New Nature Themed Playground at Northmont Park to Open Soon

A new nature themed playground is currently under construction at Northmont Park and is scheduled to open for local children to play on, according to the La Mesa Park and Recreation Foundation.

The new equipment will be the first for the park since it opened in 1988, according to Assistant City Manager Yvonne Garrett.

La Mesans are invited to a grand opening ceremony at 3 p.m. Jan. 28 at Northmont Park at 6030 Severin Dr.

"It's going to be a great playground and it's actually funded by private donors so its funded from a gift from Grossmont Center and also Bill and Norma Berbeck," she said.

In the spirit of the green space embraced by Grossmont Center, the park will have a nature theme, Garrett said.

The $180,000 contributed by donors paid for the new equipment and rubber surfacing beneath the playground, Garrett said.

Before Northmont Park opened in 1988 the land was prone to floods, had a small pond and was known to attract the occasional shady character.

The new Northmont Park playground will mark the second of five the La Mesa Park and Recreation Foundation wants to replace at parks throughout the city with money from private donors.

The first new playground had a car theme and was installed at Jackson Park.

"That was thanks to the Drew Ford family," Garrett said. "So this is our second one and our third one we think it looks like it's going to be Vista La Mesa Park."