Bocce Leagues Back at Veterans Gardens

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

For the first time since the Palisades fire, members of the Palisades Bocce Club returned to their home courts to play some ball, engage in conversation, enjoy each other’s company and celebrate a victory for their town.

Exactly eight months to the day of the start of the fire that dealt significant damage to Palisades Recreation Center (where Veterans Gardens is located) and the Huntington neighborhood surrounding it, the facility reopened Sunday evening, September 7, with a 16-team bocce wildcard round robin tournament.

The event, hosted by longtime Palisadian and Palisades Bocce Club Founder Jimmy Dunne, featured music, food and drinks, and everyone singing “The Palisades Song” (written by Dunne), the chorus of which says: “Once in awhile I remember… How beautiful life is around me, With family and friends that surround me, The mountains and the big blue sea, Lucky, lucky, lucky me.”

Dunne likened the community to the Whos of Whoville in the famous children’s book “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Dr. Seuss.

“It didn’t matter that they lost their gifts, they joined hands and sang together,” Dunne said. “Let’s do the same … We’re the best town in America.”

Dunne gave a shout-out to Bill McGregor for the hours he spent rebuilding the facility. He then shared why, to him, the Palisades is the best town in America.

“On January 7 many people in the bocce league [at 10:30 a.m.] saw flames just starting to rise in the Highlands and couldn’t have imagined how our lives would change,” he recalled. “We had 18 teams playing at Douglas Park [in Santa Monica], and I’d tell everyone, if you want to come to the Palisades, go to Wilshire and 27th Street every Thursday because that’s where it is.”

Dunne introduced Ted McGinley, co-honorary mayor of Pacific Palisades along with his wife and fellow actor, Gigi Rice. They were sworn in onstage at Paul Revere Charter Middle School’s athletic field on the Fourth of July.

“I’ve known Jimmy for many years, my wife and I have lived here 31 years, and we understand what it is, was and will be,” McGinley said. “It’s Caruso Village, schools, churches, businesses … but it is the people who make the Palisades what it is.”

Real estate developer Rick Caruso, whose company owns and manages Palisades Village, took the microphone after embracing Dunne.   

“A lot was destroyed but not Jimmy Dunne’s love for the Palisades,” Caruso said. “I feel bad I didn’t write a song. I’m in town a couple times a week. The Palisades will set the tone for all of Los Angeles.”

Fall league play returns to Veterans Gardens on Tuesday mornings at 10 and 11:15 a.m. (Dolphin League) and Thursday afternoons at 5 and 6:15 p.m. (Sunset League). The season will last seven weeks plus two additional weeks for playoffs and finals.

“The park is full of people and the bocce is opening up,” Caruso added. “When I came around the corner and pulled in, I’m so used to seeing nobody and to have it packed is the most amazing feeling. I got emotional. I’m telling you Palisades is on its way back. This is a really good day and there’ll be a lot more good days ahead of us.”

Dunne then introduced Councilmember Traci Park, who expressed appreciation for being the inaugural recipient of the “Phoenix of the Palisades” award, to be given perennially to a community member willing to step up and make a difference in the lives of others.

“I read your newsletters and you’ve written of our grief but are also an anchor of hope,” Park told Dunne. “Opening this today is symbolic of a bigger movement. I 100% agree with Rick [Caruso]—we’re going to show LA what it takes to get it done.”

Participating in Sunday’s tournament were Bocce Aces, Friends & Neighbors, Lucky Dogs, Marina Mavericks, Martinis, Patriots, Rolling Stones and Sweet Peaz from the Dolphin League, and Bocce Ballers, Bocce Noi, Chai Rollers, Chico’s Bail Bonds, Deboccery, Fiske Street, Lucky Strikes and Pompei from the Sunset League.