California Construction News staff writer
A new public-private partnership has been announced to fund, redesign and rebuild the Palisades Recreation Center, a longtime community hub that was severely damaged in the January wildfires.
The coalition includes major contributions from private firms such as global architecture and design firm Gensler and law firm Latham & Watkins LLP, both of which are playing a central role in developing early design and legal frameworks for the revitalized facility. Other participants include CBRE, Parsons, Esri and additional industry leaders brought together through the nonprofit Steadfast LA.
“This public-private partnership… demonstrates the vision of Steadfast LA in action,” said Rick Caruso, chairman of Steadfast LA, which launched in February to accelerate wildfire recovery efforts by tapping into private-sector expertise. “By bringing the public sector, the private sector, and the community together… we’re showing how we can effectively respond to this tragedy with the urgency that the moment demands.”
Mayor Karen Bass joined representatives from Steadfast LA, LA Strong Sports, and several Pacific Palisades organizations at the announcement event, calling the effort a model for how Los Angeles can rebuild smarter and faster.
“The City’s number one pledge has been to eliminate any and every obstacle in the way of rebuilding,” Bass said. “The Palisades Recreation Center, library and playground are each a vital piece of this community.”
LA Strong Sports — founded in March by JJ and Chelsea Redick, Charles and Jenna Jackson, and Kylee Kilgore — is also a key partner in the rebuild. The group formed in response to the wildfires with the goal of supporting high-quality sports and recreation spaces in Los Angeles.
“We visited the Pali Rec Center the same day we decided to move to the Palisades,” said the Redicks. “We’re proud to formally announce a public-private partnership… so it can once again serve as a gathering place for sports and activities.”
“As Palisades residents, we know the Rec Center helped us feel rooted in this community,” added the Jacksons. “Rebuilding it is exactly the kind of initiative we’re excited to support.”
The initial design plans were shaped through collaboration with local stakeholders including the Pali Community Center Committee, the LA Parks Foundation, PaliStrong, Pali 4 Pali, and longtime contributors like Jimmy Dunne of Veterans Gardens and Bob Benton of the Pacific Palisades Baseball Association.
This announcement follows the City’s recent success in securing private donations to rebuild the damaged playground at the park. Community input will continue to be a key part of refining and expanding the vision for the new facility in the weeks ahead.
