January 2025

Villagers Welcome New Members at the Tournament Park Picnic

By Margarite Olmos
Posted: 08/15/2024

Leave it to the Pasadena Village staff to find hidden treasures—both places and people. Many of us were unaware of the existence of Tournament Park. In fact, according to Dan Guerrero, “I live on Glen Oaks on the West side of the Rose Bowl, but each Monday I walk with Ron Scott starting on Wilson and passing Tournament Park. I had not noticed the park until the picnic location was announced.” Tournament Park is clearly a hidden gem in plain sight. Were it not for the Pasadena Village balloons and sandwich board in front, many of us might have missed it!

A plaque inside the park informs us that Tournament Park is a historic site: It was the official terminus of the first transcontinental airplane flight in which Calbraith (Cal) Perry Rodgers took off from Sheepshead Bay, New York on September 17, 1911, landing here on November 5, 1911. 

Upon entering the park, we were welcomed with name tags, distinguishing new members by a bumble bee sticker next our names, and a canopy of trees that kept the tables and benches cool for participants. I asked Sue Kujawa about the history of the picnics and she mentioned that they had begun a few years before the pandemic, during which the picnics were suspended. This year’s picnic initiated the picnics again after the hiatus but with a focus on welcoming new members, something I appreciate as a new member myself. Indeed, members approached me with a welcoming “hello and how long have you been a member?” Villagers introduced themselves to each other in a friendly and generous manner, asking where we were from and what our interests are. Some ideas for starting new interest groups were explored and I was happy to note that several members shared my life experiences as we navigate this chapter of our lives aided by such organizations as Pasadena Village.

The trees provided shade and the volunteers, yummy food: delicious salads from Al Miller, Shizzie Akasaki, Peggy Henderson, Marsha Dawe, Sandy McConnell; fresh fruit and baked sweets from Betsy Blue, Bruce Christensen, Valerie Jones, Sue Kemp, Sue Kujawa, Nancy Goodell, Denise Aronow, Suzi Hoge, Catherine Fuller; varied chips from Gail Anderson, Jeff Gutstadt, Tamanika Ivie; veggies to accompany the burgers and beverages from Jane Hufnagel, Linda Sindell, Tamanika Ivie, Jocelyn Keene, Jeannie Brown, Anne Regan-Smith; and special thanks to the grilling crew— Al Miller, Wayne April, Pat Dawe, Doug Colliflower, Gary Smith, Tom Polenzani— who braved the fiery coals to offer us the burgers and hot dogs that we eagerly consumed.

Clearly, it DOES take a Village!

And, finally, what would a good picnic be without play? Tossing water balloons on a hot day always provokes a laugh whether by participants or observers, and I clearly enjoyed the laughter and the day, as I am sure others did as well.

Click here to see photos of everyone enjoying the day.