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Commentary: Look at the miracles taking place on the Westside

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To witness the spirit of Costa Mesa, check out Shalimar Park on the Westside, the site of three little miracles.

The pocket park on Shalimar Drive was created 15 years ago across from THINK Together’s first community site, the Shalimar Learning Center. The park and learning center serve as the centerpieces of a revitalized and safer Westside — two little miracles standing proudly side by side.

This used to be a street where gangs, graffiti, guns and drugs ruled until the city and community members came together to ignite a transformation that continues to this day.

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The third miracle happened earlier this month when a wonderful partnership among the city, several nonprofits and 225 volunteers resulted in the replacement of Shalimar’s aging playground equipment in a single day.

KaBOOM! and the CarMax Foundation — both nonprofits — have teamed up to build 30 playgrounds across the United States by the end of 2015. With the help of local volunteers, businesses and the city of Costa Mesa — which contributed $20,000 and a lot of people power — Shalimar Park became one of those state-of-the-art playgrounds.

The project united THINK Together, CarMax, MIKA, SOY, Girls Inc., Young Women of Vision, Newport Rib Co., Tavern Bowl, Chuck E. Cheese’s and others to get an estimated 1,300 Westside kids a step closer to the childhood they deserve.

I was amazed, but not surprised, to watch the new playground equipment be constructed in just one day by hundreds of volunteers, including many residents who put sweat equity into their children’s park by pounding nails, hauling dirt and painting the equipment.

God bless every one of those hundreds of volunteers who took valuable time out of their schedules to help Costa Mesa build a better park for the children on the Westside. And thanks to KaBOOM! for coming to Costa Mesa. Thanks to everyone for investing in our kids and families and giving them a safe and fun place to play and just hang out.

Shalimar Park reflects the heart and soul of Costa Mesa, a place where we all united for a common goal and left that small but important patch of land much better than we found it.

Let’s all be on the lookout for more opportunities to work together for the common good of Costa Mesa. And if you find a site for a pocket park, please let us know — I’m sure KaBoom! would love to come back to Costa Mesa.

WENDY LEECE is a member of the Costa Mesa City Council.

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