Tongva Park Opens Today

It's taken 16 months, but today, the fences around the $42.3 million Tongva Park will be removed and the public will be allowed to enter. The park will be open seven days a week from 6 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Today's opening is being deemed by the City a soft opening, with an official community celebration being held on Oct. 19 from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. and an even larger celebration on Nov. 17, in honor of Ken Genser's birthday. 

To walk the 6.2 acre property, you'll light upon winding paths, observation points, swathes of lush grass, water features, picnic areas and a kids' playground.

There are seven entrances to the park and five distinct areas, starting in front of City Hall with Ken Genser Square. Once you cross into the park itself, you'll wander through Garden Hill with seating alcoves and display gardens. At Discovery Hill you'll encounter a children's playground with not-so-typical equipment that include brightly colored climbing structures, slides, a music wall, rock climbing wall, a telescope and interactive water features.

Observation Hill stands 18 feet off the ground and offers views of the ocean and the pier. The viewing areas are under large, canopied metal structures that look like shells or waves. 

Gathering Hill provides the most open, green space along with informal picnic areas. 

Many of the areas in the park will be lit up at night, thanks to highly-efficient LED and HID luminaries throughout the park and square.

Karen Ginsberg, Director of Community and Cultural Services for the City of Santa Monica said the City was sorely in need of another park and, "Tongva Park was designed to recollect an arroyo – with a source of water and native and indigenous grasses and topography."

One of the more interesting features is the sculpture "Weather Field No. 1" designed by Inigo Manglano-Ovalle. It is composed of 49 telescoping stainless steel poles aligned in a grid and move according to the wind conditions, replicating a moving school of birds or fish. 

And while over 300 new trees were brought into the park, there are several existing trees that still stand tall in the park - including "Morty" the over 100-year-old Moreton Bay Fig tree, who is well-known to Santa Monica residents. Morty is kept company by 'The Three Amigos' - three large caliper Ficus trees that were relocated to the area.

The park provides a tranquil oasis from the hustle and bustle of downtown Santa Monica and is named for the area's original inhabitants. 

Ken Genser Square is located at 1685 Main St. and Tongva Park at 1615 Ocean Avenue. Dogs on leashes are welcome.