Residents are invited to take an active role in deciding the future of La Cienega Park at an upcoming Town Hall set for Wednesday, Sept. 25.
The beloved community park is slated to undergo a substantial renovation in the coming years and the community has already been taking an active role in determining how the transformation takes place.
The upcoming Town Hall meeting, slated to begin at 6 p.m. at the La Cienega Community Center, located at 8400 Gregory Way, will give attendees a first look at how resident ideas and feedback have already been incorporated into a conceptual design for the planned $125.5 million phase one redevelopment of La Cienega Park & Recreation Complex.
“The city has taken great effort to involve our community members in developing the master plan for La Cienega Park & Recreation Complex,” said Recreation and Parks Commission Chair Alissa Rosten.
“The commission was pleased with the public engagement process done by independent consultant, David Ceppos of Sacramento State, Consensus and Collaboration Program,” she added. “It was imperative that we had substantial community input from the beginning and we look forward to having their continued input as the process moves forward. We want to be sure that all stakeholders have a voice in this exciting new project.”
The 17-acre complex at the Southeast entrance into Beverly Hills, which was established in 1928, has evolved significantly over time. It now has a multitude of athletic facilities, including three baseball diamonds, a perimeter jogging track and an outdoor pavilion featuring exercise equipment. The park also serves as a gathering space for leagues and families, with several picnic tables and barbecue grills, while the park’s Community Center offers a variety of recreational classes for youth, adults and seniors.
At the heart of the renovation will be the replacement of the existing 23,000-square-foot Community Center with a new 172,000-square-foot center.
A spokesperson for the city stated that the multi-year transformation is expected to get underway in two years, pending myriad approvals. Plans will allow for the creation of everything from two pools to 16 tennis courts to a preschool and recreation center, in addition to all the athletic amenities the community has come to expect at La Cienega Park.
The upcoming Town Hall will give residents an opportunity to view renderings, construction phasing options and preliminary costs, in addition to providing further insight into the park and its buildings, fields and programming.
For more information, questions or to provide feedback, interested parties can email the City at lacienegaproject@beverlyhills.org.
