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Armed with aerial photos, tracing paper and lots of ideas, fourth- and fifth-grade students from Windrows Elementary School created a vision of the ultimate place for fun in Rancho Cucamonga.
If they had their way with the city's 14-acre Regina Winery property, these students would build a place with things like roller coasters, batting cages, parks, lakes, and a laser tag arena.
They met Wednesday at the winery on Base Line Road to talk about the wide variety of possibilities. Their workshop followed a similar discussion held in January between city officials and adult community leaders.
The winery property has been owned by the city's Redevelopment Agency since 1993. The original intent was to use the land for affordable housing for senior citizens. Because of the recession, however, the idea was put on hold and the need was later met at a different location. The J. Filippi Winery began leasing portions of it in 1994 under a 25-year contract.
"These kids aren't constrained by thoughts of finances," said Planning Director Brad Buller who, along with members of his staff, brainstormed with the students. "They just open their mind and let the ideas flow."
Fourth-grader Brianna Wallace said her team wanted a park with trees, benches and a lake - complete with fish and ducks.
Fourth-grader Cassie Alvarez said her team wanted a movie theater, hotel, restaurants and a laser tag
arena.
"It would be a fun place for kids, but parents can have fun too while they play with their kids," 10-year-old Cassie said.
Other teams wanted a produce market, strawberry patch, BMX race track and specialty shops.
"I want to see a candy store in there," fourth-grader Nick Patronite said as his team members sketched their ideas on paper. "And I want it to give free samples of candy. I like peppermint candy."
Ten-year-old Kim Kees, who is in the fifth grade, said the best idea her group came up with was turning an old tower on the winery property into a spiral slide and creating an area where kids could stomp grapes in their bare feet.
"It would be mushy, but every kid would love it," Kim said. "It would be part of our kids center where we would serve grape juice in plastic wine glasses."
The workshop was just one of several classroom assignments the students have done on planning a city. Teacher Josh Lautenslager said he may have the students build models based on the ideas they came up with during the exercise.
Councilman Jim Curatalo, who watched the students in their planning, said he appreciated their enthusiasm.
"This is a great first step for these students who may be the future builders of our city," Curatalo said.
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