A groundbreaking ceremony was held Saturday for an extensive redevelopment of Charles White Park, in Altadena, where two playgrounds and restrooms were destroyed in the 2025 Eaton Fire.
Plans to re-imagine the park were already underway before the wildfire, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation. The park’s expansive lawns and trees were largely spared by the fire.
About 200 people attended Saturday’s ceremony, which included the planting of a 10,000-pound Coast Live Oak with the use of a backhoe.
Plans for the five-acre park include a new recreation center, pickleball courts with lighting, a splash pad and interactive water feature, new landscaping and a nature-based and inclusive playground designed by Disney Imagineers. Public art and interpretive areas will also honor Charles White, the renowned Black artist for whom the park is named.
The Walt Disney Company donated $5 million toward the restoration, while state funding was also helping finance the project.
“Altadena has lost so much, but it has not lost its spirit,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said. “Charles White Park, named for an artist who celebrated the dignity of everyday people, will once again be a home for recreation, culture and community. Today, we begin building it back.”
Rep. Judy Chu, D-Pasadena, said the loss of community gathering spaces following the Eaton Fire had been felt alongside the destruction of homes and businesses.
“Today’s groundbreaking means Altadena isn’t just rebuilding, it’s coming back to life,” Chu said.
Ian White, the artist’s son, said the renovation’s emphasis on public art and his father’s legacy would have resonated with him.
“To spark the creative imagination, young and old, was his greatest pleasure,” White said.
Other planned improvements include ADA-accessible walkways, exercise equipment, outdoor gathering areas, new park lighting, three enhanced entrances, an outdoor classroom and a demonstration garden.