IT'S ALL ABOUT THE KIDS: STONEY’S NEIGHBORHOOD PARK REOPENS

By Eric Bartl

April 8, 2018 (El Cajon) -- Smiles are returning to the faces of children in El Cajon when they see Stoney’s Neighborhood Park, which reopened Thursday in front of the El Cajon branch of the County library.

The park had been closed since mid-December for a construction/park improvement project.

Located on Douglas Avenue in front of the library, next to the Ronald Reagan Community Center and across the street from the Prescott Promenade, the small neighborhood park is now essentially a playground for children.

The new playground has four swings, one with an infant seat and one for toddlers with a safety bar.  There is a spring-mounted play car that kids can sit in and bounce around on. The biggest hit over the last few days has been the jungle gym which has steps, slides and mini rock climbing walls. There are also three sun shades above the playground.

El Cajon’s Director of Recreation Frank Carson describes the relatively small space as a “neighborhood park” and said he hopes the city will see more of them in the future.

The construction that began in December was the final phase in developing the park.

The first phase was the installation of the playground. On February 17, 2016 the playground was designed using ideas children drew on paper.  On April 7, 2016, nearly 300 volunteers came together to install the playground and work on the park.  See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZUxLTf773k.

The second phase was the installation of three shade structures for the playground in June 2017.

The third phase that is now wrapping up was the most complex.

Project manager Senan Kachi said the theme of Prescott Promenade was carried across the street to Stoney's Neighborhood Park, but is not an exact match. The appearance of the walkways is now very similar in color and style with the new installation of concrete and decorative bricks (technically called concrete pavers) on the ground. Kachi explained that the pavers are permeable, which means water can filter into the ground, rather than running to the streets and storm drains. 

The project included work on irrigation, water drainage and backflow prevention. New landscaping includes ten rock boulders and various plants.

Fourteen new overhead lights were installed around the park and in front of the library. The new LED lights replaced the old high-pressure sodium lights. Kachi said having LEDs will save money, save energy, and give greater output. “The lumens are much greater in LED,” he said. The new lights also look much nicer.

The park has new bicycle racks with a special design from community members.

The playground area is now enclosed inside a wrought iron fence.  The city planned together with the library and included enough space within the fence for groups of children to sit for the library’s reading programs.

Finally, a new monumental steel sign is being installed for the park. It also carries the same theme as the Prescott Promenade monumental sign.

Carson said some time after B.W. “Stoney” Stone passed away in April 2016, the park was named in his honor. A man of multiple nicknames, “Stoney” or “Mr. East County” was known for his philanthropic work for underprivileged children in East County. His motto was, “It’s all about the kids.”

A ribbon cutting ceremony at the park named in his honor is tentatively scheduled for April 25^th.