Volunteers Will Rally to Rebuild Loma Alta Park on Saturday

The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation will kick off its first volunteer day Saturday to rebuild Loma Alta Park, devastated by January’s Eaton Fire that destroyed over 6,000 homes in the area.

Some 500 volunteers are expected to gather from  9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the 17-acre community space to plant trees, landscape and paint as part of a month-long Saturday volunteer initiative that drew an “overwhelming” response, according to County officials.

“LA County Parks put out a call to all Los Angeles County residents to show their love for their Altadena neighbors, and the response was overwhelming,” a department spokesperson said, noting approximately 2,000 volunteers registered for April’s weekend events.

The park, scheduled to reopen May 10, 2025, will feature new amenities including a satellite senior center, an Altadena Library branch, expanded childcare services with 100 after-school slots for ages 5-12 and 25 Tiny Tots slots for ages 3-4, a teen center and Youth@Work job opportunities.

The rebuilding timeline has been significantly reduced from an initial 18-month estimate to just two months due to expedited efforts following the January 7 Eaton Fire.

Recreational improvements include larger playground equipment funded by a $2.4 million FireAid grant, two Dodgers Dreamfields funded by the Dodgers Foundation with proceeds from 50/50 raffles at Dodger Stadium, a rejuvenated gym, a Clippers Court basketball facility funded by the L.A. Clippers Foundation, and a new social connection space called “AltaChat” funded by Supervisor Kathryn Barger.

The annual Altadena summer concert series will be moved from Farnsworth Park to Loma Alta Park, hosted by the Altadena Rotary Club. Additionally, local artists Victor Ving and Eric Junker have been commissioned to create murals commemorating the community’s resilience.

The Altadena Community Garden is also being rejuvenated, with new soil provided by Metabolic Studio and $10,000 allocated for volunteer meals by Rotary Clubs.

Despite strong volunteer turnout, the rebuilding effort has sparked controversy among some residents who feel the focus should be on housing recovery. A flier posted on Supervisor Barger’s Facebook page on March 14 received over 100 critical comments, with residents describing it as “tone deaf.”

Lesley Atkins, whose home was destroyed, and Greg Gill, who is living in an RV due to damage, have voiced frustration that park restoration is taking precedence over housing needs.

“This is not a TV show. This is my life,” said Tina Kardos, an area resident expressing unease about outsiders coming to the community.

Other concerns include safety issues related to potentially hazardous soil and proximity to burned homes. Officials indicated soil testing would be conducted after removal of burned equipment, with involvement from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who announced the restoration project on March 5, 2025, has emphasized the park’s role as a healing space for the community, particularly youth affected by the January 7 fire.

Dedicated in 1954, Loma Alta Park has long served Altadena with amenities including baseball fields, a pool and equestrian facilities.

The park is located at 3330 N. Lincoln Ave. The County is no longer accepting additional volunteers for today’s event.