San Gabriel, California - Monster Park

Built in 1965, Laguna de San Gabriel Playground has delighted children throughout the years with its colorful over-sized cement sea creatures that act as slides, climbing structures and fodder for imaginative play. Kids have dubbed the place "Monster Park" and "Dinosaur Park" because here they can slide down a giant concrete dragon, climb over an eight-foot-tall octopus, and cavort with cement dolphins in the sand. [Brenda Rees, 01/22/2008]

Tucked in the back of Vincent Lugo Park in San Gabriel is a little gem: a park that the locals call "Monster Park" and "Dragon Park." Built in the 1960s by a Mexican immigrant named Benjamin Dominguez, Monster Park features giant concrete sea creatures [including serpents, a whale, an octopus], most of them incorporating slides. [Don Solosan, 12/12/2007]

[RA: Also known as Dinosaur Park, the property was threatened with demolition by the city in 2006. Friends of La Laguna formed as a non profit to restore and preserve the deteriorating sculptures. The effort continues. Sign the "Save Monster Park" petition here: http://monsterpark.eloyzarate.com/]