L.A. County Sup. Gloria Molina joined the county’s Community Development Commission, Dept. of Parks and Recreation, and families throughout the Avocado Heights community for a western style barbecue celebration and official ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of Avenue Park in Avocado Heights – an unincorporated equestrian district community in the San Gabriel Valley. Festivities included “Know Your Park Nature and Civic Art Bridge Walking Tours,” a concert in the park, an “Expression Session” skate exhibition and skate competition, face painting for children as well as free popcorn, snow cones, and raffle prizes for the entire family – plus entertainment by the Don Julian Elementary School Hawaiian Dancers! Designed in partnership with Shane’s Inspiration – a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children with disabilities – Avenue Park will offer full ‘universal access’ playgrounds for both toddlers and school-aged youth. The large, colorful playgrounds offer children of all ages a safe environment in which to play with their siblings, friends, and neighbors. At the request of Avocado Heights youth, Avenue Park includes a custom skate park! It also features sustainable landscaping with beautiful native trees and plants. The neighborhood’s equestrian character will be reflected in Avenue Park walkways – in particular, a unique sculptural bridge designed by artist Al Price. Its laser-cut plates, connected by custom-welded vertical rods, suggest a line of horseshoes. Price’s sculpture will appear to twist and turn as the viewer moves across bridge. “I am so proud of Avocado Heights residents for working in partnership with Los Angeles County on the vision, design, and planning of Avenue Park,” Molina said. “We’ve transformed this once abandoned lot – with old structures regularly vandalized by graffiti – into a beautiful, first-class park with unique amenities for the entire community.”