Saturday, May 17, the first Altadena park is reopening since the Eaton fire devastated the town in January.

Loma Alta Park, at 3330 N. Lincoln Ave., suffered damage to its playground equipment, plants, trees, a maintenance shed and the Altadena Community Garden. No park buildings burned in the fire, according to Los Angeles County.

Altadena Town Councilmember Dorothy Wong said the reopening of the park is a significant step on the town’s long road of recovery.

Wong said Altadena’s parks are some of the few community gathering places available to residents.

“I think coming together is what we really need,” Wong said.

The opening comes after the county released the final findings of a soil sampling study, which in the Eaton fire area showed elevated lead levels on standing parcels downwind of the fire and on parcels where Phase-2 debris removal has been completed and soil removed.

The Department of Parks and Recreation said in a statement that extensive parkwide representative soil testing indicated “no discernable Eaton fire impacts on pre-existing soil conditions at the park.”

Park grounds were vacuum cleaned of ash by a certified contractor, officials said.

Wong acknowledged the continued concerns about air and soil quality in Altadena and that the reopening may seem to some like it’s happening earlier than needed.

“If there was really a situation that was going to harm the community, I don’t think they would do what they’re doing,” Wong said.

Saturday’s event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a brief program at 10 a.m. The day will include a ribbon cutting for two new playgrounds, the unveiling of two Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation baseball Dreamfields at noon and an Altadena community picnic.

The day will begin with children’s activities, including Bob Baker’s Marionettes, as well Mickey and Minnie Mouse on hand at 10:30 a.m. for the grand opening of the playground. A open house walking tour will follow from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m.

The community picnic will run from 2:30 to 5 p.m. with a taste of Altadena featuring Prime Pizza, El Patron, Perry’s Joint, Fair Oaks Burgers and Lark Cake Shop. Attendees can also enjoy live music from Ledbetter Blues and DJ Blac House.

In March, Supervisor Kathryn Barger announced the park would reopen in May and said as part of proceeds from the FireAid benefit concert, the park was awarded a $2.4 million grant to rebuild the playground.

In addition, the renovated park will now be home to a community gathering area called Alta CHAT featuring Bevel Coffee, a refurbished gym for the Los Angeles Clippers court, a computer and tech room, a senior center satellite, Altadena Library satellite and more.

“We need these opportunities to come together and celebrate what we’ve accomplished so far and at the same time nothing is better than seeing your neighbors face-to-face and having that conversation,” Wong said.