The master plan for Viña Vieja Park was approved in concept by the City Council on August 9, 1999. The master plan includes amenities such as landscaping, walking paths, parking lots, a playground, picnic facilities, a restroom, and a large off leash dog area. The 7.5 acre park site is located on the east side of Pasadena, southside of Orange Grove Boulevard between Sierra Madre Boulevard and Sierra Madre Villa. This park site is currently undeveloped.
On June 28, 2004 the City Council approved a revision to the master plan. The revised master plan will significantly improve the quality of the park and increase the safety of park users. The park width will be increased, the use of turf will be expanded, and the parking lot placement will allow vehicle access to the south end of the park. All of these modifications will greatly increase visibility into and out of the park. The revised master plan will contain the same set of amenities that was proposed in the original master plan. The size of the park will also remain the same as the original master plan.
A local group, Pasadenans Organizing Off-Leash Canine Habitats (POOCH), has raised almost $17,000 for the construction of the off-leash area, and the group has obtained a $30,000 commitment for additional donations, including a large donation from the family of Alice Frost Kennedy, a former Recreation and Parks Commissioner and community leader. In recognition of this donation, the City has named the off leash area in her honor.
As the plans for the development of the park were being finalized, several members of the neighborhood surrounding the park expressed concern that the park's designated name, "Eaton Wash Park", was somewhat confusing. There are two other parks in Pasadena with "Eaton" in their names: Eaton Sunnyslope Park and Eaton Blanche Park. In addition, there is another "Eaton" park in the area, Eaton Canyon Park located in nearby Altadena. These neighbors also expressed interest in a name for the park that had historical significance in relation to the area surrounding the park. Some neighbors remembered that the area where the park is now located was once referred to as "La Viña Vieja" or "the old vineyard", because it was indeed used as a vineyard at one time. The memories of the vineyard in this area and of the children playing in the open fields known as "La Viña", were the basis for the proposal to rename the park. On November 7, 2005, the renaming of the park was approved by the City Council.
