Topline:
Altadena’s Loma Alta Park is reopening in May after the devastating Eaton Fire with new resources and support from the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Fire Aid benefit concert.
The details: The park will get two new Dodgers Dreamfields from the foundation so the Central Altadena Little League can play their last games at home. The Community Clippers Court Program will give the gym and basketball courts a makeover, and a $2.4 million Fire Aid grant will rebuild and expand the playgrounds.
Why it matters: Norma E. García-González, director of the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation, said in a statement that building a new park typically takes 18 months, but officials have been able to shrink that timeline to just two months. “The people devastated by the Eaton Fire need their community back, and L.A. County will heed the call,” she said. “I am heartened to see how much support we’ve already received.”
The backstory: In January, the Eaton Fire tore through Altadena. It scorched more than 14,000 acres, destroyed more than 9,000 structures and killed at least 17 people. Neighborhoods around Loma Alta Park were heavily damaged. And though the park's structures still stand, they are in need of refurbishing.
What's next: The park is set to reopen by May 10. Proceeds from the Opening Day and Ring Ceremony Day 50/50 raffles at Dodger Stadium will go toward the two new fields, according to the foundation.
How to get involved: Volunteers can help replant, repaint and rejuvenate the park every Saturday in April. Sign up here.
Go deeper: Your wildfire recovery guide