Thirty-five acres of tar seeps and oil wells. That was Lafayette Recreation Center’s humble beginning. Can you imagine it? Clara R Shatto a woman with vision donated this land in 1899. She envisioned a park a green space for the growing city of Los Angeles. This wasn’t just any donation. Her husband owned Santa Catalina Island. Her generosity shaped a significant piece of Los Angeles history.
Today Lafayette Recreation Center stands as a vibrant testament to her foresight. It’s more than just a park. It’s a community hub. It’s a place where children play and families gather. It’s a testament to the power of community collaboration.
The name Lafayette wasn’t always so. It was originally Sunset Park. Local groups pushed for a name change to honor Marquis de Lafayette. This military officer served in the American Revolutionary War. The name officially changed in 1918. A statue of the Marquis stands near the Wilshire Boulevard entrance a silent tribute to a bygone era.
Over time Lafayette Recreation Center evolved. In 1963 a senior center opened. Architect Graham Latta designed it. Later Stephen Kanner expanded it adding classrooms community rooms and a gymnasium. In 2011 the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks partnered with HOLA. This non-profit organization brought youth programs to the center. The complex then became officially known as Lafayette Park Recreation Center.
The center’s basketball courts have even made it to the silver screen. They appeared in the 1992 movie White Men Can’t Jump. 20th Century Fox renovated them for the film. The Lafayette Skate Park adds another dimension to this multifaceted recreational space.
Lafayette Recreation Center isn’t isolated. It stands near architecturally significant buildings. Some are on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Sheraton Town-House the Felipe de Neve Branch Library and Bullocks Wilshire. The First Congregational Church an English Gothic Revival building from 1932 is nearby. A 19-story glass building housing a branch of the Los Angeles Superior Court stands adjacent.
The park is fenced and closed at night. This helps to avoid some of the issues faced by nearby MacArthur Park. However access is available during the day. The Los Angeles Police Department’s Rampart Community Police Station once served the area. It has since moved to a new location. The Olympic Division now oversees Lafayette Recreation Center since January 4 2009.
More than just a park Lafayette Recreation Center stands as a symbol of community resilience and transformation. It’s a place where history and recreation blend offering a vibrant tapestry of stories. A place you should definitely explore and enjoy.