Read the blog posted in the Huffington Post by Candy Spelling, a founding member of the Los Angeles Parks Foundation. Her call for supporting LA parks is heartfelt and well stated. To read her words of wisdom click here.
The Trust for Public Land received a grant from Kaiser Permanente to add "Fitness Zones" to LA Parks. Click here to read the article.
Steve Lopez of the LA Times wrote a very poingnant piece on Sunday, February 21. With LA City currently working through the budget crisis, it is important to be reminded what the community sees as necessities and the damage that can be done if the necessities are not met. Many would argue our Parks and Recreation Centers are a key element to our neighborhoods safety, productivity and future. Please read "Parks department should look before it cuts" by Steve Lopez by clicking here for more.
The Los Angeles Parks Foundation partners with a number of leading organizations in protecting the Hollywood sign. The Foundation applauds the work of TPL, who is currently working to raise funds to purchase Cahuenga Peak, where the sign resides. TPL plans to transfer the Cahuenga Peak site to the adjoining 4,200-acre Griffith Park, the nation's fourth most visited park, thus permanently protecting the view of the Hollywood Sign and a remarkably intact ecosystem of native chaparral plants and animals. It is hoped by April 14th, with the generous donation from Tiffany & CO, that the funds required for the purchase will be raised. For more on this story please follow this link.
Rick Orlov of Daily News Los Angeles writes:
"Weighing Los Angeles' financial problems against its future needs for more parks, two city panels overruled their top advisor and recommended Wednesday seeking state grants that could require 60 million in local matching funds" View Full Story
Los Angeles City's budget is on the chopping block. With the current economic crisis, all of the City's Departments are at risk of loosing jobs and money for operation. The Mayor wants to hear from you.
Please follow the link below and vote to keep funds, not cut funds for the Recreation and Parks Department.
http://labudgetchallenge.lacity.org/budgetchallenge/sim/budget_master.html
Candy Spelling was honored for her time as a Recreation and Parks Department Commissioner on December 15th, at Holmby Park. She was presented with a plaque from the City by Barry Sanders, President of the LA RAP Commission and General Manager of the RAP, Jon Mukri.
The Los Angeles Parks Foundation placed a permanent plaque honoring Mrs. Spelling on a bench in Holmby Park overlooking the Spelling Manor. Many friends and colleagues were in attendance to show their support and respect for Mrs. Spelling's many years on the Commission.
Mrs. Spelling is a founding member of the Los Angeles Parks Foundation, as well as a great supporter of LA Parks.
The Griffith Park Natural History Survey (GPNHS) was founded in 2007 to do scientific studies of Griffith Park flora and fauna. The mission of the GPNHS is to fund studies and disseminate information to help sustain the unique ecology of Griffith Park. To learn more about the Griffith Park Wildlife Management Plan, please click here.
Thanks to those who participated in our last event at El Sereno Park. To host an electronic recycling event at your park please contact the Los Angeles Parks Foundation at (310) 472-1990 or info@laparksfoundation.org.
Please visit the City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department's Web site to search for special city park and recreation events near you!
Pedlow Skate Park
The Los Angeles Parks Foundation has received a grant from the American Academy of Dermatology and AAD Association to erect a shade structure at Pedlow Skate Park. The Foundation was one of only 4 recipients in the state of California to be awarded this grant. Pedlow Skate Park is visited by many throughout the year and being in the heart of the Valley is in much need of some shelter from the sun.
Hoover Park
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Thanks to a generous donation from the Werner Family Foundation, the Los Angeles Parks Foundation, in conjunction with the USC Graduate Landscape Architecture program, is working on re-designing and improving Hoover Park in Downtown Los Angeles. The re-design will provide shade structures for the playground and picnic areas in an otherwise sun-exposed park. The Los Angeles Parks Foundation is hoping to improve the field landscaping and park layout to increase the available green space for park users to enjoy as well.
Mar Vista Park
Through the Los Angeles Parks Foundation's "Adopt-A-Park" program, Winward School adopted Mar Vista Park on Thursday, March 5, 2009. There was a small ceremony and unveiling of the "Adopt-A-Park" sign (pictured above). With Windward's generous donation, much needed repairs have begun on the kitchen within the Recreation Center.
Plug Into Your Parks
The Los Angeles Parks Foundation, in conjunction with the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, e-Recycling of California and City National Bank, hosted a one-day electronic recycling event on Friday, February 20, 2009 at Mar Vista, Stoner and North Hollywood Recreation Centers. The “Plug Into Your Park” event was a way for the community to dispose of their old televisions and other electronic devices at their local parks in an environmentally friendly manner. The event generated a collection of over 12,000 pounds of electronic waste!
The Los Angeles Parks Foundation worked with science classes and “Green” programs of neighboring elementary and high schools to promote the event and encourage Angelenos to dispose of their old electronics. Current local, state and federal law prohibits the disposal of electronics through the normal municipal waste system. Lead found in electronics is the key reason to keep electronics out of landfills. By partnering with e-Recycling of California and corporate sponsor, City National Bank, the Los Angeles Parks Foundation is able to reduce Los Angeles’ generation of electronic waste through safe procurement practices not readily available to most communities.
Westwood Recreation Center
Los Angeles Parks Foundation made a donation to the Westwood Recreation Center for the much needed repairs to their building, swimming pool and infrastructure.
Pershing Square
The Pershing Square Downtown Ice Rink opens each year from November to January. The opening ceremonies and ribbon cutting event that launches each ice skating season features political leaders, business and civic leaders, hundreds of excited kids and even some expert figure skating performances. In years past, the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks and the Los Angeles Kings have created a weekend "Winter Festival" that includes entertainment, celeberties, hockey clinics for kids and special performances on ice. In addition, there are afternoon and evening concerts for downtowners of all ages who want to enjoy the winter festivities.
Mounted Patrol
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After a long absence, the Mounted Patrol unit returned to Los Angeles’ beloved Griffith Park in the fall of 2008. With a generous donation from Priscilla Tamkin, the Los Angeles Parks Foundation was able to restore this historic program with the purchase of two new horses, new equipment and a horse trainer to work with the rangers and their mounts.
The horses were officially sworn in as Rangers on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 in a ceremony at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center.
Bark for the Cure
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Los Angeles area dogs and dog guardians came together for the first annual Freshpet® Bark for the Cure™, a five kilometer fun run and walk that took place Saturday, October 4, 2008 in Griffith Park (adjacent to the Equestrian Trail). The event raised money and awareness for canine cancer research. All proceeds benefited the Freshpet® Foundation, a charity whose mission is to improve the understanding of nutrition’s role in the prevention and treatment of disease in dogs, including cancer. Freshpet® also made a generous donation to the Los Angeles Parks Foundation for each person who participated in the event.
“We appreciate Freshpet’s corporate model to support our new private/public fund-raising program for our parks,” said Candy Spelling, a Commissioner of the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks. “We hope their example will encourage other companies and individuals to help us by donating and showcasing our parks.”
109th Street Pool
The 109th Street pool had to turn many children away in the heat of the 2008 summer because of inappropriate swimming attire. The Los Angeles Parks Foundation purchased bathing suits for children who wanted to use the pool at 109th Street Recreation Center, but were unable to afford bathing suits. LAPF was happy to donate to the park so that children could enjoy the outdoors and take a cool dip on a hot summer’s day.