Glendale city’s oldest park, Griffith Manor, reopened this past weekend after being closed for its long overdue makeover. The park was closed for 10 months during these major renovations which came in just under $2.9 million.
Approval for the preliminary plans was given by the city council back in March 2009, and the remodel was expected to be completed in the Spring of 2010. As we all know, things don’t always go according to plan, and running a year behind schedule the park was luckily completed just in time for 4th of July 2011 celebrations.
The city acquired the 3-acre Griffith Manor Park in 1937 and hadn’t renovated it since the 1970s. The park is near the San Fernando corridor and is one of the city’s oldest public facilities. The funds for the park’s renovation came from the state redevelopment agency, which is ironic as it will not be able to fund similar projects in the future since it is running out of funds, because of projects like this.
“This renovation really came about from the desires of the neighborhood. Now that the state is doing away with redevelopment agencies, we’re not going to have as many resources to do these kinds of projects,” Mayor Laura Friedman said.
“Griffith Manor Park is important to the neighborhood and its families, who live in small single-family homes and apartments in the area that don’t have a lot of available open space”, Joanne Hedge said, president of the Glendale Rancho Homeowners Association.
“It means a lot to those kids and the moms with toddlers,” Hedge said. “It’s a real city park.”
“Once little more than a decaying lawn, the three-acre park in the city’s industrial San Fernando corridor now features new childrens playgrounds, a lighted basketball court, shaded picnic areas, security fences, an expanded parking lot and a brand-new, 2,400-square-foot community building”, according to the Glendale News-Press.
The history of the neighborhood is that it is the home to the 1920s Glendale Grand Central Airport, so the community building and shade areas were designed with that in mind. In a nod to the city’s history the design includes elliptical arches that evoke aircraft hangers.
During the reopening this past weekend families were able to enjoy free food, activities for the little ones, and of course the new park amenities.
JohnHart urges everyone to go check it out and enjoy summer as it was meant to be enjoyed: outdoors…or in a new house 😉
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