Rec Center Addition in 3rd Phase

City officials are seeking public and private funding to pay for a $1.8-million addition to the recreation center at Las Palmas Park.

The city itself is expected to allocate $780,000 from its share of a $319-million bond measure approved by Los Angeles County voters in 1996 to improve parks, buy open space and provide new recreational facilities, said Ed Montan, city recreation and community services director.

“We were successful in 1996, but that’s still not enough,” Montan said. “We are also looking for any private donations.”

Design plans call for a two-story, 11,414-square-foot addition to be built around three sides of an existing recreation center located near the park’s entrance at the intersection of Hollister and South Huntington streets.

An arts and crafts room, multipurpose room, a lounge, restrooms, and storage rooms are planned for the 7,094-square-foot upper floor. On the lower floor, three counseling rooms, a learning center and storage rooms will fill a 4,320-square-foot space.

The addition would be the third installment in the improvement project that began in 1993 at the 12-acre park, Montan said.

A baseball diamond, snack bar and restrooms were built during the first phase, Montan said. In the second phase, a mural and a picnic area were added.

In addition to the brick-and-mortar improvements, numerous plantings. including sycamores, jacarandas and California pepper trees, have been added to the park, which was once a hangout for gang members and the homeless.