Playground memories

Linda Wright’s grandson Miles didn’t need to wait until Christmas to receive a very special gift.

A misunderstanding on the Texas 4-year-old’s part inspired Wright to write a book about the renovations to a playground near her Alta Laguna home: “Building Our New Playground, Moulton Meadows Park.”

The experience began earlier this year with a civic meeting about planned renovations at the park, which was first built about 20 years ago, Wright said.

Recently, local residents became concerned that the park’s playground facilities were unsafe and outdated — they sought more modern, educational equipment.

So a group of residents presented their idea to the city, and soon found their new “climbing park” under construction, with stepping posts, webbing to climb and other elements.

Wright cited the efforts of “Park Hero” William Martinez, who operates the park.

“Bill is a man of the highest commitment to work ethic,” she wrote.

At the meeting, Wright received an architectural drawing of the plan for the new playground.

She mailed the plan to Miles, who saw the image and thought his grandmother was buying him a playground for his own yard.

“He never saw the boxes of equipment show up, so he asked, ‘Nana, where is the playground that you bought me?’” Wright said.

Surprised by his question, Wright explained Miles could play in the Moulton Meadows playground as soon as it was built.

She also began thinking about how to send the park to Miles, since she hated to disappoint him.

Wright began capturing its construction in photographs, which she compiled into a book after her grandson’s visit in June.

Although he and his family were in Laguna the whole month, Miles was only able to use the equipment on his last day in town.

“The playground opened June 28 at 3 p.m.,” Wright said. “Not many kids knew when it opened. But Miles did. When he arrived at 7 p.m., he was the only child in the park.”

“I was the first one,” Miles said. “I was all by myself.”

His favorite part of the park?

“All of it!”

Following her grandson’s visit, Wright bound all of the photos she had taken of its construction into a book for him. She also added pictures of his day at the park.

Miles loved seeing the giant trucks and “big wheels” that helped build the playground.

His special favorites were a blue crane, an augur and a tractor.

Wright also presented the City Council with a copy of the book, which now is kept at City Hall.

“Not only did we build a new playground, but we are building a lifetime of wonderful memories of family gatherings and new friendships at our park,” Wright wrote in her book.

“My heart widens with the joy that I feel there as I watch families gather and children at play and special occasions celebrated with balls and picnic baskets. It is another remembrance of why Laguna Beach and my neighborhood is so loved.”