Hundreds of residents gathered in South Hermosa Saturday afternoon for the grand opening of South Park.
The South Park Universally Accessible and Natural Playground debuted to excited children and relieved adults, the latter who recalled the lengthy process of finishing the park.
“It’s really a testament to what happens when people persevere,” said Mayor Carolyn Petty. “This park is one that the community should be proud of.”
Redevelopment of the park has been in the works for some eight years, stalling periodically amid the search for funds. Backers secured a grant from the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District in 2011, and the City Council named completion of the project a high priority for in the summer of 2015.
Members of the South Park Advisory Council, a group of residents that shepherded the project through to completion, said that the lengthy process had made the need for a park even more apparent.
“We’ve been at this for a long time,” said Jessica Guheen, a member advisory council who also sits on the city’s Parks and Recreation Committee. “And with all the new families coming to Hermosa, we could really use the green space.”
Some elements of the park remain under construction. They include a community garden, in which residents will be able to secure plots and eventually grow their own produce. The garden is expected to open March 19, and a fundraiser at the Comedy and Magic Club on March 15 will help defray some of the costs, and donations can still be made through the city’s website.
The vision for the park, which is designed to be accessible to children of all ages, including those with disabilities, stems from a conversation Guheen had with fellow advisory council-member Beth Rohrer. Rohrer’s son Casey has cerebral palsy, and the nearest park where he could play in his wheelchair was a 20-minute drive away.
On Saturday, Casey helped cut the ribbon to signal the park’s opening, and addressed the crowd with with a microphone using eye-gaze technology.
“This is important for this community, because all kids can play together now,” he said.
The park is also notable for incorporating the surrounding landscape into its design. On Saturday, children climbed a large hill at the park’s northwest corner, then slid down a smooth stone slide built into the slope.
Incorporating natural elements in the park came years ago, when a sudden rainstorm interrupted an onsite planning session.
“It started to rain, and we ran for cover over by the school administration building,” Guheen said. “We looked over, and we saw all our kids playing on the hill, and we thought, ‘Why would we put a big metal structure on top of this?’”
Alan Pangaro and his wife Lisa live near the park. Even though it might mean more traffic, they said they were glad to have a new place to take their two six-year-olds Allie and Nicholas.
“We’re very excited,” Alan said. “It’s been a long process, but the end result is pretty great.”
