Costa Mesa parks director highlights Fairview Park master‑plan draft, Poetry in the Parks and fall outreach events
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Summary
Parks Director Gruner told commissioners Oct. 9 that the Fairview Park master‑plan draft was released Oct. 3 and staff will hold multiple outreach events in October, including Scarecrow Fest, restoration volunteer days and a special steering‑committee meeting Oct. 15. The city also launched a Poetry in the Parks QR‑kiosk challenge.
Parks and Community Services Director Gruner told the commission on Oct. 9 that the Fairview Park master‑plan draft was released Oct. 3 and that the city will step up outreach this month with pop‑up events, restoration volunteer days and a special steering‑committee meeting on Oct. 15.
Gruner listed several October events: Scarecrow Fest at Lions Park (Oct. 11, 2–6 p.m.), restoration volunteer opportunities at Fairview Park (including a second‑Saturday restoration on Oct. 11, 9–11 a.m.), and pop‑up outreach at Ferry Park on Oct. 21 and Oct. 29. Gruner also said staff will present the Fairview Park master plan to this commission in a special meeting on Oct. 30 and expects to take the plan to City Council on Nov. 18.
The city also launched a Poetry in the Parks challenge. Poet‑laureate Danielle Hansen (identified in meeting materials) has placed QR‑code kiosks at five parks; scanning a kiosk takes users to a page with a poem, an activity and an entry form for a chance to win tickets to a performance at the Segerstrom Center. Charlene Ashendorf, a resident, described the kiosks and encouraged participation: “Parks and the art of poetry find 5 kiosks around our city. Here's the place where you should start,” she said.
Other public‑comment items: Matt Garcia, president of the Harbor Soaring Society and a Costa Mesa resident, invited commissioners to visit the model‑airfield flight days at Fairview Park—“second and third Saturday of the month, this month, from 8AM to 2PM”—and encouraged commissioners to attend the Fairview Park master‑plan discussion. Residents speaking about fields and youth sports urged continued emphasis on city‑controlled fields and raised parking concerns at Jack Hammett Field and other venues.
Why this matters: the Fairview Park master plan and the city’s October outreach schedule create multiple opportunities to comment on open‑space priorities, restoration work and how parks will be used and managed. Gruner emphasized a push to maximize public participation in the coming weeks.