Councilmember Eunises Hernandez and L.A. Recreation and Parks unveil new playground in Westlake

On Saturday, Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, along with the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, celebrated the grand opening of a new playground at Hope and Peace Park with local community members.

The community event featured music, free food, a sports clinic and a resource fair with booths from city departments and more.

Situated in the Westlake neighborhood, Hope and Peace Park offers crucial recreational space for the community, serving over 20,000 residents living within a half-mile radius of the park. This project is the latest in a series of park and playground upgrades that Councilmember Hernandez has brought to her district.

“The park improvements unveiled today are an exciting win for the children and families who live in the Westlake neighborhood and have been asking for this for years,” said Hernandez. “We were able to deliver for the community because of the direct result of voters from across the county who saw the critical need for more investment into our parks and public space and we are excited for Hope and Peace Park to continue to be a location for our residents to gather and play.”

The park upgrade included a new 1,820-square-foot playground structure featuring three slides, five climbers and seven play panels. “Today, as we celebrate the grand opening of Hope and Peace Park, let us embrace this beautiful green space and come together to enjoy it with our fellow neighbors, family and friends," said Chinyere Stoneham, assistant general manager of Recreation and Parks. "This park will be a symbol of the community's resilience and serve as a reminder to our nurturing spirit of hope and peace in our city."

The improvements to Hope and Peace Park were made possible through funding from the Los Angeles County Safe, Clean Neighborhood Parks and Beaches Measure (Measure A). Approved by voters in 2016, this ballot measure allocates funds for park and recreational facility projects to address the necessary upgrades and repairs across L.A. County's public spaces. 

The project received $440,000 from Measure A to revitalize the park. In addition to the new playground, two trash receptacles and two benches have been installed, the wall and water fountains repaired and the surrounding fence and basketball court lines repainted.

“Cómo padres entendemos la necesidad de espacios como este, donde nuestros hijos crezcan, interactúen y compartan con otros niños; eso les permite formar en ellos un desarrollo físico y mental, en armonía y unidad mente sana en cuerpo sano,” said María de los Ángeles Cruz Gómez, a local Westlake resident. “Los cambios se logran, si todos nos involucramos en ellos. Consciente de que esté es uno más de los muchos proyectos, presentes y futuros, en beneficio de nuestra comunidad. Gracias, concejal Hernandez.”

Jesus Hernandez, L.A. City Youth Council Member for Council District 1, also said that he knows the importance of having green spaces in the city, as he spent most of his childhood in Westlake. "We did not get the luxury of living in a house or having a backyard of our own to play in. Having a park in the neighborhood is essential for our youth because it gives them a space to exercise, play their favorite sports, breathe fresh air and socialize with one another. A park brings youth and families together, which, in turn, form bonds in the community.”