VAN NUYS (CNS) — City officials cut a ceremonial ribbon Tuesday, April 26, on a community park next to the new Greenwood Square housing development in Van Nuys.
Greenwood Square Park, which includes a playground and walking path, is located near Hazeltine Avenue Elementary School.
The builder of the housing development, KB Homes, set aside land and paid for improvements for the 0.33-acre park under an agreement with the city.
Councilman Paul Krekorian, who represents the area, said he used a provision of the Quimby Act to request that KB Homes provide land and money to build the park.
“It’s not every day we open a new park in Los Angeles,” he said. “It is often a challenge to find unused space and sources of funding.”
The developer was supposed to pay a $400,000 fee under the Quimby Act, but the councilman asked instead that a park be built, according to Krekorian spokesman Ian Thompson.
KB Homes spent about $1.2 million on the park, Thompson said.
The Greenwood Square housing community officially opened in February with more than 100 homes planned. Some of the residences have been built, but others are still under construction, according to KB Homes spokesman Craig LeMessurier.