A UNIQUE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK

Dedication of Hope & Peace Community Park

Los Angeles - The Department of Recreation and Parks dedicated a new neighborhood park in the Westlake area on Saturday, May 19, 2007. Councilmember Ed P. Reyes, City Engineer Gary Lee Moore and many community members were in attendance for the special celebration.

The new facility has both active and passive recreational and open space use opportunities. The half-acre park has a refurbished half-court for basketball, a children's play area with ramp to provide greater accessibilty, and a splash pad on one tier, and a gazebo, walking path, benches and picnic tables, and a large lawn area with shade trees and native Southern California plants.

The Architectural Division of the Department of Public Works' Bureau of Engineering designed the $760,000 park, which was built by Thomsen Landscape of Reseda. The Recreational and Cultural Facilities Program in the Bureau of Engineering managed the project. Funding was provided by Proposition 12, the federal Community Development Block Grant program, and through a $460,000 gift from the L.A. Land Arena Co. (part of the STAPLES Center Foundation).

Media Contacts:

Jane Kolb: (213)928-9294, or cell, (323)816-6712

Harvey Drut: (213)928-9296, or cell, (323)816-6711