“Help Us Improve Our Little Bit of L.A.” That’s the slogan of Country Club Park residents. This slogan reflects their dedication to preserving this unique neighborhood. Today we explore Country Club Park.
Country Club Park began as the Los Angeles Golf Club in 1897. The golf club established a 9-hole course. It was called the Windmill Links. The course was located at Pico and Alvarado Street. In 1899, the club moved west to Pico and Western. The golf course remained there until 1910. Then, it moved to Holmby Hills.
After the golf club’s departure, properties were developed from the 1910s through the 1930s. Isaac Milbank subdivided the area. He envisioned spacious homes of architectural value.
Country Club Park wasn’t always open to everyone. Initially, it was a segregated community. However, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down racial exclusionary covenants in 1948. This was the Shelley v. Kraemer ruling. Country Club Park became one of the first affluent neighborhoods in Los Angeles to welcome African Americans.
Celebrated African Americans from various fields made Country Club Park their home. These fields included professional, judicial, legal, medical, religious, and entertainment sectors. Gospel legend Mahalia Jackson resided here. Lou Rawls, Lena Horne, and Cindy Birdsong of the Supremes also lived here. Hattie McDaniel, known as Mammy in Gone with the Wind, called Country Club Park home.
Civil Rights leader Thomas Kilgore lived here too. He helped organize the March on Washington. Celes King, another Civil Rights leader and Tuskegee Airman, also resided in Country Club Park. Legal icon Crispus Wright called Country Club Park home. He gave USC $2 million for a scholarship fund. Victor Nickerson, whose family started the first black-owned insurance company, lived here too. Ken Jones, LA’s first African American news anchor, was a resident of Country Club Park.
The Isaac Milbank mansion still stands at 3340 Country Club Drive. It is considered the most substantial surviving estate built for a single family. This was before World War I. G. Lawrence Stimson designed it. He also built the Wrigley Mansion in Pasadena.
A stroll through Country Club Park reveals diverse architecture. You’ll see Mediterranean homes, half-timbered Tudor-revival homes, and Craftsman bungalows. There are also late-Victorian Queen Anne cottages.
Country Club Park is a vibrant multi-ethnic community. Residents are committed to preservation. The Country Club Park Neighborhood Association was founded in 1985. In 2010, the neighborhood became a Historical Preservation Overlay Zone. The neighborhood has installed gates along Pico. This makes it a partially gated community.
Menion L. Carr, a retired Los Angeles County fireman, is a key figure. He’s been a resident since 1970. Carr served multiple terms as president of the Country Club Park Neighborhood Assn. He keeps track of residents and attends City Hall hearings.
Country Club Park remains a stable and beautiful area. It’s an affordable residential area near downtown L.A. Residents care about preserving their decent neighborhood.
Country Club Park faced challenges. There was a struggle to mandate commercial signage primarily in English to differentiate from Koreatown. The installation of gates sought to restrict access, reminiscent of historical racial divides. Open Sidewalks LA challenges unpermitted gates that hinder free movement.
Country Club Park stands at a crossroads. It balances historical preservation with inclusivity. The unpermitted gates serve as silent witnesses. They reflect a community navigating preservation and progress.
Country Club Park retains its serenity and charm. It reflects the early 1900s. It’s a testament to the residents’ dedication. They improve their “Little Bit of L.A.”