Flying full speed ahead

Barbara Diamond

Funding for the Bluebird Park rocket ship got a boost Tuesday night.

A $20,000 donation by Montage Resort and Spa thrust the fund

almost half way to the $55,000 goal needed to match a city

appropriation from the Park In-lieu Fund, approved 4 to 0 by the

council.

“Part of the Montage mission is to embrace the community of Laguna

Beach,” said resort employee Chris Loidolt, who announced the

donation. “I am overjoyed to be here tonight. I am the mother of

three children who were raised here and played on the rocket ship. I

would love to have it back.”

The rocket ship was a childhood icon for many Laguna Beach

children and their parents. They were dismayed when the City Council

eliminated a replacement for the aging structure from the renovation

of Bluebird Park, due to escalating costs.

An estimated cost of $215,000 in 2000 for the park renovation had

risen to $900,000 by 2001 because of cost increases in the

construction industry and to accommodate requests for additions or

upgrades by residents, the Design Review Board and the Recreation

Committee, city officials said. By 2003, bidding on the final design

came in at $1.2 million.

Something had to go. The rocket ship, estimated to cost $120,000,

went.

“Before the rocket ship was taken away, I thought it was a really

magical thing,” 10-year-old Nicholas Kinsman told the council

Tuesday. “When I got to the top and the steering wheel, I imagined I

could fly to the stars and the moon.”

But one day, the rocket ship was gone.

“I was really upset that night,” Nicholas said. “I asked my mom,

‘Who took it? Why did they take it out?’”

Mom, also known as Mayor Cheryl Kinsman, told her son that the

structure was no longer safe and had to be removed. She expected it

to be replaced and was distressed to have to vote to take it out of

the renovation plans.

Kinsman kicked off a fundraising drive with a $1,000 donation

during the 2003-04 budget discussions. She sponsored the agenda item

Tuesday to appropriate $55,000 from the Park In-lieu Fund, if matched

by public donations.

The public funds must be raised by July 2005 or the appropriation

will be nullified.

With the Montage’s $20,000 donation added to contributions of

$7,300 previously raised, the public fundraising needs $27,700 to

qualify for the city’s funds.

A fund-raising event is scheduled for April 18 at Tivoli Too. The

event will include a barbecue, silent auction, kids activities and

live music by The Blue Offenders.

Montage also donated a two-night stay in a suite for an

opportunity prize and a golf date and luncheon at the resort’s newly

acquired Aliso Creek property.

“I hope this will encourage other businesses to get involved,”

Loidolt said.

Tickets to the event are $35 pre-paid, $40 at the door, $15 for

children. For more information or to purchase tickets, e-mail

[email protected] or call (949) 494-0514.

I will be strong-arming everyone to attend,” Kinsman said. “So if

you don’t want to contribute $35 toward the rocket ship, you better

duck out of my sight.”