City to consider community input on park redesign

Burbank officials on Wednesday will hold what could be the last public input meeting on a “very non-cookie cutter” upgrade of Johnny Carson Park.

The third meeting for a redesigned Johnny Carson Park could potentially be the last, said deputy parks director Jan Bartolo, adding that many of the comments made so far have been folded into the draft plan.

A conceptual design of Johnny Carson Park based on ideas submitted from Burbank residents in the two prior meetings will be on display during the meeting, which starts at 6 p.m. at Providence High School.

“As a result of those meetings, we’ve incorporated a lot of comments into the draft,” Bartolo said, adding that the design is “very creative, very non-cookie cutter.”

The draft includes a new sustainable irrigation system, an expanded walking path and ecological environments that serve as outdoor educational areas with interpretive signs. A new “adventure playground” is also included.

On a Facebook page created for the park redesign, some have wondered whether a dog park would be folded into the plan.

“In this particular instance, Johnny Carson Park probably won’t be the venue selected for that,” Bartolo said. “But that’s on the burner for future options in other areas.”

Park officials plan to finalize the draft for City Council review in January.

Construction could begin as soon as October 2012.

The planning meeting is in the multi-purpose room of Providence High School, 511 S. Buena Vista St.