Really big changes are coming soon to Brea’s Avovista Park, and I think we’ll all be pleased.
The 14.84-acre park, with entrances at Imperial Highway/Berry Street and Elm Street/Sievers Avenue, dates back to the 1950s, and was finally dedicated as Arovista Park in 1964, according to the Brea Museum and Historical Society’s executive director-curator, Linda Shay.
The last major renovations to Arovista Park were more than 30 years ago, Jenn Colacion, senior management analyst with the city’s Community Services, said at a recent community meeting with 30 people included six elementary-school kids who asked the best questions. They are eager for an updated Arovista Park.
Community Services previously reached out to the sports groups, moms’ groups, Boys & Girls Club, seniors, residents and other interested parties about renovating the park.
The only other updates to the park were the amphitheater in 1992 and the very popular skate park, which opened in 2000 and received cool improvements last year, including a reconstructed bowl a with a 9-foot drop. An ADA ramp was also added in 2022.
The rest of park is begging to be as cool and fun as the skatepark, and it looks as if that will happen.
The most important aspect of the park renovations is that it will be an all-accessible park, meaning children and adults with disabilities will be able to enjoy the many amenities.
The park’s present playground is about 10,000 square feet. The proposed playground will be whopping 34,000 square feet. It will be filled with exciting, colorful play equipment that kids of various abilities, including those needing to use wheelchairs can enjoy.
The safe, fun play equipment will include molded swings, slides, double seesaws and merry-go-rounds for tots to big kids. How about a tight rope or zip lines only about a foot above the ground? The playground’s rubberized “dirt” will be easy on little feet and tooshies.
Colorful, large flower-petal sunshades will be scattered throughout the park, playground, sports fields and over the steel pipe slides.
But the most exciting additions will be in the Innovations Zone with sensory-perception play spots where kids’ imaginations take over. There will be a Musical Harp with laser beams to make fun sounds and tunes. There will also be a Listening Disc, a vertical, half-dome with audio experiences, plus a little stage for impromptu performances and a retreat hut when someone feels overwhelmed by it all.
The kids at the community meeting were enthused by the park’s proposed amenities but Allie Hartzheim, 10, said she liked the pipe slides, but only if they are shaded, and she really wants monkey bars, but they are not included. Maybe Allie will find the zip line as much fun as monkey bars.
While the playground renovations are tremendous, there are more big changes elsewhere in the park. The sports fields and courts and will be upgraded and include shaded dugouts and spectator seating.
A full-size soccer field, new half basketball court and four pickleball courts are planned. Also concrete ping pong, chess and cornhole games for adults, new restrooms, concession stand and storage areas. The amphitheater will also be redesigned and handicap seating included at the top.
The Jubilee Grove of 75 trees planted in honor of Brea’s 75th anniversary didn’t thrive and will be replaced by 75 new trees along with improved walking paths.
It will take about 18 months to transform the park, said Colacion. Fall 2024 is the anticipated date for the grand reopening. The park will be closed during construction.
The total cost is expected to be about $10 million. So far, the city has secured various funding, including a $205,000 grant from California’s Proposition 68 and a $625,000 contribution from County Supervisor Doug Chaffee’s office. The remainder is budgeted from the City’s Capital Improvement Program, but Colacion said city staffers continue to look for grants and other opportunities to help offset the cost to the city’s coffers.
It’s a big project, but one that will make Brea’s Arovista Park a countywide, designation park.
Terri Daxon is a freelance writer and the owner of Daxon Marketing Communications. She gives her perspective on Brea issues twice a month. Contact her at [email protected].