THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PREMIER OPEN SPACE

Ascot Hills Park Phase II Groundbreaking Ceremony

Los Angeles - Wildflowers, sparrows and a circling hawk joined the Department of Recreation and Parks, Councilmember Jose Huizar, City Engineer Gary Lee Moore and community members to celebrate the start of phase-two of the Ascot Hills Park development project on Monday, June 14, 2010. The historic celebration included a Blessing of the Grounds and Mariachi performance.

Ascot Hills Park has been a difficult but worthy fight. Development plans for the 92-acre parkland were put on hold in December 2008 due to the State funding freeze of Proposition 40. With the funds now available, the Department of Recreation and Parks and the Bureau of Engineering are determined to complete the project by March 2011 (the funding's deadline).

"This is not only a ground breaking but a break through. The Department of Recreation and Parks has decided to step in and do the construction themselves. They have made this park their number one priority," said Councilmember Huizar. "This action allows us to start work immediately."

General Manager Jon Mukri said the Department of Recreation and Parks would make Ascot Hills Park "the premier open space in the Los Angeles Park system" and thanked the Department's Planning and Construction Superintendent Mike Shull for pushing the project through. "Mike figured out a way to make this happen, [he] made this happen. He got contractor's together and he came to me and said 'Jon we gotta get this going, we owe it to the community'."

The $3.3 million project will include the development of the eastern portion of the park, approximately 53-acres of the 92-acre parkland. Improvements will include nature hiking trails, an outdoor amphitheater classroom, ADA paths, full stream restoration, picnic areas, irrigation and additional parking.

When complete, Ascot Hills will be one of the largest parks in the City. The parkland features a 360-view of downtown L.A., the San Gabriel Valley and surrounding mountains will provide local residents and visitors with a beautiful natural parkland in the middle of the City of Angels.

Ascot Hills is located at 4731 Multnomah Street in Los Angeles 90032. For more information on this location or the Department of Recreation and Parks call (213) 202-2700 or visit our website at http://www.laparks.org/.

MEDIA CONTACTS: Andrea Epstein: (213) 202-2690 Amy A. Garcia: (213) 202-2689

THE REVITALIZATION OF A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK

Dedication of outdoor improvements at De Longpre Park

Los Angeles - The Department of Recreation and Parks with Councilmember Tom LaBonge (Fourth District) and City Engineer Gary Lee Moore celebrated the completion of momentous improvements at De Longpre Park in Hollywood on Thursday, June 10 , 2010.

The $326,000 project included new playground equipment, fencing to enclose the children's play area and lighting, as well as landscaping, replacement of perimeter fencing and improvements to the asphalt walkway. The improvements were designed to highlight the natural beauty of the park while creating a secure area for children and walkers.

The Architectural Division of the Bureau of Engineering in the Department of Public Works designed the improvements, which were built by the Citywide Construction Division from the Department of General Services. Project funding was provided by Proposition K and developer fees.

De Longpre Park is located at 1350 North Cherokee Avenue in Los Angeles 90028. For more information on this location or the Department of Recreation and Parks visit our website at http://www.laparks.org/ or call (213) 202-2700.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Andrea Epstein: (213) 202-2690

Amy A. Garcia: (213) 202-2689

AN EXTRAORDINARY PLACE TO LEARN

Dedication of the White Point Nature Education Center

Palos Verdes - The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks and the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy (PVPLC) proudly dedicated the White Point Nature Education Center on Saturday, May 22, 2010. The Center will serve as a resource for students, families and community groups from all over Los Angeles.

The new Education Center is located in the beautifully restored 102-acre White Point Nature Preserve. The Preserve features acres of coastal habitat on a scenic site overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island. The Preserve is owned by the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks and managed by the PVPLC.

White Point Nature Education Center is housed in a re-purposed former military structure surrounded by a native plant demonstration garden. Inside the Center, multi-media exhibits move visitors through a timeline sequentially arranged exhibits and displays that tell the story of White Point's cultural and natural history, spanning the Pleistocene age through the present.

Materials in the Education Center's interior are built out of sustainable products including 100% recycled curbside glass, low carbon concrete counters and natural bamboo cabinets built by certified green building specialist, Tom Reavey.

A special thanks to all of our sponsors and donors who made this project possible. The Alcoa Foundation's generous donation funded the exhibits, Major Family who helped with the demonstration garden, Robert Reid a noted muralist from the Natural History Museum created the mural that accurately depicts White Point during the last ice age, El-Hefni Technical Training Foundation and Pirate Brands.

The Education Center will be open to the public from 10 am to 4 pm on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. For more information on White Point Nature Education Center call the PVPLC at (310) 541-7613.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Andrea Epstein: (213) 202-2690

Amy A. Garcia: (213) 202-2689