'We all need hope': Altadena community park reopens four months after fires

[ad_1] Earlier than January’s Eaton Hearth, Eric and Ali Glasser and their three younger kids made a behavior of strolling a number of blocks from their Altadena house to Loma Alta Park. Over the previous few months, the Glassers have been driving by watching building crews’ progress on repairing the park’s injury. They arrived at Loma Alta’s grand reopening Saturday morning keen to seek out some normalcy in a life that’s been something however lately.

“This little man has been actually unhappy about his playground burning,” stated Ali Glasser, 43, pointing to her 2-year-old son who was eyeing a winding slide on new playground gear.

The Glassers’ house survived the hearth — neighbors helped battle close by flames — however smoke and ash injury have compelled them away. They’ve moved 14 occasions earlier than settling in a rental in Highland Park.

Ali Glasser known as the park’s reopening “a beacon and shiny spot amidst loads of devastation.”

“As a neighborhood we’re all nonetheless mourning,” she stated. “On the identical time, life does go on for our youngsters.”

Neighbors in Altadena and authorities, enterprise and nonprofit leaders hailed the renovated, rebuilt and expanded Loma Alta Park at a reopening ceremony Saturday. They praised the park as a hub for gathering and recreation because the neighborhood recovers from a catastrophe that displaced greater than 6,000 households.

The park, which spans 17 acres, escaped main injury from the hearth, however playground gear melted and ash coated the pool and unfold over the grounds. Los Angeles County staff and 1000's of volunteers labored to scrub up the realm. Companies and nonprofits donated funding and gear.

Saturday’s debut got here with all new play constructions, a dialog nook with Adirondack chairs and occasional stand, a satellite tv for pc library, baseball fields, pc lab and renovated pool and basketball courtroom.

Inside hours of the mid-morning ribbon slicing, dozens of youngsters traipsed by the play areas, seniors have been deep right into a bingo sport and households lined up for a Little League baseball ceremony.

Mark Mariscal, a 36-year Altadena resident who misplaced his home within the fireplace, stated he was excited to spend time together with his grandchildren within the park once more. Whereas he’s discovered different housing, Mariscal stated he and plenty of different fireplace survivors stay unsettled and daunted by the prolonged technique of rebuilding their properties.

It was necessary to have fun one of many solely public areas that would reopen now, he stated.

“All of us want hope, and all of us want love and all of us want appreciation,” Mariscal stated.

The choice to reopen the park so rapidly wasn’t with out controversy. Many residents reacted angrily when L.A. County officers known as for volunteers in March to assist with rebuilding the park, saying that the choice was tone deaf within the face of fireplace survivors’ trauma and unsafe given the toxicity of the particles.

Glasser stated she felt “combined feelings” concerning the park’s reopening, noting neighbors’ issues on the timing and extent of the cleanup efforts.

Some residents got here to the opening to name consideration to vital housing and public security issues within the wake of the hearth that they stated weren’t being addressed.

Julie Esnard, 67, stated she and her neighbors really feel trapped of their condominium constructing, which is reserved for low-income seniors. The constructing, which opened final yr, continues to be standing alongside an Altadena business strip however was broken by smoke and ash.

Esnard stated evacuation the night time of the hearth was chaotic after the constructing misplaced energy. Elevators not functioned, and residents needed to drag themselves down the steps whereas the complicated full of smoke, she stated.

The constructing’s residents returned two weeks after the fires, and Esnard is unconvinced that it’s secure. A number of burned tons throughout the road from the constructing haven’t been cleared of their particles, and residents are frightened of what stays on the websites.

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(Liam Dillon / Los Angeles Occasions)

“No person goes outdoors,” Esnard stated, leaning on her walker. “It’s poisonous and we’re outdated.”

Esnard, who has lived in Altadena for 60 years, joined about two dozen different residents and activists who marched and held up indicators on the opening calling for better protections for renters, extra enforcement of legal guidelines requiring properties to be liveable and direct help for fireplace survivors nonetheless residing in vehicles and shelters.

They delivered a letter to Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents the realm, asking her to host a city corridor to deal with their issues.

“We’re mad and we would like issues to alter for the higher,” Esnard stated. “Renters and elders have been ignored.”

Barger stated she deliberate to overview the request, however stated “it was unlucky that they felt it was higher to disrupt” Saturday’s occasion.

Barger toured the park’s refurbished facilities and stated residents have been grateful for someplace to return so quickly after the fires.

“Individuals have been grateful for the truth that they've a spot, an area to return,” Barger stated. “Lots of them are displaced, so that they’re developing right here and reconnecting with their neighborhood.”