Solana
Solana Beach Celebrates La Colonia’s New Lot
Solana Beach Mayor Lesa Heebner and local students cut the ribbon to open the new children’s playground at La Colonia Park on May 22.
The event also included food, drinks, mariachi music and other entertainment.
The opening ceremony was the culmination of a multi-year process to replace the old batch, which was more than 20 years old and had been worn down by regular wear and tear, weather and other factors.
When the city launched the project, residents indicated in a questionnaire that they wanted a “whimsical look,” a “garden look” and a “nontraditional look” in La Colonia. Community workshops also contributed to the planning.
“Playgrounds are extremely important to a child’s memory and part of their recreational experience,” Heebner said, joined by fellow City Council members and new City Manager Alyssa Muto.
After cutting the ribbon, the children ran into the new grounds for the first time to use the playground and swings, which also have canopies to provide shade.
The city sponsored the event alongside Van Dyke Landscape Architects, which worked on the ground, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito.
Last year, the town celebrated the reopening of the Fletcher Cove Playground.