By Daily Press staff
Sounds of children playing may fill Palisades Park if a new play area is approved at the Santa Monica Recreation and Parks Commission meeting on Thursday, Sept. 21.
The Commission wants to know if residents support the idea of having a children’s play area built somewhere in the north end of the park. The idea was brought to City Hall’s attention by parents of young children living near the park. Suggestions will be taken at the Commission’s meeting. Preliminary research by city staff shows that that area of town has had an increase in births over the last five years, and that it is one of only a few areas in Santa Monica more than mile from a city park play area.
Palisades Park is Santa Monica’s oldest park, with many historic features and monuments. There is limited space in the linear-shaped park, and a play area would need to be relatively small, low-scale and designed with appropriate materials and perhaps custom features to be compatible with the park’s unique setting, city officials said. A specific location in the park has not been identified, but the general area being considered extends from Idaho Avenue north to the park’s border at Inspiration Point.
Community members are encouraged to share thoughts on the concept at the meeting, which begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Ken Edwards Center, 1527 Fourth St. Comments also can be submitted to or faxed to (310) 576-1539. Comments received by Sept. 20 will be presented to the Recreation and Parks Commission for consideration. The Commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for final consideration. If the community and the City Council support the concept, city staff will proceed with selecting a design team, completing a cost estimate, identifying a specific location in the park and formulating a more detailed concept design for further review. SMC’s Theatre Arts building unveiled
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 20, 2006. Read the original PDF.