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