Seal Beach : City Short of Funds for Park, Seeks Help

City officials agree that Marina Park needs $50,000 worth of renovations but have only $30,000 to spend on the project.

So the City Council this week created an advisory panel to find ways to make the necessary repairs without going over budget.

The committee will consist of residents selected by the City Council. The members will be asked to coordinate fund-raising activities for park repairs and recommend which renovations should be compeleted first, City Manager Jerry L. Bankston said.

Though city officials doubt the committee’s fund raising will close the entire $20,000 gap, they said any donations will help.

The most expensive part of the project will be replacing the park’s old wooden playground with new equipment. The old equipment requires time-consuming and costly maintenance.

In addition, the city hopes to build a trash enclosure, storage area and security fence.

Seal Beach previously relied on citizen s to raise thousands of dollars for rebuilding the city’s pier after a ravaging storm in 1983.

Also, money was also raised earlier this year to repair a portion of the pier damaged by a small fire.