Las Verdes Park gets playground

By: ADAM KAYE - Staff Writer | Friday, July 13, 2007 9:57 PM PDT ∞

ENCINITAS ---- They hung and glided, wobbled and swiveled, climbed and swung. Children frolicked at a new playground Friday at Las Verdes Park, something nearby resident Gretchen Wendel and her have wanted for nearly five years.
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"I actually didn't think it was going to happen until I saw this constructed," said Wendel, an author of children's books.

The playground cost $144,000 and was paid for through a combination of private and public funds.

Most of the money came from fees paid by cellular phone companies who lease space at city parks for antennas and other equipment.

Wendel organized a jogging event and other fund-raising that contributed another $10,000 toward the cost.

"It's hard to believe it actually happened, but it happened and we're delighted," she said.

On Friday, a handful of chirping children sprung on the spongy surface beneath a space-age play structure, while others spread out on other attractions.

"I love the swings," said Ellie Keyes, 9, who swung like a pendulum alongside Juliana Medina, 12.

Later, the two girls broke briefly from the fun to relax on the playground and make cell phone calls.

They poked the key pads as toddlers buzzed around them, all of them in breezy and cool environs beneath a shade tarp spanning the playground.

"It's a great park," Juliana said.

The fun of the children stemmed from the business of grown-ups, some of it years old.

The neighborhood park opened in 2005 as part of the 853-acre Encinitas Ranch development. In July of that year, the 2.5-acre park opened without a name ---- or playground equipment.

The park ---- with picnic tables and a kidney-bean shaped sidewalk wrapping around a lush lawn ---- came as something of a windfall. A builder and landscaper working on nearby homes needed a staging area for materials and equipment, and the city-owned property was an ideal spot.

The city allowed the companies to use the lot free of charge in exchange for them building a park on it when their project ended.

In April, the City Council approved $141,000 to build the playground.

As the little ones played, their mothers chatted in the shade.

Laura Johnson said she lives three blocks away and was very happy the playground finally opened.

"My little boy is four, and it's just great he can come down here and play with his friends while he's still a little guy," she said.

Another mother, Amanda Keyes, shared her neighbors' excitement.

"This is so cool they did this," she said.

Contact staff writer Adam Kaye at (760) 901-4074 or akaye@nctimes.com.

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