Buena Park council directs Phase 1 construction of Korean pavilion at Friendship Park with community outreach
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Summary
After a multi-option presentation, the council directed staff to proceed with Phase 1 — a Korean pavilion, Harmony Garden and sundial — and to retain a consultant to lead community outreach and produce conceptual plans for the remainder of Friendship Park.
The Buena Park City Council on Jan. 13 instructed staff to move forward on Phase 1 of Friendship Park improvements, centered on a proposed traditional Korean pavilion, while also beginning community outreach and conceptual planning for the rest of the park.
Assistant Engineer Hyesung Lee presented three approaches: build the pavilion, garden and sundial as a single project (Option 1); commission a full master plan with phased improvements (Option 2); or combine a phased approach that constructs the pavilion and prepares a master plan for later phases (Option 3). Architect Steven Son described the pavilion as a traditional Korean wooden structure with a hip-and-gable roof, roughly 20 feet high and about 400 square feet in footprint, adapted for ADA accessibility.
Council members raised questions about community engagement, coordination with the Berry Middle School gym project next to the park and cost and timing. Staff said the pavilion modules are fabricated in Korea and then assembled on site; staff estimated procurement and fabrication lead time of a few months and suggested the pavilion could be physically ready by the end of the calendar year if the council authorized proceeding now. Presented cost estimates in the study session included a rough figure of about $1.8 million for Option 1 and multi‑phase estimates for Option 3; staff emphasized further costing will be refined during the conceptual design phase.
By a thumbs-up consensus the council approved proceeding with Phase 1 (pavilion, Harmony Garden and sundial) and directed staff to retain a consultant to conduct community outreach and prepare conceptual drawings showing alternatives for the rest of the park. Staff said it will return at a subsequent meeting with funding appropriation to start pavilion site work and outreach.
Council members asked staff to coordinate closely with the school district on access and future parking tied to the planned school gymnasium so that any park redesign complements school plans. Vice Mayor Traut and other council members emphasized the importance of community workshops and showing multiple plan options to residents before finalizing subsequent phases.
Next steps include returning to council with a recommended appropriation at the next meeting to begin pavilion site preparation and a consultant contract for community engagement and concept drawings.
