A councilman used a provision of the Quimby Act to build a new park in Van Nuys.A new oasis of play has appeared in Los Angeles. Greenwood Square Park, in the Van Nuys area of L.A., includes a new GameTime playground and a walking path, providing opportunities for families to be more active…together.

The new park was imagined by City Councilman Paul Krekorian, who took an innovative approach to funding the new space. Adjacent to the new park is a housing development. Councilman Krekorian used a provision of the Quimby Act that normally requires housing developers to pay a fee for area construction. Instead, Kerkorian asked the developer to build a park.

“It’s not every day we open a new park in Los Angeles,” said City Councilman Paul Krekorian to the San Fernando Valley News. “It is often a challenge to find unused space and sources of funding.”

GameTime constructed the play area, featuring tall slides for older kids and smaller climbers for the toddlers. The poured-in-place rubber playground surface provides a soft foundation and accessible routes of travel. The play structure includes integrated shade to keep children cool and comfortable while at play, and the park features a drought-safe conifer tree maze through which kids can play chase, hide and seek and other fun playground games.

* Photos courtesy of KB Homes Facebook.