By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
The city of Los Angeles Board of Recreation and Park Commissioners approved a proposed restroom renovation project at Palisades Recreation Center—including commitment of funds to complete it—during its board meeting on Thursday morning, October 3.
Staff recommended the board “approve the scope of work and the total budget of the Palisades Recreation Center Restroom Renovation Project,” read the report.
The scope of the work includes demolishing the existing restrooms, reconfiguring the interior spaces to accommodate new stalls and all-gender accessible restrooms, and install new plumbing chase, all new plumbing fixtures and lines along with new sewer piping, according to the report.
It also includes installing new tile and paint throughout the restroom, restroom accessories, and electrical lighting. The proposed project also includes performing accessible parking improvements.
Rec and Parks staff have been authorized to commit “a maximum of $883,187.23” in Park Fees for the proposed project, which are collected by the department when “new, non-exempt, residential dwellings” are constructed for “the purpose of acquiring, expanding, and improving park and recreation facilities for residents,” according to the department.
“Upon approval of this report, $883,187.23 in Park Fees can be committed to the proposed project, which is the total budget including budget contingency,” read the report. “The Park Fees were collected within five miles of Palisades Recreation Center, which is the standard distance for the commitment of Park Fees for community recreational facilities pursuant to Los Angeles Municipal Code.”
The project will be “bid and constructed through RAP’s list of pre-qualified and on-call contractors,” read the report. Due to the scope of the work, the project is a categorical exemption from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act, according to the board report.
The anticipated project schedule includes five phases: predesign (October 2025 to November 2025), design (December 2025 to February 2026), bid and award (March 2026 to August 2026), construction (August 2026 to March 2027), and post construction (April 2027 to November 2027).
“The estimated costs for the design, development and construction of the proposed park improvements are anticipated to be funded by Park Fees or funding sources other than RAP’s General Fund,” according to the report. “The maintenance of the proposed park improvements can be performed by current staff with minimal impact to existing maintenance service at this facility.”
The board report was approved unanimously on consent.
“I wanted to thank you for hearing a proposal to improve the bathrooms in the old gym built in the 1950s and not really improved at all since then,” Pacific Palisades Recreation Center Park Advisory Board Member David Card said during public comment prior to the vote. “I hope you unanimously support that.”
The restrooms have been discussed by the Park Advisory Board at its recent quarterly meetings, including in April and July. It has remained a top priority for board members during discussions, as well as an updated playground.
The next meeting of the Park Advisory Board at Palisades Recreation Center is slated for Thursday, October 17.
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