The LA fires left a beloved school in ashes. Now, parents are rallying to restart their ‘community’

Altadena's Village Playgarden education center served diverse families with outdoor classrooms, small farm and animals - till it was destroyed by flames

In Altadena, it had become the hot ticket among the preschool set.

But when Geoff and Kikanza Ramsey-Ray first bought the two-acre property at the edge of town in 2008, it was a shambles. The home was a rental for over 30 years and the grounds were woefully neglected. Yet the couple saw promise. Nestled against Angeles Crest national forest, with a mountain view and on a road with few other homes, the place felt protected and perfect for their vision: an early education center called Village Playgarden.