City's Most Run-Down Playground to Get Makeover

Soon the Max Berg Plaza Park in the Las Palmas neighborhood will not only have new playground equipment, but it will also be “universally accessible” for disabled children.

The Beaches, Parks and Recreation Commission Tuesday will get started on discussing the playground's new features and designs and scheduling a public meeting to get residents' input.

The San Clemente City Council this month budgeted $150,000 to replace and upgrade the aging equipment -- the sum includes an extra $25,000 to bring the playground up to the "universally accessible" standard.

The improvements will make Max Berg, which city staffers identified as having the ricketiest playground equipment in town, the second all-access playground in San Clemente. Courtney's SandCastle -- open to kids now, but awaiting funding for its second phase -- is the first.

Sharon Heider, San Clemente's beaches, parks and recreations director, said the construction could use the existing four-foot platform to create a "two-tiered playground system" with bridges and ramps linking the different parts.

Last week, the council voted unanimously to allocate the extra $25,000 for the project.

The commission Tuesday is asked to approve Jan. 17 date for a public meeting in the Community Center auditorium to get community input on what new features the park should include.

The Beaches, Parks and Recreation Commission will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the San Clemente Community Center Ole Hanson Room.

Sharon Heider, San Clemente's beaches, parks and rec director, described some of the potential features at a Dec. 4 city council meeting.

She said the construction could use the existing four-foot platform to create a "two-tiered playground system" with bridges and ramps linking the different parts.

The council voted unanimously to allocate the extra $25,000.

The commission Tuesday is asked to approve a date of Jan. 17 for a public meeting in the Community Center auditorium to get residents' input on what new features they would like at the park.

The Beaches, Parks and Recreation Commission will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the San Clemente Community Center Ole Hanson Room.