Rebuilding Loma Alta Park: A Community’s Renewal After the Eaton Fire

As a steady rain fell Wednesday afternoon, the community room at Loma Alta Park was filled with residents, tribal leaders, and county officials for the announcement of plans to rebuild Loma Alta Park following the Eaton Fire.

Loma Alta Park will reopen on May 10, serving once again as a community hub. The project’s restoration was made possible by a substantial $2.4 million donation from the January 30 Fire Aid benefit concert held to support wildfire recovery efforts.

The park, though damaged, was the only LA County park in Altadena to survive the fire.

Chief Red Anthony Morales of the Gabrielino-Tongva tribe, his son Andrew “Young Cloud” Morales, and fellow tribal member Samuel Lopez led the announcement with a prayer and ceremonial song.

“This is a beginning,” said Chief Morales. “Today starts the Lenten season, a time for prayer, family, and healing. And that’s exactly what needs to be done in these areas that were so devastated by these fires.”

Samuel Lopez, who works with the tribe’s land stewardship crew, spoke about fire not only as a force of destruction but also as a means of renewal. “Fire is such an enormous and unpredictable entity, but we must remember that everything in nature is in relation to one another,” he said. “Instead of fearing fire, we must understand its intelligence and the renewal it brings.”

The recovery of Loma Alta Park, a central hub for Altadena residents, has been a key concern for community leaders. LA County Fifth District Supervisor Kathryn Barger struck a hopeful tone as she announced the park’s upcoming spring reopening.

“We are resilient,” Barger said. “We are going to be rebuilding, and we are going to recover. The road to recovery will be long, she said, but it is not insurmountable.”

“Without the support of our donors, we wouldn’t be celebrating today,” Barger said, thanking the Fire Aid Board of Directors and the Annenberg Foundation for their contributions. She highlighted how the Annenberg Foundation reached out to the LA County Parks Foundation with a simple but powerful question: “What do you need?”

Fire Aid’s Grants Advisory Committee, represented at the event by members Nina Vorevo and others, prioritized funding for symbols of hope—landmarks that signify a community’s restoration. “Loma Alta is a key asset that this neighborhood relies on,” Barger noted. “And we are so grateful that it is one of these Fire Aid symbols of hope.”

In another major announcement, Nicole Whiteman, CEO of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, revealed that the foundation would be donating two new Dodgers Dreamfields to Loma Alta Park.

“These will provide more than just a place to play baseball,” Whiteman said. “They will serve as symbols of perseverance, community strength, resilience, and the bright future ahead for Altadena.”

The Dodgers Foundation also committed proceeds from Opening Day and the World Series Championship Ring Ceremony to further support the park’s recovery. “Parks like Loma Alta are more than just recreational spaces,” Whiteman emphasized. “They are hubs of community life, healing, and opportunity.”

LA County Parks Director Norma García-González echoed the urgency of the project, noting that the department, under Barger’s leadership, is accelerating the timeline. “It usually takes about 18 months to plan, design, and build a playground,” she said. “We’re getting it done in two months.”

Loma Alta Park will also serve as a critical center for community resources. A satellite senior center, expanded youth programming, after-school childcare, and a teen center will be established in partnership with various county departments. Additionally, the Altadena Library District will transform part of the park into a satellite library, and the LA Clippers will refurbish the gym while sponsoring a Junior Clippers program.

Along with the structural improvements, the Altadena Community Garden will have its top six inches of soil removed by the US Army Corps of Engineers and replaced with clean tested soil provided by the non-profit, LA-based Metabolic Studio, who will provide the soil from a project in Topanga.

Altadena Recreation Services Supervisor Charles Carter, who grew up in the community, underscored the park’s significance. “This park is a beacon for this community,” Carter said. “It’s a place where families know their kids are safe, where neighbors come together, and where we are now taking our first steps toward restoring and rebuilding.”

The announcement concluded with the unveiling of park renderings, along with commitments from numerous partners, including the Altadena Rotary Club, Public Works, and the Altadena Community Garden. Volunteers will be mobilized throughout April to assist in landscaping, mural projects, and tree planting.

The event reinforced the community’s spirit of unity and guarded optimism. As Tongva tribe member Andrew Morales reminded the audience, even after destruction, nature finds a way to heal. “Mother Earth has been here for generations,” he said. “She will bring back so many beautiful things.”