The Palisades Recreation Center off Alma Real is feeling its age. Built in 1950, the antiquated gymnasium that contains the park office, kitchen and toddler programs is often in need of repair, and the space between the “new gym” (built in 1998) and the “old gym” is unused. Parking is often not available to park patrons and some areas of the park go largely unused—especially the land west of the playground.
After two years of work, the Pacific Palisades Park Advisory Board (PAB) Master Plan Committee, with help from Palisadian Eric Owen Moss, an internationally renowned architect and his colleague Eric McNevin, have developed a plan that addresses the needs of the community with imaginative yet practical use of space, but is still aesthetically pleasing.
Palisadians are invited to look at the proposed suggestions, which include a new community building that would house a senior center, a teen center, a new kitchen, an LAPD secure site, a preschool, dance studio, a tennis pro shop and director’s office, classrooms, storage facilities and an administrative office.
Additional proposed improvements include a universally accessible playground with awnings, a handball backboard, a sand volleyball court and a paddle tennis court. Security cameras and lighting would be installed.
The plan also proposes moving the current maintenance yard to either Potrero Canyon or Temescal Canyon—and adding 64 new parking spaces.
To view the report, visit: laparks.org/dos/recenter/palisadesrc.html. A hard copy of the report will be available in the park’s office at 851 Alma Real Drive or at the Palisadian-Post office at 881 Alma Real Drive, Suite 213.
The committee emphasizes that this report is a “work-in-process,” and asks residents to provide feedback and ask questions by e-mailing pppremap2013@gmail.com.
The proposed master plan will be formally presented at the Park Advisory Board’s quarterly evening meeting on October 23.
Following that meeting and with any additional community input, the “work-in-progress” will be converted into a final master plan and submitted to the Department of Recreation and Parks for approval. Once approved, funding will come from Proposition K funds, naming rights, grants and donations.
The process to upgrade the park started two years ago when the Park Advisory Board held three community meetings to ask locals what improvements they would like to see at the site. The meetings were announced in the Post and results published. Those who couldn’t attend meetings were invited to e-mail suggestions, and those who attended were queried about specific improvements and suggestions.
Residents listed 39 items in six categories: facilities, playground, field, gym, recreation yard, art/craft/game and general recreation center improvements. The seven-member PAB ranked each item from one (lowest priority) to a five (highest priority).
Topping the list of “wants” was a master plan that would consider the current use of space at the park, and also investigate if there was room for green technology, such as installing solar energy.
The PAB’s master plan committee then put out a plea for a professional to guide them about best-use practices. Moss responded and has donated his time to the project.
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