Holifield Park in line for makeover

NORWALK – Holifield Park will soon have new playground equipment, thanks in significant part to a pledge made by Supervisor Janice Hahn.

There are currently two playgrounds at Holifield Park: one for children ages 2-5 that was installed in 1990, and another for children ages 5-12 that was installed in 2006.

Initiated in 2019, Hahn pledged $300,000 in financial assistance to the city in support of replacing the Holifield’s 2–5-year-old playground.

This funding must be spent and the project completed by Dec. 31 this year.

Cost for the project as a whole is approximately $378,000, leaving the city responsible for $78,000. Costs include the demolition and removal of the current age 2-5 playground, installation of new equipment, pouring of in place flooring, and French drains.

When completed, the new playground will be all-inclusive, including equipment for both age groups. Design elements will feature a zip line and alpha tower that is the first of its kind in the region.

It will be situated near park restrooms, the park office, and the basketball courts.

Staff also offered estimates to remove the age 5-12 playground as well, at a total of approximately $20,000. However, council declined to move for its demolition until there were “further decisions on what to do with that area.”

Councilwoman Margarita Rios – who was mayor at the time of the pledge’s initiation - was forced to abstain from voting on the item due to its proximity to her home, however said that the project was “an amazing opportunity to revamp that playground.”

The contract was awarded to Landscape Structures.