FROM ONTARIO TO LOS ANGELES

Dedication of Cardenas Safe Spot Skate Spot

Panorama City - The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks in partnership with Professional Skateboarder Rob Dyrdek proudly dedicated Los Angeles' fifth Safe Spot Skate Spot at the Andres & Maria Cardenas Recreation Center in Panorama City on Monday, April 18, 2011.

The newest Skate Spot is approximately 4,500-square-feet and was designed and constructed by California Skateparks. The Cardenas Skate Spot features course obstacles donated from STREET LEAGUE's (DC's Professional Skateboarding tour) 2010 Ontario, CA stop. Central to the plaza is the colored ledge over manual pad, which was slightly modified to make it more skate-able. A flat bank, grinding hand rail and perimeter ledges give the new skate plaza it's unique flow.

The opening of the Andres and Maria Cardenas Safe Spot Skate Spot illustrates both Recreation and Parks' and the Rob Dyrdek Foundation's commitment to provide safe and legal skate plazas for your youth and adults. The Andres & Maria Cardenas Safe Spot Skate Spot is located at 14740 Blythe Street in Panorama City 91402.

MEDIA CONTACT: Andrea Epstein, 213.202.2690

BLOG CONTACT: Amy A. Garcia, 818.243.6488

13 YEARS + 19 LOCATIONS = LIMITLESS PLAY

Dedication of a UAP at Van Nuys/Sherman Oaks

Sherman Oaks - It started 13 years ago in Griffith Park, the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks (RAP) in partnership with non-profit Shane's Inspiration dedicated and opened the first Universally Accessible Playground in the Western United States and the largest in the nation. And that was just the beginning......

Together Recreation and Parks and Shane's Inspiration created a powerful partnership that has revolutionized playground design and utilization. This important collaboration has brought a strong voice to many that were never given the opportunity to simply play in a park. Working together, RAP and Shane's Inspiration encouraged the City to pass a Universally Accessible Playground initiative that promised at least one UAP in every Council District. Then the needed change began to happen and the opportunities for play became limitless.

On Thursday, April 14, 2011, Recreation and Parks and Shane's Inspiration proudly dedicated the 19th Universally Accessible Playground at Van Nuys/Sherman Oaks Park. This tremendous accomplishment has made the City of Los Angeles the most playable City in the World.

The new 9,300-square-foot UAP is completely wheel-chair accessible and features two sand and water activity centers, slides, bucket swings and a cool mister. The universal play area also has resilient rubberized surfacing, shade canopies and benches. The project was funded by Proposition 40 and designed by Shane's Inspiration with help from Public Works' Bureau of Engineering.

Van Nuys/Sherman Oaks Universally Accessible Playground will bring children of all abilities together to play. The UAP's dedication also marked an important accomplishment for RAP and Shane's Inspiration. Catherine Curry-Williams, founder of Shane's Inspiration, spoke at the ribbon cutting and said, "Today I have the amazing gift of hearing and seeing our mission come to reality." Thank you Shane's Inspiration for being such an important part of the City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks' family!!

**The Van Nuys/Sherman Oaks UAP is located at 14201 Huston Street in Sherman Oaks 91423.

MEDIA CONTACT: Andrea Epstein, 213.202.2690

BLOG CONTACT: Amy A. Garcia, 818.243.6488

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ONE PHASE DOWN, ONE MORE TO GO

Dedication of Phase I of South LA Wetlands Park

South Los Angeles - The Department of Recreation and Parks, Councilwoman Jan Perry (9th District) and the Bureau of Engineering proudly celebrated the completion of Phase I of the South Los Angeles Wetlands Park Project on Thursday, March 31, 2011.

The South Los Angeles Wetlands Park project includes the development of a nine-acre parkland at the intersection of 54th and Avalon. The wetlands project will transform an old MTA bus yard into a sustainable nature park that will feature a recreation space, educational center, solar powered lighting and a storm water treatment area. When complete, the new park will provide educational opportunities and wildlife viewing. The storm water treatment area will assist in minimizing the introduction of pollutants including; bacteria, oil, grease, gasoline, suspended sediments and heavy metals, all of which are components of urban runoff that ultimately are washed into receiving waters.

Phase I of the project created a one-acre green space for activities such as cycling, photography and bird watching and includes an outdoor classroom with educational signage. Phase II will include the construction of a rail museum and community meeting place. The South Los Angeles Wetlands Park will be landscaped with native California plants and will create indigenous habitats for native wildlife including various species of birds, mammals and reptiles.

Since more than 95% of California's natural wetlands have been lost to development projects, the South Los Angeles Wetlands Park is an important restoration project that represents a renewal of nature in the South LA community. Phase II of the project is expected to be complete in December 2011.

MEDIA CONTACT: Andrea Epstein, 213.202.2690

BLOG CONTACT: Amy A. Garcia, 818.243.6488

STATE-OF-THE-ART IMPROVEMENTS

Groundbreaking at Westchester Rec Center

Los Angeles - The Department of Recreation and Parks (RAP) in partnership with the Los Angeles Parks Foundation, the Annenberg Foundation, Explore.org and The Berrics officially broke ground at Westchester Recreation Center for a new skate park, universal playground and other improvements on Monday, April 11, 2011.

The $1 million improvement project is being funded by Quimby funds and a generous donation of $125,000 from the Annenberg Foundation and Explore.org that will fund the skate plaza portion of the project. The new skate plaza was designed by Jason King and Steve Berra from The Berrics, and Joe Ciaglia from California Skateparks. California Skateparks will construct Westchester's skate spot. The plaza is replacing an old outdoor basketball court. RAP redesigned the space around the skate area to accommodate the plaza, give a fresh new look and tie in all the physical factors that make up the space.

The project also includes the installation of a universal playground for children of all abilities and lighting improvements to the tennis courts and parking area. The new playground, designed by Gametime, will feature a "California Coastal Experience" theme and will be wheelchair accessible. The improvement project is expected to be completed by the end of the summer.

THANK YOU to all the partners who made this project possible!!!

MEDIA CONTACT: Andrea Epstein, 213.202.2690

BLOG CONTACT: Amy A. Garcia, 818.243.6488

ANOTHER DREAM COME TRUE 2nd Dodgers Dreamfield for RAP in 2011

Los Angeles - The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks (RAP) in partnership with the Dodgers Dream Foundation, the LA84 Foundation unveiled a new Dodgers Dreamfield at Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Center on Saturday, April 2, 2011.

Councilmembers Bernard C. Parks (8th District) and Jan Perry (9th District), RAP General Manager Jon Kirk Mukri, LA84 Foundation Vice President Patrick Escobar, Dodger owner and chairman Frank McCourt and Dodger legends Fernando Valenzuela, Maury Wills, Tommy Davis, Bobby Castillo and Kenny Landreaux were all at the celebration, which included live music, a DJ and baseball clinic.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Center's new Dodgers Dreamfield features a new batting cage, outfield wind screen, LED scoreboard and signage. The field fencing and dugout covers were also refurbished. An murals depicting Valenzuela, Wills and former Dodger manager Joe Torre overlook the outfield.

The latest Dreamfield is the ninth Dodger Dreamfield run by the Department of Recreation and Parks and is the second Dodgers ball field to be dedicated in 2011, as part of the new Foundation commitment. The new commitment will build another six Dreamfields at RAP facilities. The additional locations set to receive Dreamfields are Pan Pacific RC, Ritchie Valens RC, Lemon Grove RC, Pecan RC, Harbor City RC and Valley Plaza RC.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Center is located at 3916 South Western Avenue in South Los Angeles 90062.

MEDIA CONTACT: Andrea Epstein, 213.202.2690

BLOG CONTACT: Amy A. Garcia, 818.243.6488