to upgrade the playground and bathrooms, and bring them to compliance with current regulations,” PPCC reported. “They believe they can accomplish this, if they begin timely.”
PAB board members suggested the group aim to “hitch” themselves on a Venice park, which is also having its playground redone by Recreation and Parks, in order to gain traction and momentum on the project. PAB President Andy Starrels suggested “striking while the iron is reasonably hot,” and also considering that once the playground at Palisades Recreation Center is placed, it will likely be there for many years.
An updated ADA-accessible bathroom at the park is also a priority for the board, though it is being considered as a separate project.
PAB created and voted to support a motion to let Recreation and Parks know the community’s general preference.
“The PAB, in conjunction with the outreach efforts of PPCC, has solicited community input for the suggested playground design schemes and has observed a community preference for the first choice of playground schematics, with the blue and green color theme,” read the final motion. “In relaying that preference, the PAB also recognizes several important concerns that have been noted by the community and are desirable in the final design. These include more shaded areas and structures that offer shade for all age groups, an implementation of optimal age group appeal in play spaces, a clear visibility layout that allows for easy scanning of playground structures so parents and caregivers can monitor children easily, a delineation of boundaries and demarcation for safety, as well as increased benches for seating and areas for tree planting.”
The three renderings of the potential playground are available at the PPCC website. Comments can be sent to the Park Advisory Board via palisadespab@gmail.com.
Also during the meeting, Card presented on a community garden concept drawing, a “proposed landscape plan for the area from the playground to the library” at Palisades Recreation Center on Recreation and Park land. The concept drawing was brought to fruition with help from Palisadian Valeria Serna.
Card explained that the idea for the potential garden came from a conversation with Council District 11 Field Deputy Michael Amster, as other parks throughout the district and under RAP’s direction have community-run gardens with things like vegetables and native plants.
“It’s only a concept, subject to change based on community input, funding and other factors,” Card said about the design. “The primary concepts are: a raised bed community garden next to the kids playground, native plants and trees, groundwater replenishment, and a log seating area (for reading, etc.) next to the library.”
The garden, which was presented at a previous Palisades Forestry Committee meeting, would be maintained and run by volunteer efforts, Card continued.
There are also options for school visits and educating through the garden, including about things like food systems, habitats for animals, pollinators and beyond.
Following the presentation, the PAB board offered Card feedback, including about the size and scope of the project, reiterating the priority for the park would be the playground and restroom projects.
Starrels asked Card what he needed from the board at this time, to which Card explained he was seeking an audience at the meeting, especially to gauge interest in potential volunteers to undertake the project, which he estimated to be a several-year commitment.
More information about the proposed community garden design is also available at the PPCC website.
The Park Advisory Board is slated to meet for the next time on October 17.
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