Pasadena Begins $1 Million Playground Project at Brenner Park

Crews began construction Monday, June 15, on a project to build a modern playground in an underutilized area of Brenner Park, the city’s Department of Public Works reported, with the work anticipated to be completed in September 2026.

The city says the project will transform an underutilized section of the park, at 235 Barthe Drive in Northwest Pasadena, into a play area in a more central and accessible location. It will add new age-appropriate play equipment, a rubberized safety surface built for accessibility, upgraded site furnishings and new shade structures. As part of the work, the city says it will demolish and remove existing concrete shade structures, relocate picnic tables and complete associated site improvements.

Director of Public Works Greg de Vinck reported the start of construction in the City Manager’s June 18 weekly newsletter.

The city tracks the work as a capital-improvement project, budgeted at $1,057,026 as of its reporting, according to Pasadena Now’s review of city records. Earlier coverage reported that Proposition 68 Local Park Rehabilitation Grants contributed $267,375 toward Brenner Park in two allocations in 2022.

The design followed several rounds of public input. The city held public meetings in March and August 2023 and a concept-design meeting in December 2024, and gathered additional feedback through an online survey. Senior Project Manager Tiffiny Chen presented the concept to the Pasadena Recreation and Parks Commission, which voted to support the design at its March 4, 2025 meeting. The city says the design reflects community input favoring a more central and accessible play area.

The Public Works Department has said the rubberized surface is intended to improve ADA accessibility and compliance, and that the new equipment will match the quality of recent installations at McDonald Park, Desiderio Park and Playhouse Village Park.

Brenner Park, at the corner of Mountain Street and Barthe Drive, includes a baseball field, tennis and basketball courts, open green space, restrooms and playground facilities.

The city says most of the park will stay usable while construction continues. An existing playground on the Chapman Avenue side will remain open for public use, and the park’s basketball court, tennis court, baseball field and other amenities will remain accessible.

Construction activities will take place Monday through Friday during standard construction hours. Residents with questions about the project can reach the Public Works Department at BrennerPlayground@cityofpasadena.net.

The city says the new playground is anticipated to be completed in September 2026, about three months after construction began.