By Brian CHERNICK

The future of Glendale’s Central Park cleared one of its first hurdles Tuesday night after Glendale City Council voted to approve the massive redesign of the park that is set to include the three-story Armenian American Museum.

Council was presented with three design options that reimagined the layout of Central Park’s green space with the incorporation of the new museum, opting for the “Grand Step” design concept that positioned an event stage that will face west toward the Americana and provides the greatest amount of uninterrupted open space between the proposed museum and Central Library.

Councilmember Paula Devine expressed her excitement for the new park and the museum but requested that certain aspects of the design – including walkways and steps – be reconsidered in order to maximize the open green space around the museum.

Devine’s concerns also involved accessibility throughout the park, focusing on a load-bearing wall that will separate the museum from the Adult Recreational Center (ARC). These concerns led her to vote in favor of the “Grand Step” design but against the implementation of the east-side wall separating the museum from the ARC.

“I think this is a beautiful design, but I really did like the scheme where there was a passageway so that everything was connected,” Devine said. “It feels like this is segregating not integrating, and I just think that this whole block is supposed to be a community-oriented place where everybody can get to everywhere.”

Council also approved the establishment of a senior needs advisory committee after the Community Services and Parks presented a report that emphasized the community’s needs in housing, communication and emergency preparedness. The 13-member committee, which will include city staff, members of social and civic organizations, hospital representatives and a Glendale senior, plans to hold four meetings a year at the Adult Recreational Center to discuss ways to address these concerns. All meetings will be open to the public.

Nearly a quarter of Glendale’s population is over the age of 60 and has been without a proper representing committee since early 2015 after it had become inactive. The assessment of the feasibility and necessity of reestablishing the committee grew out of a request by Councilmember Devine last year when she requested information regarding public transportation.

The establishment of the committee also provides the city the opportunity to become a member of the AARP’s Age-Friendly Network of Cities, which in turn will provide the members of the community more information and direction on how to best address their concerns.

  Brian CHERNICK