Supervisor Kathryn Barger poses in front of rendering of the future Charles White Park Community Center and park plan, alongside Paulina Alvarez and Ian White, son of the park’s namesake, Charles White. (Photo credit: Diandra Jay, LA County)

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger announced that more than $60 million has been secured to rebuild Altadena’s fire-damaged parks following the Eaton Fire.

The announcement was delivered inside the renovated Loma Alta Park gymnasium, where Barger was joined by Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation Director Norma E. García-González, community partners and residents. Large renderings of Eaton Canyon Natural Area, Farnsworth Park and Charles White Park illustrated the county’s long-term recovery plans.

Supervisor Kathryn Barger and Norma E. García-González, Director of LA County Department of Parks and Recreation, pose alongside Rhoi Carpena with The Walt Disney Company and event attendees (Photo credit: Diandra Jay, LA County)

Barger emphasized that while the county has reached a major funding milestone, the $60 million secured represents only about one-third of the more than $190 million needed to fully restore all impacted park spaces. She called upon philanthropic, nonprofit and private-sector partners to join the effort.

“Altadena’s parks are the heart of this community, so securing strong partnerships is essential for the thousands of displaced Eaton Fire survivors eager to reconnect,” Barger said. “From little league games at Farnsworth Park to cultural festivals at Charles White Park to hiking in Eaton Canyon, these parks hold cherished memories. We are committed to bringing them back stronger than ever.”

Leadership and Recovery

García-González praised Barger’s leadership, noting the department sustained more than $250 million in damages from the fire. “We commend the leadership and dedication of Supervisor Barger to prioritize rebuilding and restoring these cherished LA County parks for Altadena residents,” she said. “As we approach Thanksgiving, I am truly moved by the sponsors who make this park renewal possible. And to realize our goal of reopening all our Altadena parks, we welcome new partnerships.”

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lt. Col. Stephen Brooks holds a wooden “gratitude tree”–a symbol of thanks–at today’s event. He is accompanied by the following individuals, listed from left to right: Norma E. García-González, Director of LA County Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), Mika Yamamoto, Deputy Director of LA County DPR, Supervisor Kathryn Barger, and Mark Mariscal, Chairman of Measure A Citizens Oversight Advisory Board for Regional Park and Open Space District. (Photo credit: Diandra Jay, LA County)

Barger described the effort as an “unprecedented era of park investment” in Altadena, outlining significant progress already made across multiple sites.

Projects Underway

• Altadena Trails: $800,000 secured, completion anticipated December 2026.
• Eaton Canyon Natural Area Landscape Recovery Center: $2.9 million funded.
• Eaton Canyon Nature Center: $16.2 million secured, additional funds needed.
• Charles Farnsworth Park: Phase one Reflection Garden ($5 million) and phase two enhancements ($4.1 million), construction projected spring 2026.
• Altadena Golf Course: First phase of restoration expected by December 2025.

Supervisor Kathryn Barger holds a T-shirt with the words “Rebuild & Renew Eaton Canyon,” accompanied by Eaton Canyon Nature Center docents (Photo credit: Diandra Jay, LA County)

Completed Projects

• Loma Alta Park: $3.4 million renovation, reopened May 2025.
• Altadena Triangle Park: Reopened June 2025 after improvements.
• Charles White Park: $10.5 million secured, including $5 million from The Walt Disney Company earlier this week; groundbreaking planned spring 2026.

Community Response

Altadena residents Lawrence and Lorena Dean expressed gratitude for the progress. “We truly appreciated how Loma Alta Park has continued to bring our community together since the fires,” they said. “We’re looking forward to the return of the golf course and the full restoration of all parks in Altadena, so our neighborhoods can keep thriving and gathering in the spaces that mean so much to us.”

A row of wooden “gratitude trees”–a symbol of thanks given to donors today–are displayed (Photo credit: Diandra Jay, LA County)

Funding and Support

The Los Angeles County Parks Foundation is accepting tax-deductible contributions to support recovery projects, including Altadena Trails, additional restoration efforts within the Eaton Canyon Natural Area, rebuilding of the Eaton Canyon Nature Center, improvements to the Davies Building at Farnsworth Park and continued recovery of the Altadena Golf Course.

Current funders include the California Conservation Corps, California State Parks, Fire Aid, Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, LA Clippers Foundation, Los Angeles Conservation Corps, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Pasadena Rotary Club, State of California, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, Theodore Payne Foundation, The Walt Disney Company and Tree People.

Get our daily Pasadena newspaper in your email box. Free.

Get all the latest Pasadena news, more than 10 fresh stories daily, 7 days a week at 7 a.m.