SIMI VALLEY : Five-Acre Park Opens to Cheers of Kids, Adults

Eight-year-old Johnny Hansen had just one thing to say about the new playground outside his Lincoln Elementary School in Simi Valley.

“I like it very much!” he yelled, scampering past a flower bed after a dedication ceremony Friday afternoon. And then, clearly not satisfied that he had expressed himself fully, he burst out: “Very much! Very much! Very much!”

The enthusiasm--if not the sheer vocal power--quickly spread to Johnny’s classmates, who crowded onto the freshly paved basketball court to watch the park’s dedication ceremony during their lunch recess.

After checking out the jogging track and exercise equipment, 10-year-old Lukas Josker said he planned to spend sunny afternoons in the park working out secretly, in an effort to impress his father. “He makes me do pushups at basketball practice,” Lukas said, explaining his motivation.

The five-acre park off 1st Street aims to blend an adult workout center with an elementary school playground.

Planted with saplings and a sprinkle of purple flowers, the park includes a jogging path, a jungle gym and exercise equipment for chin-ups and sit-ups. And, for the more sedentary, picnic tables and benches.

Spurning the sun-splashed seats, Louie Cardenas jogged steadily around the meandering path Friday afternoon, working up a sweat as he completed six circuits. “I used to run on 1st Street and down Royal Avenue,” he said, “but there were too many lights and too many stops. This is great.”

Plus, added Cardenas, “We just got a puppy and I’m sure he’ll love it.”

Built at a cost of $350,000, the park features eight trees donated by elementary school students, who held an aluminum can drive last year to raise money for the project.

“Isn’t this just wonderful?” Lincoln Principal Aileen Buhring asked her beaming students, who responded with a hearty cheer. “We’re going to enjoy this park a whole lot.”

On dedication day, however, the Lincoln students didn’t get to enjoy much besides the crisp fall air. They shuffled back to school immediately after the half-hour dedication ceremony, casting longing glances at the slides and swings and monkey bars.

Too young to attend school, 2-year-old Forrest Dunes toddled around the playground, gleefully tossing fistfuls of sand at his mother, Karmyn.

“We live across the street, and we’ve been watching (the construction) the whole time,” Karmyn Dunes said. “He’s been real excited about it.”

Forrest, however, had his own opinion. With the stubborn insistence of a 2-year-old, he looked around the colorful playground and said simply, “No!”