Supporters of the redesigned South Park in Hermosa Beach will have a chance to show their support with a donation — just so long as they don’t ask too much in return, and aren’t from certain kinds of businesses.
The Parks and Recreation Commission gave tentative approval Tuesday night to a donation program designed to raise funds for the remaining improvements to the south Hermosa facility. The commission voted unanimously in favor of the plan, but identified potential pitfalls in a donation program.
The first concern was over the extent of corporate sponsorship, worrying that excess signage could mar the park’s civic nature. Commissioners also did not want to take donations from companies whose business was inconsistent with a youthful atmosphere and the city’s values. Staff indicated, for example, that no donations would be accepted from “Hustler Casino.”
“A good rule-of-thumb is excluding any business with an 18-and-older policy,” said Commissioner Jani Lange. Commissioners also said it was unlikely a donation could come from an oil and gas company.
City Manager Tom Bakaly addressed the commission, and said staff would keep the concerns in mind. The city council will have final say in accepting all donations.
South Park is in the closing stages of a multi-year redesign. Located on Valley Drive south of 8th Street, the 4.5 acre park is one Hermosa’s largest. The park’s open grass space will remain mostly untouched, with the new features going in where a concrete roller rink once sat.
When completed, the project will offer a “universally accessible playground,” with equipment and features designed to serve children of varying ages, including those with disabilities. After the completion of Phase One, expected sometime before the end of the year, the park will open to the public.
The city had sent out a release about the donations program last week, initially indicating the stakeholders were seeking $300,000 from funders for park features falling outside Phase One. That number was dialed back to $100,000 on Monday, after members of the South Park Advisory Council met with city staff.
The advisory council had arrived at the larger figure by including $200,000 that the city had previously raised for improvements, according to advisory council member Jessica Guheen. (Guheen is also on the parks and rec commission, but recused herself from Tuesday’s vote.) These funds were advanced by the city to provide for a rubberized surface that had to be installed concurrently with planned playground equipment.
City staff indicated at the Monday meeting that repayment was unnecessary. The remaining $100,000 will go to fill unfunded items, including shade structures and benches
