Hermosa Beach school kids envisioned tree houses, “spy scopes” and lots of stuff to climb and swing on, in imaginative designs they submitted forSouthPark, which will be renovated this summer with the help of a $150,000 grant from Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe.
The kids, in kindergarten through fifth grades, were taking part in a “Design Your Dream Playground” contest that aims to involve them in the renovation of the four-and-a-half acre park along Valley Drive in the south part of town.
The renovation includes the removal of a closed and unused skate rink, along with its bleachers, and adding new children’s play equipment and a community garden.
“There’s no better way to find out what the children want in their playground than to ask them directly,” said Beth Rohrer, a member of a committee helping to guide the renovation.
“The students did an amazing job and were very creative and descriptive, and it helps the committee understand what is important from a child’s perspective. We are hoping to use a lot of their ideas in the overall concept,” she said.
Emma Padgett, the contest winner among fifth graders, has been invited to join the committee.
“All equipment was tallied and interesting themes started to appear in the results. There was an overwhelming request for an elevated tree house or tree fort, many with hidden ladders inside the tree, along with spy scopes, bridges and ropes to climb down,” Rohrer said. “There were also requests for ‘old school’ equipment such as tire swings and seesaws.”
More than 120 contest entries were received. A “Best Design” winner was selected from each grade level, along with one “Best Overall Creative Idea” winner from each of the two public schools, and one overall “Best Descriptive Essay.”
Winners receive a gift certificate from Paciugo Gelato, and a citizenship certificate presented by the mayor during a City Council meeting.
And the winners were:
- Kindergarten: Kellen Haynes
- First grade: Quinn DeTemple
- Second grade: Charlotte Hijazi
- Third grade: Casey Herbert
- Fourth grade: Oscar Back & Jacob Sutton (partners)
- Fifth grade: Emma Padgett
- Best Overall Creative Idea –Hermosa View School: Gabriella Olson, kindergarten
- Best Overall Creative Idea –Hermosa Valley School: Jared Nachman, fourth grade
- Best Descriptive Essay: Soleil Engin, fifth grade
A master plan to remake the open, grassy park, spearheaded in part by Jessica Guheen of South Park Mothers, was approved by the City Council in October 2009, but no funding was initially found for the improvements.
