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Council receives playground master plan; Village Green prioritized for first renovation
Summary
Staff presented a playground master plan analyzing nine playgrounds and recommending priorities and cost estimates; Village Green Park was confirmed as the early CIP project and council directed staff to return with implementation steps and CEQA findings.
City staff and a consultant presented a playground master plan that inventories nine playgrounds in Laguna Beach, rates their condition and accessibility, and provides cost and scope guidance to inform the capital-improvement program.
Public Works and Recreation staff told council the plan included certified-accessibility inspections, public outreach (376 survey responses), on‑site visits and a prioritization matrix that considered safety, ADA compliance and community input. Frank Lopez, assistant city engineer, and consultant representatives said Village Green Park scored among the highest priorities due to heavy use and aging equipment; staff noted the project already has money programmed in the draft CIP and can move forward into design.
Council and members of the public asked about how individual playground designs would be selected and whether park‑level master plans are needed for larger park renovations. Staff said each park project would include neighborhood and recreation-committee engagement and that the master plan will guide one playground renovation per year while immediate safety repairs would be done by maintenance crews.
Longtime resident Anne Christophe urged preservation of Village Green’s historic “treehouse park” character, suggested consideration of an adventure-play option and recommended short-term repairs to address rust and broken parts prior to a full renovation. Staff and council agreed to pursue community engagement for Village Green and to bring the plan back for a consent action with CEQA findings that would allow project design to proceed.
No final construction authorization was awarded at the meeting; council received the plan as a strategic guide directing CIP priorities.
