Park Facilities Improvement Plan

I think it would be a good idea to have free sunscreen at the playgrounds to prevent risk of skin damage or sunburns.

Two concerns please .
The bathrooms at vail park are not being cleaned . Same rings in the toilets for over a month !
The sidewalk on the north side of baseline between Kemper St and Grand has a square of concrete constantly wet and full of algae . Very slippery ! Been that way for over a month . Big safety concern .

Our city has an opportunity to create imaginative playgrounds that foster creativity, connection, and accessibility for all children. Yet citizens are frustrated with a regurgitated parks improvement plan. What is the PLAN?? Many of our parks still lack engaging play spaces, leaving families with dirty, outdated seating. Our sports fields (particularly soccer) remain unsafe and poorly maintained. The city must prioritize children and sports by investing in quality, well-maintained recreation spaces and sports fields that ensure safe play. In addition, a flagship playground could serve as a central hub boosting local businesses, attracting tourism, and enhancing civic pride. It’s time to move beyond empty promises and create parks and sports facilities that are safe, inspiring, and built to last.

What a beautiful and nicely designed play structure at Lewis Park. This will serve our children so well into the future. I am so happy to see our young ones exposed to something exciting, that is also physical. Way to go, Claremont!

I live across the street from Wheeler Park and enjoy playing pickleball there on a weekly basis. I'm glad to hear that the courts will be resurfaced. A lot of areas have already worn down to the old hockey rink surface, making for an uneven and slippery surface.
I hope the nets will also be replaced. Some of the nets are already in severe disrepair. Players have been attempting to keep them function with tape.
I also think the divider fencing between the courts should be replaced with a different design. The fencing has been broken off in places (presumably from players running into the fence on the cramped inner court). This has left jagged pieces of metal sticking out from the ground where the poles have been broken off. I've attempted to make repairs myself, taking together the poles with electrical tape so that the broken pieces aren't dangling into the court.

Incorporate language committing to inclusive, innovative, and sustainable playground design. Also, a flagship playground design is desired.

Thank you to the City of Claremont Council & Staff for your work and commitment to parks and playgrounds. I'm so excited seeing the new playground at Lewis Park currently under construction and I know the future is bright when it comes to updating our parks. Our family moved to Claremont in 2018 for the quality of life. Parks & Open space are one of the primary amenities that we see as contributing to the quality of life that we are looking for in our City. The Park Improvement Plan is a good start, and I think it can be strengthened and can commit to making every park exceptional. Specifically, I would like to see the following included in the plan:
- Commitment to exceptional playgrounds - the newer playgrounds in the City, Blaisdell and soon to be Lewis are exceptional and highly utilized by families in their neighborhoods and citywide. Playgrounds revitalize our parks and neighborhoods and we should invest in them as community building assets.
-Flagship Playground - a flagship playground at the Memorial Park would serve our community and residents but would also be a regional draw that would further the City's economic development strategy, provide more opportunity for local businesses, and increase sales tax revenue to the City.
-Upgrading our Fields for youth Sports - My kids have played soccer and baseball at parks throughout the City. College Park Baseball fields are in good repair. The plan calls for $120K investment in lights, but it is unclear if that is related to updating Fields 1 & 2 to LED or adding lights to field 3. I highly recommend the addition of lights in Field 3. The Soccer Fields at Larkin are in very poor repair, often the kids are playing on dirt, not grass. In addition La Puerta Sports Park needs significant investment.
- Safety & Security - Restrooms, paved and DG paths, lights should all be in working order for everyone in the community to benefit.
Thank you for your consideration of these items - we can all work together to make our parks vibrant and inviting places that make Claremont a wonderful place for our community and visitors.

I appreciate the opportunity to give my personal opinion as a stay at home mother of two children and a licensed occupational therapist. As part of our daily routine, my children and I go to the park in the mornings. Often times we go to our surrounding cities because Claremont parks are outdated, uningaging and unsafe. That’s saying a lot because we have 4 parks within a .5 mile radius of us. It seems as though our children have been forgotten in this city. I have seen playgrounds that are sensory interactive with music key buttons, colorful musical instruments, ADA accessible, and multiple themes, such as a pirate ship or tree house. Just to name a few. Most importantly, I am looking for a flagship playground that will be able to sustain overtime. Claremont is very big on community and renovating our parks will bring more children and families together here outdoors! Thank you for the opportunity to voice my opinion. I know we can do this! IT IS MUCH NEEDED!

1) Safety is most important in terms of the design and maintenance
2) please, please have a universally designed playground that welcomes all children of all abilities and ages
3) We want a sustainable playground design that is better for the environment and makes maximum impact
4) as a Girl Scout troop leader, moms playgroup organizer, parent of kids of various ages and loves Claremont, we want a playground where we all congregate and meet at that is the flagship for all our meetups where we can stay for hours

As a Claremont teacher, I believe in creating a supportive environment for kids to grow. Our community should collaborate to build a park that inspires and meets their needs.

The park should be safe, inclusive, and have cool designs with diverse exploration and learning areas. It should be accessible to all, regardless of their mobility.

Sustainability should be a priority, using eco-friendly materials and practices to teach kids environmental care.

This new playground will foster fun and community growth, attracting visitors and showcasing Claremont’s quality of life.

As a teacher, I’m committed to this vision that reflects Claremont’s values and prioritizes our kids’ future. Let’s invest in their growth and the community’s well-being.

Thank you for the opportunity to review and provide feedback on the Park Facilities Improvement Plan. I appreciate the city’s dedication to maintaining and enhancing these vital community spaces.

As the plan moves toward finalization, I would encourage the inclusion of language that reflects a commitment to inclusive, innovative, and sustainable playground design. Designing playgrounds that are accessible to children of all abilities fosters a sense of belonging and ensures that every child in Claremont can benefit from safe and engaging play opportunities. Additionally, prioritizing sustainability in materials and design will contribute to long-lasting, eco-friendly spaces that reflect Claremont’s values.

Furthermore, I would like to express a strong interest in developing a flagship playground within the city. A standout, state-of-the-art playground could serve as a central hub for families, not only meeting the recreational needs of local residents but also attracting visitors from surrounding areas. This playground could incorporate innovative play features, shaded gathering spaces, and amenities that serve diverse age groups, promoting community connection and wellness.

Thank you for considering this feedback. I look forward to seeing how the final plan reflects the community’s shared vision for vibrant, accessible, and sustainable park facilities.

The playground equipment at Claremont parks is outdated, unimaginative not engaging and not available to children with special needs. As a grandmother with children and grandchildren who live in Claremont, it seems untenable that I drive my grandchildren to surrounding communities to use their playground equipment because Claremont parks are so poor. The hot metal structures burn their skin, there is no shade and there are very few picnic tables provided. The parks in Claremont are a poor reflection on the city.

The playground equipment at parks in Claremont is old, unsafe and unavailable to children with special needs. I babysit my grandchildren who live in Claremont but usually take them to other cities where the equipment isn’t outdated but is imaginative and engaging for children. This is not true for any playground that I have found in Claremont. Hot metal play equipment is untenable in the hot summer months and there is no shade provided for children or adults. There are no picnic tables for families or communities to enjoy the parks and the sports fields are poorly maintained as well. The parks and sport fields are a poor reflection on the city of Claremont.

The current fields being utilized for sports in the city are in need of improvement, via improved grass surfaces without large holes where kids tend to get hurt, better lighting in areas that get dark sooner during daylight saving. Please do a better job of maintaining the parks overall, some of the restrooms at these parks are not maintained properly as well.

I believe the current
plan does not fully meet the needs of our community, and I want to share my thoughts on how our parks can better serve residents. Claremont’s parks should be welcoming spaces where the whole community can gather, connect, and enjoy time outdoors. We need more shaded seating, picnic tables, and areas designed for people to come together. As an arts-rich community, Claremont has a unique opportunity to
showcase local talent by incorporating art installations and musical elements into our parks. These creative touches would give each park its own identity and transform them into destinations where people want to spend time. Please prioritize creating parks that foster connection and
reflect the creativity and spirit of our community by ensuring the Park Improvement Plan includes these enhancements to make our parks vibrant gathering spaces. Claremont’s playgrounds also need to be updated to better serve children of all ages and abilities. We need play spaces that are not only accessible but also engaging for kids with diverse needs,
encouraging social and inclusive play. Incorporating nature-based elements can spark creativity and provide sensory-rich experiences, while more challenging and imaginative equipment will keep children of all ages active and engaged. I also support the development of a flagship “destination playground”—a standout space that brings families from across Claremont together.
It’s essential that families are involved early and often in the playground planning process, with real opportunities to shape the design and ensure it reflects what our community wants and
needs. Let’s ensure the Park Improvement Plan commits to these elements and includes a clear goal to create inclusive, innovative play spaces designed with families.

This is not a Park Facilities Improvement Plan. It's a generic park inventory and overview with a budget. There's no improvement and no plan. Where's the detailed plan of action for the design, budget and implementation of imaginative new playgrounds? We have amazing park spaces in this City but no one from City Staff seems to be working to implement creative playgrounds like we see in neighboring cities all around SoCal that foster learning, imagination, play and inclusivity. The budget in place is enough to create truly one-of-a-kind playgrounds that our great City and its citizens deserve. Please try harder. Start from scratch. Don't do it like it's always been done. Get creative!

Upgrade Sports Fields and Improve Field MaintenanceOur sports elds are in terrible condition and need urgent attention. Poor drainage, unevensurfaces, and worn-out grass make it unsafe for kids to play and for volunteers to volunteer. We need resurfaced elds, betterirrigation, and improved lighting. The city should work with local sports leagues and families to ensure the upgrades meet the needs of the community. We also need a plan that ensures our fields are properly maintained, keeping them safe and enjoyable for kids now and in the future.Let’s ensure the Park Improvement Plan includes a clear commitment to these field improvements and ongoing maintenance, informed by input from local families and sportsleagues.

The planned improvements for Griffith Park's playground are minimal and do not adequately address the needs of the public. Since its installation in 2001, the playground has seen little to no upgrades beyond the replacement of slides and the addition of newer restrooms. Having lived on Woodbend since 2005, I have noticed that the playground has become less toddler-friendly and does not meet ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements. It's particularly shocking that there is a lack of accessibility at Griffith Park, especially since Sumner/Danbury School, which caters to students with accessibility needs, is less than 100 feet away. Besides the lack of accessibility, the non-existent toddler (0-3) equipment makes the park only accessible to children and adults with fully developed motor skills and a safety concern for children under 5. Again this park is located next to a state-run daycare, a school for children with accessibility needs, and a TK to 6th-grade elementary school. Why has the remodel of Griffith Park been pushed back to 2030? Does the slide installation, which has been closed multiple times due to safety concerns, qualify as a remodel for such a high-traffic park that hosts various events every weekend? Please put local children at the top of your priority since our federal government has not.

This assessment is deeply flawed, in that it does not treat soccer fields as long-term amenities that require significant funding and resources. Just as basketball courts and tennis courts sometimes need resurfacing, so too do soccer fields. The grass at Padua and La Puerta, in particular, has been neglected and simply aged to the point that routine maintenance is not enough, and a more extensive investment is required.
I am a Claremont resident, volunteer youth soccer referee, and parent of a soccer player, among other things. Our Claremont fields have become a serious risk to the health of both the children and the adults involved. I regularly find myself apologizing to visitors from other cities about the quality of our fields. We should be doing better.
I am all in favor of new playground equipment, etc. But I find it absurd, for example, that we would spend $600,000 on new playground equipment at Padua, without any attention at all to the existing, highly used amenity of the soccer fields, which are in desperate need of refurbishing.

The field conditions at La Puerta and Padua park (e.g. gopher holes, spiky liquidambar seed pods, among other hazards) are dangerous for athletes and spectators.

Field lights should also be installed at June Vail park.