Imperial Beach to get splash pad at Portwood Pier Plaza in partnership with Port of San Diego

Imperial Beach to get splash pad at Portwood Pier Plaza in partnership with Port of San Diego

For Diné Navajo artist Nicole Marie Pete, a splash pad at Portwood Pier Plaza in Imperial Beach might seem like an unlikely canvas. But she sees something deeper in the sound of children at play. “In my culture, we hold a beautiful tradition known as the first laugh ceremony,” Pete told a crowd gathered Wednesday morning beneath the colorful so-called Surfhenge sign. “Their first laugh is a sign that they’re choosing to join us fully — choosing …