HOLA-LAFAYETTE EXPANSION PROJECT

Groundbreaking for a new Community Center

Los Angeles - The Department of Recreation and Parks held a Groundbreaking Ceremony to celebrate the start of construction on the
HOLA-Lafayette Community Center Expansion Project on Monday, March 24, 2008.

The $6 million project includes improvements to the existing recreation center, new building additions and outdoor park development. The 12,200 square-foot recreation center will include a gymnasium with a full-sized basketball court, multi-purpose room, restrooms, staff offices and storage space. The multi-story facility will also feature Everychild Learning Center spaces. Outdoor improvement plans include new fencing, landscape, irrigation system and a staff parking lot.

The project was designed by the Architectural Division of the Bureau of Engineering in the City’s Department of Public Works, and will be built by Western Alta Construction, Inc., of Los Angeles. Funding was provided by Proposition K ($5 million) and Proposition 12 ($500,000), as well as donations from HOLA and The Everychild Foundation.

Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA), a California non-profit and the Department have partnered to successfully provide youth enrichment programs for children in the Lafayette park area. HOLA’s mission as an organization is to provide free athletic, academic and fine arts programs for elementary, middle and high school children at various locations, including Lafayette Park.

The organization gifted the Department with $32,120 to revise the architectural design of the recreation building to include additional club room and office space for HOLA’s proposed use in providing programs to the community. Subsequently HOLA received a $1 million grant from the Everychild Foundation to aid in the construction of the improvements and program enhancements at the Center and to accommodate HOLA’s proposed new programs at the Center.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Jane Kolb: (213) 928-9294

Harvey Drut: (213) 928-9296