Mayor Bass partners with Lakers coach, former opponent to rebuild iconic Palisades building

Yahoo

11-04-2025

A longtime neighborhood mainstay in the Pacific Palisades was severely damaged during January's devastating wildfires. Now, the Mayor of Los Angeles is teaming up with a former political opponent and the coach of the Lakers to bring it back.
Mayor Karen Bass, alongside billionaire Rick Caruso and L.A. Lakers head coach JJ Redick on Thursday announced plans to bring back the Palisades Recreation Center. The public-private partnership pairs the city of L.A. with nonprofits LA Strong Sports and Steadfast LA — as well as other Palisades-based investors — to rebuild what the mayor's office called that 'hub of community and recreational activity' in west L.A.
'The City's number one pledge has been to eliminate any and every obstacle in the way of rebuilding, and we are forging new partnerships with all sectors as we continue to move Los Angeles forward,' said Mayor Bass. 'The Palisades Recreation Center, library and playground are each a vital piece of this community, which is why the City pushed for the Army Corps of Engineers to prioritize debris removal at these landmarks. We will continue this progress, and I thank everyone — LA Strong Sports, Steadfast LA and key Palisades groups — for coming together for this new effort.'
LA Strong Sports is a nonprofit started last month by Redick and his wife, Chelsea, as well as Charles and Jenna Jackson and Kylee Kilgore. Its goal is to help bring high-quality sports facilities and programs to L.A. after the fires disrupted participation for youths.
'We visited the Pali Rec Center the same day we decided to move to the Palisades. That visit showed us not only how important the park was as a physical space, but how the people and families who took advantage of it made up the beating heart of the community,' said JJ and Chelsea Redick. 'We're proud to formally announce a public-private partnership with the City and these local organizations to rebuild it so it can once again serve as a gathering place for sports and activities.'
Meanwhile, real estate mogul and 2022 L.A. Mayoral election runner-up Rick Caruso started Steadfast LA in February to help provide private funding to rebuilding projects across the area.
'This public-private partnership to rebuild the Rec Center with the City and in collaboration with civic leaders, local groups, and industry experts demonstrates the vision of Steadfast LA in action,' said Rick Caruso, Chairman of Steadfast LA. 'By bringing the public sector, the private sector, and the community together to do this, we're not only restoring an integral part of the Palisades, but we're showing how we can effectively respond to this tragedy with the urgency that the moment demands. We intend to follow a similar approach on our projects in Altadena and Malibu as well.'
The joint public appearance for Caruso and Bass comes as the two have experienced a friendly relationship in recent months despite facing off in a heated election nearly three years ago. Last month, Caruso came out against a recall effort to remove Bass from office in light of the fire that killed 12 people and destroyed more than 7,000 structures.
'We must rebuild our communities, get people back into their homes, and open businesses that have been closed or lost. That must be our total focus. There is a time and place for politics, but it is not now,' Caruso said on X.
In the coming weeks, the nonprofits and the city will work on expanding initial design plans for the new recreation center.
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