Laguna’s Ex-City Manager Receives an Unexpected Gift

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By Jennifer Erickson | LB Indy

Kenneth Frank View Park
Kenneth Frank View Park

A small park created in 2012 at a trailhead off of Park Avenue was formally named the Kenneth Frank View Park by the City Council last week, honoring the retired city manager who served the city for 31 years.

Mayor Elizabeth Pearson, who leaves office on Tuesday, Dec. 2, said that she proposed the naming of the park after Frank as her last agenda item as a City Council member, since the recognition was long overdue. “A lot of people don’t know how much Ken Frank cares about open space and parks in this community,” she said, adding that “he has always been a leader behind the scenes” in trying to secure as many parks and as much open space for the city as possible.

During his tenure, which ended in 2010, Frank was responsible for initiating the city’s acquisition of thousands of acres of open space in Laguna Canyon, says a staff report on the item. He also led the effort to win Coastal Commission approval of the Montage resort and its bluff-top city-owned park, the report says. He also pushed for creating amenities at Moulton Meadows, Lang, Alta Laguna, Treasure Island and Arch Beach Heights View parks, the report adds.

In a 2010 interview, Frank pointed to encouraging the expansion of the city’s greenbelt as his greatest contribution. “The hills are pretty much here today as they were 30 years ago,” said Frank, noting that he was an advocate for open-space preservation when he was hired. “I’ve been able to spend $40 to $50 million of city money buying open space; what a deal,” he said.

Ken Frank Park provides a break between homes, allowing both a view from the street and  trail access off Park Avenue.
Ken Frank Park provides a break between homes, allowing both a view from the street and trail access off Park Avenue.

The 6,000 square-foot park at 2440 Park Avenue consists of concrete paved walkways and benches with view of the sea and coastal foothills. Never formally named, until now it has been generally referred to as the Park Avenue view park. There are no state laws governing the naming of local parks or public facilities, nor does the city have a formal policy in place, said Assistant City Manager Christa Johnson, so the City Council was free to take action in naming the park.

Indeed, few parks in Laguna are named after anyone in particular. Most bear the names of locations, such as Bluebird Park, or historical figures such as Howard G. Heisler, who developed the subdivision known as Laguna Cliffs in 1906, or Fred Lang, an environmental activist and landscape architect. An exception is Nita Carmen Park, officially named in 1972 after the suffragette who lived in the home that currently stands at 761 Wilson Street, opposite the park. She and her husband built their home there in 1932, and Carmen went on to become a respected community leader over the next 40 years.

The Council’s approval of naming the park after Frank includes installation of a park monument sign of engraved wood that will cost about $2,500. They also agreed to City Council member Steve Dicterow’s proposal that some kind of ceremony be held upon installation of the sign.

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1 COMMENT

  1. Ken frank devoted many years of his life to Laguna Beach and the naming of the park in his honor is richly deserved. Being a former business owner on Forest Ave. we had many dealings with the city and always found Ken to be a fair and honest man. Congratulations to Ken Frand and thank you for your dedication to our city.

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