A CHARITABLE DONATION FOR MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS

At Westwood Recreation Complex in West Los Angeles

Los Angeles - Recreation and Parks Commission President Barry Sanders and Councilmember Jack Weiss accepted Laing Luxury's $500,000 donation to the L.A. Parks Foundation on Thursday, July 24, 2008. The generous gift will be used for improvements to Westwood area facilities including major enhancements to the Westwood Recreation Complex.

The donated $500,000 will be combined with local Quimby and Prop K funds to install a new $1.2 million HVAC system (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) and refurbish the gymnasium, stage and pool. Pool improvements will include new security cameras, interior and exterior paint, backboard and goals, lights, chairs, windows, diving board, diving towers and a scorboard for competitions. Construction is expected to total approximately $1.6 million and will begin in the fall.

Tom Redwitz of Laing Luxury presented Commission President Barry Sanders and Councilmember Weiss with a check on Thursday afternoon outside of the Recreation Complex. Laing Luxury is a local subsidiary of Emaar Properties PJSC, one of the world's largest real estate companies, which is building a condominium tower at Wilshire Boulevard and Club View Drive.

"The new Los Angeles Parks Foundation is delighted to receive this generous donation from Laing Luxury for the enhancement of our wonderful Westwood Recreation Complex. This is our Foundation's first major grant, and will set a standard for the Foundation's future work on behalf of our parks. We thank Tom Redwitz and Laing Luxury," said Commission President Barry Sanders.

The Westwood Recreation Complex provides a wide variety of activities and programs. Programs include soccer, gymnastics, racquetball, volleyball, basketball, dance, art programs and adjacent tennis courts. Westwood Aquatic Center's indoor pool, built in 1988, is one of the City's newer pools and is used for swimming lessons, adult lap swim and swim teams. Westwood Rec Complex is located at 1350 South Sepulveda Boulevard, Los Angeles, 90025.

For more information on the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks please visit our website at http://www.laparks.org/ or call (213) 928-9200.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Jane Kolb: (213) 928-9294