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THE GARDEN GROVE JOURNAL
FROM PAGE 1
THURSDAY, AUG. 8, 20 1 3
ATLANTIS: A gem
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F R O M PA G E 1
I like that there are a lot of hiding spots and good things to play on. I like climbing on King Neptune and seeing the pretty Hawaiian flower tree.” C AT E LY N G O S S A R D , 1 0, OF GARDEN GROVE
Magnolia St.
In the summer, 200 to 600 children a day visit the park, Tucked in the shadow of the which is entirely enclosed. The 22 freeway, the play center play center gets up to 70,000 draws families from across visitors a year. Along with the concrete sea Orange County as well as students on school field trips. It’s creature sculptures, there are rented out for private parties grassy knolls, hidden paths, hiand hosts family reunions. For biscus flowers, eucalyptus most, it’s a little-known gem trees and a large mural depicting life under behind Garthe sea. Poems den Grove Garden Grove Blvd. on signs welPark, a place 22 come kids to the where time park’s different seems to stop. Atlantis park attractions. In “This place Map Westminster Blvd. June 2012, a is awesome,” children’s water said Colby The Register play area was Weeks, as his added. three children “You rarely find parks like took turns riding down the sea dragon slide. Weeks, his wife this park,” said John Montanand children are from Oahu chez, a recreation and human and were visiting family in services supervisor for the city. “We get parents and Huntington Beach. “We heard about this awe- grandparents saying, ‘I used to some park,” he said. “So we come here as a kid, and we just thought we’d come check it had to come back to the park to show our kids because I out.” Atlantis, named after the used to play here.’ ” Through the years, some of mythical island, was built in two years on 3 1⁄2 acres once the original structures at Atowned by the Navy. Jack Wal- lantis have been replaced with lin – a city parks department newer stuff. Paint is fading in superintendent at the time – places, and signs are etched and a crew of four other city with graffiti. But the park’s spirit reworkers constructed it. The idea sprang up after mains. “I look back now and think watching the sci-fi film “Atlanall of the kids we helped and all tis, the Lost Continent.” “We had seen the movie ‘At- the enjoyment we made for lantis,’ ” said Wallin, 84, who them,” Wallin said. “Atlantis has been retired from the city was just an idea we had. We for 25 years and spends much worked from of his time working for the lo- there.” cal Kiwanis Club. “We wanted to have a different type of play area for the kids. We thought it would be a good idea.” The park’s concrete attractions, including Sandy Sea Serpent and Danny Sea Dragon, were designed by Mexican-born artist Benjamin Dominguez. Atlantis was largely constructed with donations, with much of the money coming from a fundraising drive by the Garden Grove Junior Women’s Civic Club.
Above: Everest Wetherington, 4, of Orange checks out the splash pad at Atlantis Play Center in Garden Grove. Left: Mason Burleson, 3, of La Habra plays in a giant sailboat at the park. ABOVE: KEVIN LARA, THE REGISTER; LEFT: CHAS METIVIER, FOR THE REGISTER
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We come here just to hang out. I like the park because it has cool slides.” CARLOS VENTURA, 1 1 , O F S A N TA A N A
Atlantis Play Center Opened July 4, 1 963 Original entry cost: 1 0 cents ● Entry fee now: $2; free to those younger than 3 ● Rose garden planted in memory of longtime city employee Al Carrisoza ● ●
Above: The King Neptune sculpture has called the park home since 1 968. DOUGLAS MORINO, THE REGISTER
Sandy Sea Serpent adds to the whimsical charm of Atlantis Play Center. DOUGLAS MORINO, THE REGISTER
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