Bluebird renovations underway

Mike Swanson

Million-dollar renovations of Bluebird Park are underway, and some

community members are trying to raise another $80,000 to re-erect the

rocket ship that many consider the landmark of the park.

Construction began in September on the larger portion of the park

used by older children and Music in the Park in the summer. The upper

part of the park, which has a tricycle track for tots, will remain

open until the larger section is finished.

Assistant City Engineer Derek Wieske said construction on the

lower portion is scheduled to be complete in February, but adverse

weather conditions could stall its progress.

“We want to make sure we’re done with the bigger part of the

project before Music in the Park starts again in the summer, so we

think we’ve given ourselves a large enough window to move on just in

case we have a run of bad weather,” Wieske said.

Part of the park will be open at all times until its scheduled

completion in April, including the basketball half-court.

“It’s just going to look a whole lot better and meet all

playground regulations when it’s finished,” Wieske said. “And kids

gain from having good play equipment.”

The project’s landscape architect, Ann Christoph, is among those

leading the fund-raising effort for the rocket ship. She’s also

hoping a decorative fence and gate that was eliminated from the

project because of its $75,000 cost will be re-added.

“It’s easier to get people behind a rocket ship than a fence,”

Christoph said.

The chain-link fence at the park was installed after a child

wandered from the park into the street and was killed by a car in the

1970s. Christoph said the fence went up immediately after the

accident and is long overdue to be replaced.

The proposed replacement fence is wrought-iron with a decorative

gate for cars to get in and out of the park.

One of the most major improvements at the park is a two-story

restroom with a storage facility and full handicapped access. Wieske

said the restroom will be especially convenient for those at Music in

the Park.

Councilwoman Cheryl Kinsman began the Bluebird Park Rocketship

Fund in May with a $1,000 donation after voting against including it

the renovation plans because of its cost.

The fund has since grown to $3,325, Christoph said, and 2,000

fliers will be passed out at Laguna’s schools to garner more support.

To make a donation to the fund, mail checks to the city of Laguna

Beach Bluebird Park Rocketship Fund, 505 Forest Ave., 92651. For more

information about the fund, call (949) 497-7330.