Your HOA at Work

Ladera Ranch Maintenance Corporation (LARMAC) is replacing playground structures and rubber play surfaces at three (3) parks in Ladera Ranch. Ladera Ranch’s master association maintains financial reserves to replace amenities like playground equipment once they have reached the end of their ‘useful life.’

The first playground that was replaced was Dawnwood Park, located in Oak Knoll Village, which began on September 9th and was completed on October 7th, three weeks ahead of schedule, Next was Chaparral Park which opened on October 15th. Pleasanton will start in March 2020 and is expected to take four to six weeks to complete.

When the LARMAC Board embarked on the playground replacement project, its members thought that is was important to get feedback from residents so they formed a Playground Replacement Task Force. The Task Force was asked to work with staff and receive input from residents, including residents who live in the areas around the playgrounds, after three months of research and outreach, the Task Force made recommendations to the LARMAC board regarding the replacement of playground equipment.

Among the feedback that the Task Force received was the importance of shade at the playgrounds. "Dawnwood Playground will have approximately fifty percent more shade” Reserve Project Manager Michael Healy said.

Here is an overview of the work that was completed at Dawnwood and Chaparral Parks, and what will be done at Pleasanton Park.

Dawnwood Park:

• Replace the play structure (appropriate for 5-12 year olds)
• Add a free-standing shade cover above the structure
• Refresh sand play area
• Replacement of rubber play surface

Note: Walkway on both sides of the playground will be closed off for the duration of the project.

Chaparral Park:

• Replacement of play structure which includes attached shade
• Use existing shade structure
• Relocate swings under shade structure
• Refresh sand play area Replacement of rubber play surface

Note: Restrooms at the park are expected to remain open.

Pleasanton Park:

• Replacement of play structure with post and platform play structure
  (appropriate for 2-5 year olds)
• Sand play area will be replaced with rubber play surface

Links to documents:

Photos of existing playgrounds (August 2019)
Dawnwood Playground Renderings and Layout
Chaparral Park Playground Rendering and Layout
Pleasanton Park Playground Rendering and Layout

Click here to hear Mike Healy, LARMAC announce that Dawnwood Park opened three weeks ahead of schedule.

Over the past week Healy has visited each of the parks and has had the opportunity to speak with residents who were excited to see the new play structures and the additional shade. Residents shared their appreciation for the outreach via signage at the parks, ahead of time, and on Facebook to notify residents about the park closures and the reopenings of the playgrounds. One resident, Alison who lives in another village across town learned of the reopening of Dawnwood Park on the community Facebook page, and brought her daughter Samantha to visit the park for the first time - they love it. Another resident who Michael met at Chaparral Park said that she grew up playing at Chaparral Park as a child and that it was fun to bring her daughter to enjoy the updated park.

• Dawnwood Park was completed on October 7th, 3 weeks ahead of schedule
• Chaparral Park was completed on October 15th, 3 weeks ahead of schedule
• The playground that will be replaced next is located at Pleasanton Park which is scheduled to commence in March 2020.

CLICK HERE to get a tour of Dawnwood Park playground

CLICK HERE to get a tour of Chaparral Park playground

For questions regarding this project, contact Project Manager: Michael Healy at Michael.Healy@fsresidential.com or (949) 218-3465.