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Del Amo Park sits below grade; commissioners ask county for technical review as beautification planned
Summary
Staff told the commission Del Amo Park frequently floods because it sits below surrounding grade and above a PAT system that limits vehicle access; the department plans a community beautification day and is seeking county coordination and a technical study to identify long‑term fixes.
Director Whitaker and park maintenance superintendent Modesto Bolanos briefed commissioners on Del Amo Park during the Jan. 29 meeting, describing persistent drainage and safety problems at the site and steps the city plans to take in the coming months.
Whitaker said the park’s low elevation and underlying infrastructure cause recurring standing water and electrical issues that hamper maintenance and safe use. “Being below sea level causes many, many problems… it’s sitting on top of a PAT system. We can't drive a vehicle bigger than a cart onto that particular system, because the weight will be too much,” Whitaker said, noting the constraint complicates repair and cleanup work.
Bolanos said the commission would schedule a beautification day on a Saturday in February or March after the basketball season ends so commissioners and volunteers can participate. He explained maintenance steps already taken — replacing contaminated sand at Stephenson Playground with over 50 cubic yards of certified wood chips, laser leveling baseball infields, and reseeding turf — and said staff have met with Los Angeles County twice to discuss possible remediation at Del Amo.
Both Whitaker and Bolanos said the city has not yet completed a formal county‑led geotechnical or hydrologic study that would project long‑term outcomes for the site. Whitaker suggested bringing county staff to a future commission meeting so commissioners can ask questions directly and better understand potential solutions and timelines.
Commissioners stressed the need for a technical evaluation that shows long‑term risks and helps the commission explain tradeoffs to residents when a large engineering project is proposed or funded.
