To preserve and enhance the unique village character of Laguna Beach June 7, 2026
City Council
RE: Item #18 South Laguna Village Green
The Village Green has a long history of public involvement. In fact, it would not exist at all but for a group of concerned parents who took acMon in the 1970s. APer their requests, peMMon drives and trips to Santa Ana, their pleas were answered and the three lots that make up the park were purchased by the County. Park advocates sponsored design-a-park events on site which emphasized that the park be rusMc and natural, and that it fit into the community and within the exisMng majesMc trees. The community conMnues to appreciate this character today.
It’s important that this theme be carried forward and that the feel of the park not be compromised.
As an organizaMon devoted to maintaining the village character of Laguna Beach, Village Laguna suggests that the features that make up that character be preserved. These include the exisMng elm tree, lemonade berry, and historical plaque, the play equipment being repaired rather than replaced. This generaMon of children deserve a play experience that is in good condiMon.
Design features such as the gates should be carefully maintained and other needed improvements such as hand rails should fit within the exisMng design of the park.
OpMons 1 and 2 would make wholesale changes which are destrucMve, expensive and unnecessary. OpMon 3 is an approach that opens possibiliMes for sensiMve rehabilitaMon of the park at significant cost savings.
Merrill Anderson
President, Village Laguna
City Council, 6/7/26
On behalf of our membership and South Laguna neighborhood residents, the South Laguna Civic Association (SLCA) writes regarding the Village Green Park Playground project.
First, we would like to thank City staff for their engagement throughout this process. Staff met with representatives of SLCA, listened to concerns raised by residents, and thoughtfully developed alternatives that better reflect the community's values and priorities.
We appreciate that effort and the willingness to revisit assumptions made in the original Playground Master Plan process. The staff report accurately reflects many of the concerns raised by our membership regarding preservation of the park's existing character.
Village Green Park occupies a unique place in South Laguna. It is the only public playground south of Aliso Creek and provides the only significant neighborhood green space in this part of the city. More importantly, it exists because of the partnership of South Laguna residents and SLCA who in the 1970s worked with the county to have this park created. The park's treehouse character, terraced layout, mature landscaping, and integration into the natural setting are not incidental features: they are the very outcome of the residents who designed it as a community effort. They are the very qualities that make Village Green beloved.
For this reason, SLCA supports Option 3: preservation of the existing playground character with targeted improvements and repairs. We believe this option best balances safety, accessibility, fiscal responsibility, and preservation of community character.
We are concerned that both Options 1 and 2 would fundamentally alter the character of the park through extensive grading, removal of existing vegetation, impacts to mature trees, and replacement of the existing natural play environment with a more generic playground experience. While we appreciate the City's desire to improve accessibility, the site has been updated several times through the years to address this issue; and we are not convinced that flattening the site, introducing extensive retaining structures and hardscape elements, and replacing existing surfacing with large areas of rubberized material represents the right tradeoff for this particular park. The staff report likewise notes the potential impacts to existing trees and vegetation associated with both Options 1 and
2. We are also mindful of cost. The City currently has approximately $495,000 budgeted for this project, while the two replacement alternatives are estimated to cost between $760,000 and $850,000. Option 3 is estimated at approximately $100,000. In a city with many competing infrastructure needs, we believe it is prudent to preserve and improve a playground that remains heavily used and well-loved rather than undertake a costly redevelopment that goes far beyond the repairs and improvements local families were hoping for in the original feedback process.
None of this means SLCA believes the park should remain unchanged. Rather, SLCA supports targeted investments that improve the park while preserving its spirit. We encourage the City to work with residents on a package of improvements that could include repair of the aging components, installation of additional handrails where appropriate, restoration of deteriorating site features, improved on-going maintenance, and other modest accessibility enhancements that respect the park's existing design and mature landscaping. In particular, investment in the bus stop component of the park - a daily use feature for school kids throughout South Laguna - would greatly improve safety for the neighborhood.
Ultimately, we believe the goal should not be to create a new playground. The goal should be to preserve and enhance Village Green Park for the next generation of South Laguna families. Option 3 best accomplishes that objective.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Greg O'Loughlin
President
South Laguna Civic Association