Playground, Small Gym Set to Reopen at Palisades Recreation Center

A Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony is Planned for July 31

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks will host an event on Thursday, July 31, beginning at 11 a.m. to cut the ribbon on a new playground and restart programming int the Small Gym at Palisades Recreation Center.

“Join us for a fun-filled community celebration as we cut the ribbon on the brand-new playground, learn about exciting park improvements underway and current programs at Palisades [Recreation Center],” read a flyer about the event.

Palisades Recreation Center will resume programming in the Small Gym beginning August 4, Senior Facility Director Jasmine Dowlatshahi said during a July 24 Pacific Palisades Recreation Center Park Advisory Board meeting. This programming will include coffee and community gatherings on Thursdays, pickleball, tai chi, and ballet camp.

Some programming is slated to continue at Palisades Recreation Center until December, with groundbreaking currently planned for January 2026 on rebuilding the property—an effort led by Steadfast LA and LA Strong Sports. Other programming, including basketball, will continue to take place at alternate locations, like Oakwood Recreation Center.

Other park amenities, including bocce and Field of Dreams, have received or are in the process of receiving rights of entry, at the time of the PAB meeting, so contractors can begin repair work at the facilities.

When reconstruction work begins on Palisades Recreation Center, Councilmember Traci Park said, a temporary facility for programming will be set up near the temporary library space, which is on track to open in fall, according to Pacific Palisades Library Association.

The July 31 event will include a ribbon-cutting for the recently completed new playground, which was funded by Los Angeles Parks Foundation, through “monetary and in-kind contributions” from FireAid, GameTime and Banc of California. It was approved unanimously by the city of Los Angeles Board of Recreation and Park Commissioners during a meeting on March 20.

During the PAB meeting, Park acknowledged her office had received concerns and requests regarding the playground and potential modifications. She said her office will work with Rec and Parks and the city to address them.

Palisades Recreation Center is located at 851 Alma Real Drive. Signups for programming in the Small Gym can be completed at laparks.org/palisades.

A full story about the park reopening is planned for the August 14 print edition.