Park upgrades in place

Parkland in south Glendale is set to undergo a major face-lift in the next year.

Fourteen major projects, in addition to several minor upgrades, are slated to reshape recreation centers and facilities in south Glendale, an area that has long been derided for being green-deficient.

“It’s been a while since we’ve done any upgrades to some of these existing facilities,” said Rodney Kahn, a member of the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission. “In the southern part of Glendale, there are deficiencies of parks, not just in the open space, but in the vicinities themselves. It’s an excellent time right now [to renovate] because the money has already been budgeted for, and the need is very high.”

Millions are due to be disbursed among renovations in eight parks, two special facilities, two joint-use projects, three new mountain trails and a riverwalk revitalization project.

One of the more prized projects, the roughly half-acre Cedar Mini Park at 141 S. Cedar St., celebrated its groundbreaking June 2 and will include the restoration of a historic 1913 Craftsman bungalow to be used for park services and programming. The $669,880 revamp will also feature walkways, picnic areas, a playground and garden-type amenities, prompting city officials to pursue a new name for the parcel, the Glendale Heritage Garden.

City officials are also discussing the possibility of a temporary or permanent community garden at Maryland Mini Park on Maryland Avenue. Permanent installation would be a component of the new park along with traditional mini-park elements. Funding for the renovation is set at $1 million.

“In these difficult times, I think this is a great time to have parks available for people and kids,” said Dorothy Sharkey, chairwoman of the parks commission.

Additionally, city staff present a report to the council June 10 regarding security issues at several parks, including Brand and Carr parks. These security improvements are expected to cost more than $700,000.

Griffith Manor Park is one of the city’s oldest facilities, dating back to 1937. Although it’s in northwestern Glendale, it serves an area that has long had to contend with effects of the industrial San Fernando Road corridor and confluence of highways.

Parks officials have hired a landscaping firm to prepare a new master plan for the park, which is set to break ground in the fall and finish by spring 2010.