Last summer, vandals stomped a hole through the slide at Las Brisas, a park serving children and families for the past 20 years. Yellow tape couldn’t defeat children’s attempt to use their slide anyway.
After a fruitless search for replacement parts, management services director Mike Chambless pursued a 50-50 matching grant opportunity from Game Time, Inc. In response to his presentation on behalf of Las Brisas Park and two others with priority needs, Chambless received Hollister City Council approval for $125,000 in matching funds to replace playgrounds for three parks.
The Las Brisas equipment arrived in January when crews from the Department of Streets and Parks started assembling the intriguing, open design (40 feet by 30 feet), approximately the footprint of a 1,200-square-foot home. Las Brisas opened officially on Friday, Jan. 30.
During construction, says Chambless, “carloads of kids passing by cheered on the workers and at the opening this Friday, right on time at 3 p.m., carloads of kids were being dropped off.” A quick check the next day revealed a park full of children and adults having a good time in Saturday’s sun.
In a few weeks, crews expect to begin assembling the first ever playground at the Jerry Gabe Memorial Park near the Hollister Airport where families can take both the kids and the family dogs.
Construction assistance was provided by San Benito Engineering in downtown Hollister.