La Cienega Park's renovated playground reopened to families with separate play areas for younger and older children, shade canopies and a rubber surface replacing the sand.
Mayor Craig Corman and Recreation and Parks Commission Chair J.R. Dzubak addressed families at the reopening, describing a project shaped by community input and designed to give children more ways to play.
Councilmember Sharona Nazarian, Vice Mayor Mary Wells, Mayor Craig Corman and Councilmember Lester Friedman, from left, mark the reopening of La Cienega Park's renovated playground with ceremonial scissors at the ribbon-cutting celebration.
Corman said the council's goal was to provide a place where children could play, neighbors could gather and families could connect with nature and one another.
So today is about families and community.
The playground had been closed for about six months. A May 26 city staff memorandum records that construction began April 20, 2026, with fencing around the playground footprint. At the April 28 Recreation and Parks Commission meeting, staff clarified that the park's fields and walking track remained open during the playground work.
Mayor Craig Corman addresses families at the La Cienega Park playground reopening, describing the new play areas, shade canopies and rubber surfacing and recognizing those who helped bring the project to completion.
Corman said the original playground was built in the 1980s and renovated in 2007. Over time, he said, the site needed a full renovation to meet the city's standards and the community's expectations.
The new design has one play area for children ages 2-5 and another for ages 5-12. For younger children, Corman described nature-themed play elements, interactive features and parent-and-child swing seats. The older children's area includes slides, swings and rotating play platforms.
Oversized concrete pebbles form a symbolic riverbed connecting the spaces to a story time and performance stage. Canopies provide shade over the play areas, while landscaping was designed to blend the playground with the surrounding park.
Corman also highlighted the change from sand to poured-in-place rubber surfacing, describing it as a response to safety concerns.
Recreation and Parks Commission Chair JR Dzubak speaks at the La Cienega Park playground reopening, thanking fellow commissioners for their work and welcoming children who had been waiting to try the new play areas.
He credited the prior City Council with committing to replace the old playground, city staff with gathering community input, and the Recreation and Parks Commission with reviewing and revising the design. He also recognized the work of Mark Tessier Landscape Architects and the city's architect.
Dzubak thanked current and former commissioners for their work on the project and spoke directly to children who had been waiting to get inside.
Councilmember Sharona Nazarian, Vice Mayor Mary Wells, Mayor Craig Corman and Councilmember Lester Friedman, from left, try the swings at the renovated La Cienega Park playground before children enter for the reopening celebration.
And to all those kids who sent me photos the past two weeks, standing outside the park fence, I want to let you know, today's the day.
He described the playground as a space intended to serve the community for years to come.
Today is the day for you to be able to see and experience this park.
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