Dennis the Menace Park re-opens after construction delays

UPDATE 5/3/17 5:44 p.m.: On a beautiful day, or most days really, Dennis the Menace Park in Monterey is full of kids. But over the past three months it’s been closed as crews repaired the walkway around the park. Now, the gates are finally back open.

“There’s not a whole lot of places to go that you feel safe with your kids,” said Bobbette Skirk of Prunedale. “This is one of them that’s always been a really nice one to come to.”

According to city engineer Jeff Krebs, the path around the park needed to be upgraded to ADA standards. New concrete and hand railings were installed, along with fresh landscaping.

“It makes a compliant path, it makes it easier for people to walk around the perimeter of the park,” said Krebs.

The improvements that started back in February weren’t that easy, Krebs adds rain caused some major headaches.

“We got flooded out,” said Krebs. “We had to let things dry before we could get equipment on it.”

A grant provided by the Monterey Regional Park District plus additional funds from the Neighborhood Improvement Program helped pay for the park improvements. And more improvements are expected, included the addition of new playground equipment, according to the city. However, no additional closures of the park are expected.

PREVIOUS STORY: Dennis the Menace playground in Monterey will close for approximately two months to allow for a sidewalk improvement project, the city announced today.

The popular park at Lake El Estero will closed Monday, January 23rd. The city hopes to reopen the playground by the beginning of spring break, Saturday, March 18 th , pending weather conditions.

In a statement, Lori Lynn Williamson, construction project manager said, “Winter is the best season to get this done. Our most popular playground will be even better when the work is completed.”

When finished, the project will upgrade the pathways and bring them into ADA compliance.

Other facilities in the Lake El Estero park complex will remain open during construction with normal business hours. The snack bar will be open weekdays with reduced hours of 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.. The parking lot will be open with reduced spaces available.

You can find more information about Dennis the Menace Park and the Lake El Estero park complex from the City of Monterey’s website. Click here to view.