SAN DIEGO — Fanuel Park, once a bustling children's playground, now sits as a barren sand pit, leaving local families bewildered and seeking answers about its sudden transformation.
The city removed its playground equipment in recent months, citing substantial corrosion and structural deterioration that rendered the structures unsafe for use.
Bob Santoro, a 20-year neighborhood resident, expressed frustration with the lack of communication.
"They fenced it off without explaining what was happening," Santoro said. "The kids were left wondering."
City officials confirmed the playground's removal, stating the equipment posed significant safety risks. The structures were blocked off in August and subsequently dismantled. Currently, there is a swing set with a few donated sand toys.
Parks and Recreation officials say they will install temporary spring toys in the sand area over the next three months while exploring long-term replacement options.
According to city representatives, capital improvement projects typically take four to seven years to complete. The Mission Beach Improvement Fund will review potential playground replacement proposals in January.
Laura Madruga, a local nanny who frequently visits the park with toddlers, hopes for enhanced safety features in any future design.
"We need better protection from street traffic," Madruga said. "A fence would make a big difference."
City staff indicate they are examining funding sources for a potential new playground, though no immediate timeline has been established. Residents like Santoro continue to watch and wait, hoping for a swift resolution to the park's current state.
The City of San Diego provided CBS 8 with a statement on the playground in Fanuel Park:
The Fanuel Street Park playground was deemed unsafe and unusable due to substantial corrosion and deterioration of the play structures and footings, leading to its closure on Aug. 13, 2024. In order to restore access to playground area as soon as possible, the Parks and Recreation Department implemented a short-term solution to remove the damaged play equipment and reopen public access to the sand area. Parks and Recreation Department staff will work to install small spring toys in the open sand area over the next three months.
A Capital Improvements Program (CIP) project will need to be initiated to replace and improve the playground. Design work is needed to make the playground and area around the playground meet current accessibility standards and introduce more inclusive play elements. Staff is currently evaluating whether the Mission Bay Improvement Fund (MBIF) can be used to create a new CIP project to replace the playground. Funding a CIP project with the MBIF requires approval from the Mission Bay Park Improvement Fund Oversight Committee. Staff will add the project into the next iteration of the MBIF five-year financial outlook, which is planned for release in December 2024 and will be presented to the Mission Bay Park Improvement Fund Oversight Committee in January 2025. Adding this into the CIP requires a funding plan that ensures MBIF can fund both design and construction over the course of the project life cycle. Typical capital projects take four to seven years to complete. If MBIF is determined not able to fund the replacement playground, staff will examine other options to locate funding to replace the playground.
Fanuel Park remains a work in progress. CBS 8 will keep you updated on what happens next.
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