Rec and Parks Board of Commissioners Approves Palisades Playground Project

The Playground Was Also Discussed at a Park Advisory Board Meeting

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

The city of Los Angeles Board of Recreation and Park Commissioners voted unanimously during its Thursday, March 20, meeting to approve a gift of new outdoor playground equipment for Palisades Recreation Center.

The updated space will include both a “preschool playground” and a “universally accessible playground,” which will be “installed adjacent to one another in the same area where the existing … playground has been located for the past 35 years.”

“The two new playgrounds will feature a variety of amenities, including play structures made to look like fire trucks, police motorcycle spring riders, accessible swings, shade structures and accessible seating areas, all installed on top of rubber flooring,” Melissa Bettis of Rec and Parks’ partnership section said during the March 20 meeting.

There will also be a sandpit, which was a feature requested by community members during previous PAB board meetings, as well as sensory panels along ramp structures, merry-go-rounds and slide transfers.

“The final scope of work and cost estimates are not yet complete, pending further coordination with RAP,” Bettis continued. “With the board’s approval today, the project will be authorized to move forward, subject to appropriate permits being in place where applicable.”

Funding for the playground—which is aimed to be opened by July 1 to coincide with the community’s Fourth of July celebration—will come from Los Angeles Parks Foundation, through “monetary and in-kind contributions” from FireAid ($1 million), GameTime ($300,000 in-kind for the playground equipment) and Banc of California ($30,000). The project scope also includes a 60-inch by 24-inch donor recognition sign.

“The FireAid donation is part of the FireAid Symbols of Hope Initiative, which was created to provide visible restoration in the communities impacted by the Eaton and Palisades fires,” read the board report. “Funds for this grant were raised through general donations in support of those impacted by the recent Los Angeles area fires, which were received by FireAid from various donors throughout the City of Los Angeles, the United States and world, which were combined with ticket sales from the FireAid benefit concert held on January 30.”

Annenberg Foundation, described as a “longstanding supporter” of Rec and Parks through LAPF, was noted to have “played an integral role in the organization of the concert and management of the funds generated.”

The playground was discussed earlier in the week during a Pacific Palisades Recreation Center Park Advisory Board meeting, which took place virtually on Tuesday, March 18.

“This is a modern, highly interactive design that should be the pride of Los Angeles when it’s done,” LAPF Executive Director Tony Budrovich said during the PAB meeting, before Nate Younker of GameTime presented four options for the playground design.

Following Younker’s presentation, Park Director Jasmine Dowlatshahi, board members and Chief Recovery Officer Steve Soboroff provided input to get to a “theme,” as well as to reflect colors associated with Palisades Charter High School and the Palisades flag, which were closest represented by “true blue” and “cream” canopies offered by GameTime.

“This is terrific,” PAB President Andy Starrels said. “Thank you [GameTime] and thank you to the Parks Foundation group. It’s very exciting.”

The design of the new playground incorporated feedback from community and board members that was collected at previous PAB meetings, dating back several years.

PAB voted unanimously to support the playground ahead of when it was heard at the March 20 Rec and Parks’ board of commissioners meeting.

“Thank you to RAP and LA Parks Foundation,” PAB Member Maryam Zar wrote in the meeting chat. “This has been years of discussion, community feedback and ideas floated around the playground, and we are grateful it has all culminated in beautiful plans.”