A park where dreams take root

There is no park equipment more powerful than a childs imagination, and that is exactly what MIG landscape architects want to harness in their new South Park design ideas.

MIG, the firm hired to translate nearly a decade of South Park redesign talks, which were led by community activist Jessica Guheen and attended by dozens of Hermosa Beach residents throughout the years, presented two conceptual plans last Thursday honing in on the community groups primary goals: natural elements and accessibility. Complete with renderings and photos of similar projects, they left the City Council chambers buzzing with energy at the possibilities, and the satisfaction of seeing a faint light at the end of the tunnel.

By the end of the meeting, community members had expressed a preference to dismiss the second conceptual plan a beachy theme and concerns it would be a novelty that would eventually wear off. Instead, they opted for a free play theme powered by imagination.

The design includes winding dry creek beds, designed to catch run-off in the rains, and inspire hours of adventure even on dry days, trekking along the river bed in search of treasure or on safari.

At the highest point on the hill, where new fencing will keep cars out and kids in, will perch bird cage-shaped metal frames. The cages serve as the framework for children to build their own communities. One day, the frame may be covered by a blanket for a fort, another day by sticks for a teepee, another day an igloo, an African village, an animals cave. It is a framework for possibility, and according to MIG designers, inspires an innate feeling of security for children, who like to play in small spaces.

From the village, children may continue along their winding path to two hilltop slides, built into the natural slope of the park. As with many elements of the park, there will be more than one way to reach the slides there is the pathway, or stairs along the eastern side, or large rocks secured into the hillside to climb along the western side.

The design includes a play area for young tots, and a separate play area for bigger kids, filled with natural elements such as logs, sand and water, trimmed by winding edges, as well as more traditional swings and recognizable playground equipment.

In the center of the plan sits a pavilion, ready for birthday parties, picnics, or a parent hangout to oversee kids playing all around. The pavilion connects to a raised platform for children via a bridge, accessible by a pathway and a rope course.

It is a design that challenges childrens minds and bodies, as they navigate elements and engage in make-believe play. A ground labyrinth would allow for meditative time, or following a maze an activity found to be very soothing for autistic children while a childrens garden will give young gardeners a safe way to experience the natural flora of California. MIG will explore ways to tie the garden into the larger adult community garden, and was inspired by comments at last Thursdays meeting to explore a sensory garden concept.

While Guheens inner child popped alive with possibilities, ways for kids and their parents to climb and explore, residents shared positive feedback on the plans, and encouraged MIG to stick to as many natural elements as possible, and keep the community gardeners and dog owners in mind when defining the space.

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A park where dreams take root