JANET PELAYO of Garden Grove’s Community Services Department speaks about the potential for programming at the new Civic Center Park at Tuesday’s open house at the Courtyard Center in Garden Grove (Orange County Tribune photo).

By Jim Tortolano/Orange County Tribune

Plans for the Civic Center Revitalization Project for Garden Grove came into sharper focus at Tuesday’s open house in the Courtyard Center on Main Street.

City officials were on hand to brief members of the public on the $152 million development – now under construction – that will bring a new three-story police building at Euclid Street and Acacia Parkway, an adjacent parking structure and a new park.

“I think input is always welcome,” said Community Services Director John Montanchez, referring to the planned park. Construction of the police facility has removed the streams and pools in the former park and displaced animals who made that their habitat. Many citizens and even three members of the city council have advocated for a water element, and that’s under consideration. “The big issue is the budget.”

Also on hand was Hongjoo Kim, designer for both the park and all the landscaping that will tie the project together.

Residents talking with Kim asked about the possibility of adding a water element – fountain, waterfall or even a splash pad – and without committing to the type or making a promise, he said “There’s an 85 to 90 percent possibility” that the money for such feature would be available.

Somewhat more certain for the park is the addition of a permanent stage. The idea is to “activate the park” with various functions including concerts, festivals and other attractions that would take the space beyond just passive use.

Such a stage would circle back historically to a bandshell in the former Euclid Park (now Village Green) constructed by the WPA (Works Progress Administration) during the Great Depression and torn down in the late 1970s.