Park Advisory Board Meets to Discuss Improvements

By MAGNOLIA LAFLEUR | Reporter

The Pacific Palisades Recreation Center Park Advisory Board hosted a special meeting on June 1 via Zoom where members of the board discussed funding for projects in need of prioritization.

Board Chairman Mike Skinner led the meeting, discussing progress as well as upcoming projects he would like to see accomplished at Palisades Recreation Center through the help of the community.

“The park is an important part of the fabric of our community,” Skinner shared with the Palisadian-Post, “and we need help in efforts to raise funds to make it the best place in town for Palisadians of all ages to use and enjoy.”

The first item on the agenda discussed was $2,838.23 from the Kurt Toppel Fund, which was approved to be used for a volleyball net and equipment. The amount was donated on behalf of late community member Kurt Topple Sr. by his wife Haldis and his son Curt, who played volleyball at Stanford and later as a professional athlete.

Over the course of the meeting, the park staff and board agreed and approved funds for additional projects, including adding a pickleball area through the support of Quimby funds from CD11 and expanding the large rec gym with just over $8,000 in funds, which breaks down to $4,430.20 for a scoring table, $2,254.69 for sideline chairs and $3,500 for installation of a scoreboard. Funds for the large gym have already been raised, according to PP-PAB, and the gym is in the process of receiving these additional changes.

“We are looking for help in our fundraising efforts for several high-priority and expensive improvements to the park,” Skinner explained. “There is a 501(c)(3) entity, Palisades Community Center Committee, that is available to raise funds to support those items that the PAB has identified as worthwhile. Historically, the organization has funded the large gym, the Field of Dreams, and the Stairway to Dreams and maintenance of the Field of Dreams for the last 20 years.”

Sonya Young-Jimenez, a superintendent of the Recreation and Parks department who oversees facilities in West Los Angeles and Venice Beach, shared her love for the community park and desire to expand activities for families.

“I see a lot of potential for growth at Palisades,” Young-Jimenez told the Post. “We have a director and coordinator who are eager and enthusiastic about creating new programs, sports and classes for Palisades. I am also excited to see projects that will go forward soon, and hopefully we can assist with some new park improvements in the future.”

She shared that she wanted the community to know the rec center has “a fresh, new and enthusiastic management team who is excited to start serving the community, and is open to new ideas and programs.”

The Park Advisory Board is dealing current limitations for funding for additional improvements to the park, such as replacing non-ADA-compliant bathrooms in the small gym, an ADA-compliant playground, resourcing of the parking lot near the Alma Real entrance as well as new lights on the tennis courts. The board is currently searching for a grant writer who will assist in writing letters to retrieve the $1.25 million-plus in costs that all the improvements will require.

“The park has been—and continues to be—the heart and soul of Pacific Palisades,” Skinner shared with the Post. “For well over 50 years, countless kids, parents and grandparents have used and enjoyed the park’s many opportunities to spend time there. Sports, picnicking, parties, walking and just sitting in open areas are just a small sample of what the park has to offer.

“The Park Advisory Board has the sole function of seeing those opportunities continue and expand as the needs of the community change.”

For more information on how to volunteer or donate, contact Palisades Community Center Committee Chairman Skinner at 310-478-5041.