Taking Flight

A much-loved tot lot gets a makeover 

By David Volz
Photos: David Volz Design employees

In the densely packed neighborhood of west Costa Mesa, Calif., an ambitious program to revitalize Lions Park had been underway for several years. In the shadow of the city’s new, multi-million-dollar library, there was a little-used play lot, nostalgically called Airplane Park. 

The initial on-site, public-outreach meeting to address the play area was overflowing with residents eager to give input, even in a terrible rainstorm. The first thing most participants said was, “We need to keep the plane.” Many people spoke of generations of memories regarding the famous airplane tot lot. This significant neighborhood landmark—the object of much community love—needed to be restored for future generations. There were also requests for safety features, lighting, and community-gathering spaces.

An all-out effort by the city council, state representatives, and city staff was required to finalize the program and secure funding for this million-dollar community improvement. The design process involved numerous updates as neighbors and civic leaders weighed in with new ideas. Through a series of social-media outreach initiatives, complementary play equipment was selected by popular vote to be added to the “aircraft carrier jet on the flight deck” play theme.

The design was further developed with help from a veterans group, local advocacy committees, and the neighborhood church council. The play lot is now surrounded by an embellished green environment. Beautiful, mature trees, benches, and picnic spaces encourage community engagement and unstructured family recreation. Every day the renovated park space is packed with enthusiastic families playing in the tot lot, library patrons reading on the benches, and often groups of daycare kids on field trips, proving that parks make life better. 

The opening-day celebration was attended by several hundred people, with many speeches by civic leaders and a tribute to the city’s first female mayor. The play lot was packed with kids and adults. A now-famous picture depicts a state congresswoman “flying” on the new zipline. The play lot is now a safe, enlivened space, accessible to all and somewhat crowded on the weekends. If you ask any of the children who are soaring on the zipline, whirling on the toys, or daring to cross the three-story-high climbing bridge, they will tell you it’s the best park ever! Mission accomplished. 

David Volz has over 30 years of experience in the design of public landscapes, streetscapes, and parks. He has managed public-design projects from inception through master-plan development, construction-document preparation, contract administration, and on-site inspection of municipal projects for more than 100 public agencies in California.