Defenders of Adventure Playground representatives met with City Manger Sean Joyce, Assistant City Manager Sharon Landers, and head of Community Services Brian Fisk this past Tuesday September 21st to discuss Adventure Playground.
Our intent for this meeting was threefold: share with these officials the voices of the community, get answers about AP’s current condition, and talk about the budget while presenting several ideas for innovating the park.
To accomplish the first point, we presented each official with pictures from our rally, along with a data sheet presenting the information from the questionnaires submitted by the community. We made it very clear that the community wishes to see the city fund Adventure Playground’s renovation, that the community agrees AP’s inherent risks give the park it’s sense of adventure, and that city officials failed to properly inform the community of it’s plans to demolish the park. The response was nothing unexpected: City Manager Joyce apologized for “failing to properly recognize the community” on this matter. He told us that the funds for Adventure Playground are not currently available with this budget in this economy. Joyce acknowledged that AP is a special place and that he recognizes how dear it is to certain members of the community.
From there we shifted the conversation to AP’s structural integrity and to the inspections already made by Facilities Maintenance. It was here that Director of Community Services Brian Fisk told us that without the resources to bring the park operational, it is not worthwhile to make any effort to assess the structural integrity of Adventure Playground. Our response was a firm assertion that we do not plan to sit on our hands waiting for an economic recovery. We made it very clear that we want the structural report as soon as possible, that we would cross check the report with a 3rd party contractor, and that we want to bring volunteers and private sector donors into Adventure Playground as soon as possible. It was under this pressure that Brian Fisk gave us his word the city would provide a report of the site’s structural integrity.
Moving to the third point, the Defenders of Adventure Playground topically discussed the logistics of rehabilitation. Brian Fisk brought it to our attention that the park faces new challenges such as compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, along with something called an MS-4 water permit that prohibits the dumping of mud sediments into the streets. We will address these issues in greater depth in coming posts, but for the time being it is worth noting that we have solid solutions to these and other issues, including a sustainable water recycling system and designating the forts impermanent structures by having the community continuously re-build them.
The meeting left an overall bittersweet taste in the mouth. We were victorious in that we were able to push through with the structural report, we left strong impressions of the community’s voice, as well as strong impressions of our commitment to innovation and employing volunteers along with the private sector. Yet it was clear to us that we are going to have to police city officials, we are going to have to remain vigilant, and we are going to have to become more organized. All three officials made it clear that even though we informally represent a constituency within the community in favor of Adventure Playground, we do not represent the whole community, nor are we organized enough to formally represent even those that have attended the Defend AP Rally. As a result, they are not able to make any further formal or informal promises beyond those they have already made, and that any “on the record” decision making will begin at the October 20th Community Services Commission Meeting.
What’s next? At this point in the road toward opening AP’s large wonderful gates to eager volunteers with hammers in hand, we are finding ourselves in need of tight-knit organization. To be truly effective at the October 20th commission meeting, we need to form a legitimate community organization with registered members and appointed representatives who are able to speak on behalf the group. This way we come to the meeting prepared, organized, and focused. Without this organization we face the possibility of too many people throwing in their two cents in a haphazard manner. If this were to happen we would lose a valuable opportunity to present a clear organized front.
To get make progress please sign-up for our newsletter, include your phone number, and tell your friends. We will begin weekly community meetings to discuss ideas, hone our solutions, develop networks, and legitimize our organization.
Thank you tuning in.
Long live the AP legacy!
*Note: All petitions collected from the rally have been submitted to Community Services Director Brian Fisk
Defend Adventure Playground 
Just to let you guys know, the last summer AP was open, we had somewhere between 500 and 3000 participants a week throughout the entire summer. Additionally, we earned more total revenue than any other summer in the history of AP. I can verify this information if needed. I think it is critical to remind the community and city hall that Adventure Playground was at its peak when it closed down, which was due to years of careful planning, advertising, and outreach efforts that let the whole of southern California know of its existence. People came from, literally, hundreds of miles away to spend just a few hours at our unique playground. These visitors, as well as the local community, are all aware of just how important AP has been for so many children, young adults, and families over the years. All they need is a mechanism to make their voices heard…and you have given them that. Keep it up guys, I know we can win this one and enjoy many more years of AP.
Peace from the Middle East,
Chris