Monster Park in San Gabriel: not just saved, but thriving
A couple of years ago, it looked like the City of San Gabriel was going to tear down the children's playground made of sea monsters and other fanciful creatures in the eastern edge of Vincent Lugo Park and replace it with a soccer field. City planners didn't bargain on the collective anguish of three generations of San Gabriel Valley residents whose love for Benjamin Doninguez' sculpted critters lead to the formation of Friends of La Laguna, a successful "Save Monster Park" campaign and some very impressive grants for the new non-profit. On May 1, the Los Angeles Conservancy and FOLL co-host a picnic in Monster Park to celebrate all the good work and restoration coming soon. I'm hoping the snail gets repainted first! Ticket info for the picnic is on the FOLL website.