The El Monte City Council approved a $1.5 million grant agreement with Los Angeles County to advance MacLaren Community Park planning on the historic MacLaren Hall property. The funding supports design and pre-construction work for a future public park near Durfee Avenue and Deana Street.
City leaders say the project will convert underused county land into new recreational space for residents in a community with limited park access.
The MacLaren Community Park planning effort marks a key step in transforming the former MacLaren Hall site. The facility operated for decades as a temporary shelter for foster youth before closing in the early 2000s. Large portions of the property have remained closed since that time.
County and city officials have worked for several years to redevelop the land with housing, services and public space. The new park would cover about 5.6 acres and sit near Twin Lakes Elementary School and Baker Elementary School.
Environmental review for the project has already been completed through a mitigated negative declaration filed with the state’s CEQA database. More information about the environmental review is available through the California Environmental Quality Act clearinghouse at https://ceqanet.lci.ca.gov.
MacLaren Community Park Planning Addresses Park Shortage
El Monte ranks among the most park-poor communities in Los Angeles County. According to the county’s Parks Needs Assessment, the city has about 0.4 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents. The countywide average stands near 3.3 acres.
The MacLaren Community Park planning project aims to help close that gap by adding recreational space in a densely populated neighborhood.
Preliminary design concepts include a regulation soccer field, basketball court, tennis court and outdoor fitness areas. Plans also show a children’s playground, picnic areas, walking paths and landscaped gardens.
Community gathering space is another major component. Early proposals include a pavilion that could serve as an outdoor classroom or small performance venue.
The park design also calls for restrooms, lighting improvements and water features intended to create a safe and welcoming environment for residents of all ages.
The $1.5 million grant approved by the City Council funds the planning and design phase of the project. That phase typically includes architectural design, engineering studies, community outreach and preparation of cost estimates.
Once planning is complete, officials will pursue construction funding and prepare the project for bidding.
Part Of Larger Redevelopment
The park is part of a broader redevelopment of the MacLaren property. Los Angeles County has already supported plans for Esperanza Village, an affordable housing development planned on another portion of the site.
County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis has backed efforts to convert the historic property into a community asset that includes housing, services and open space.
Officials have not announced a construction timeline for the park. Future progress will depend on final design approval and the availability of construction funding.
For many residents, the project represents a long-awaited transformation of a site that stood vacant for years. City leaders say the MacLaren Community Park planning effort moves El Monte closer to creating a new space for recreation, gathering and neighborhood activity.
