LOS ANGELES — Today, L.A. City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, L.A. City Department of Recreation and Parks, and L.A. City Department of Cultural Affairs joined elected officials, City staff, and community members to celebrate the reopening of the Lincoln Heights Recreation Center which has been closed for renovations and park improvements since March 2021. The celebration included sports clinics, a senior yoga class, music, and food giveaways for community members.
Over 40,000 residents live within a half-mile of the Lincoln Heights Recreation Center. Located at 2303 Workman St, the 2.87-acre property includes a play area, recreation center, senior center, playground, and parking lot in a densely populated neighborhood and has been a staple in the Lincoln Heights community.
This project was funded by Proposition 68, a 2018 ballot measure that authorized $4 billion in funding for parks, environmental infrastructure and protection efforts throughout the state. The total cost for this project was $4,843,300, which funded a new soccer field, outdoor fitness equipment, and renovations of the existing playground, basketball court, fencing, and indoor restroom and kitchen.
The Recreation Center also features a decorative gate designed by artists Miles Lewis and Frankie Vasquez in partnership with the L.A. Department of Cultural Affairs. The Gate of the Feathered Serpent depicts the Aztec and Mayan symbolism and can be viewed from the sidewalk at the entrance of the property.
“Over the last few months, we have worked together with Recreation and Parks to bring back critical spaces in Lincoln Heights that allow residents to gather and share in the joy of being in community with one another,” said Councilmember Hernandez. “The reopening of the Recreation Center is another ask answered for our constituents, and I am grateful for the partnerships at the City and State level who made this newly renovated space a reality.”
"Our department was thrilled to learn that we were awarded Prop 68 funds to makeover our center to provide a more safe, accessible and inclusive space for everyone to enjoy," said Kimberly Simonet, Principal Recreation Supervisor II, Department of Recreation and Parks. "I am overjoyed to see the community turnout as it truly tells the story of how parks are vital to the well-being of our residents."
"Embracing public art in our parks and recreational spaces is not just about beautifying the community; it’s a commitment to fostering civic pride, encouraging social connection, and weaving threads of culture to inspire, unite, reflect," said Daniel Tarica, General Manager to the Department of Cultural Affairs. "We congratulate the community and everyone that contributed to improvements of the Lincoln Heights Recreation Center."
The improvements at the Lincoln Heights Recreation Center include:
- Soccer field and bleachers
- Walking path, outdoor fitness equipment, and picnic area
- New lighting installations throughout the park
- Four new shade structures and three new trees
- Playground equipment renovations, with a new swing and shade topper
- Outdoor basketball court renovations and parking lot and ADA compliant path of travel
- Restroom, kitchen, and fencing renovations
###