Temple City directs staff to prepare infrastructure for Live Oak Park playground sign after reviewing two concepts

Temple City’s City Council on Dec. 3 reviewed two monument sign concepts for the new Live Oak Park playground and gave staff direction to prepare the site for a future sign and to keep costs within the ceiling shown to the council.

Consultants from SWA presented two options: a vertical, rocket‑shaped monument with uplighting and a slimmer, folded‑wing (origami‑inspired) marker. Staff said the sign would tell the history of the park’s mid‑20th‑century rocket and host a dedication panel naming the council and project team. The presentation highlighted placement at the park entry from the parking lot, optional uplighting, and a rough fabrication/installation estimate that consultants framed as being in the tens of thousands of dollars depending on complexity.

“We have two designs for a monument signage for Live Oak Park,” said Ryan McKay of SWA during the presentation, describing both the rocket and origami‑style options. Council members pressed on budget, timing and whether the playground should receive an official new name or be left to community usage.

Council Member Sternquist said she supported the project and emphasized lighting: “I like the concept. I think it would be important to have it lit.” Council Member Man, who voiced reservations about locking in a formal name for the playground, said, “I’m not a fan of the name — I think the community will naturally come up with a name.”

Staff told the council the playground construction budget did not originally include fabrication of a monument sign; the council had previously approved roughly $4–4.5 million for the two playground projects, and staff proposed using project contingency to fund fabrication and installation so the overall program budget would not be increased. Consultants estimated fabrication and installation in a range that depended on complexity and lighting (staff discussion referenced roughly $27,000–$32,000 as order‑of‑magnitude estimates). Council directed staff to stay within the highest cost estimate presented when moving forward.

To avoid cutting into completed hardscape, council members agreed to have the contractor install conduit and foundations (a site 'block‑out') during the ongoing construction so final sign fabrication can be completed later without re‑breaking new concrete. Staff said that approach would allow more time for the ad hoc committee or the parks commission to vet final wording, design refinements and any community naming process without delaying the rest of the park opening.

Next steps: staff will coordinate stub‑outs/conduit and foundation work during the current construction phase, return refined design options (and a recommended naming/branding approach) to the ad hoc group or council, and keep the project within the cost parameters the council set.