Mayor Bass, Rick Caruso and Steadfast LA, LA Strong Sports Officially Break Ground on New Palisades Recreation Center

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Rebuild Will Restore the Recreation Center, Park, and Gathering Spaces that Anchor Community Life in the Palisades

Governor Newsom Signed State Bills Supported By Mayor Bass Into Law This Week to Provide Protections and Financial Relief for Fire Survivors

LOS ANGELES - On Tuesday, Mayor Karen Bass joined Founder and Chairman of Steadfast LA Rick Caruso, LA Strong Sports Co-Founder and Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick, Councilwoman Traci Park, and other civic and community leaders for the official groundbreaking of the Palisades Recreation Center. The groundbreaking marks the beginning of construction on the Palisades Rec Center and surrounding park, which were severely damaged in the Palisades Fire. In April 2025, Steadfast LA, LA Strong Sports, and the City of Los Angeles forged a public-private partnership to fund, redesign, and rebuild the community space.

"Today is about the Palisades community. Today is about hope," said Mayor Bass. "The City's number one pledge has been to eliminate any and all obstacles in the way of rebuilding, and I am proud of the public-private partnerships we have forged to move the recovery forward and restore vital spaces like the Palisades Rec Center for a community that has been through so much loss. I want to thank everyone involved in this effort - especially JJ and Chelsea Redick and the LA Strong Sports team, Rick Caruso and Steadfast LA, the Los Angeles Department of Rec and Parks, and so many community leaders - for their leadership, partnership, and dedication to getting this done."

"The day after the fire, I stood at the Palisades Rec Center surrounded by devastation. Yesterday, we put shovels in the ground and are bringing this beloved community space back," said Councilmember Traci Park. "I'm incredibly grateful to Rick Caruso and Steadfast LA, JJ and Chelsea Redick and LA Strong Sports, Rec and Parks, and everyone who stepped up to make this happen."

"When we formed Steadfast LA, we set out to live by one principle: the comeback is always stronger than the setback. Today represents that," said Rick Caruso, Founder and Chairman of Steadfast LA. "Rebuilding the places where people come together is the first step to restoring a community. We saw it at Palisades Village last month, and we're seeing it again today at the Rec Center. This is what a true public-private partnership can achieve. When government, business, and community come together, we can accelerate real progress and deliver something extraordinary for the people who call this place home. I want to thank Mayor Bass, Deputy Mayor Amanda Daflos, Jimmy Kim and his entire department at Recreation and Parks, JJ Redick and LA Strong Sports, Gensler, SWA, Freeman Group, Latham & Watkins, and every local leader who helped make this happen."

"The Pali Rec Center was a big part of why we chose to move here with our family," said JJ and Chelsea Redick. "We believe every community needs a place where individuals and families can play and compete, and rebuilding the Pali Rec Center is a big step for ours. We're glad to help make that happen here alongside our neighbors and partners."

On Tuesday, Governor Gavin Newsom signed wildfire recovery legislation sponsored and supported by Mayor Bass to expand mortgage protections, strengthen insurance coverage, and create a permanent framework to accelerate wildfire recovery. The legislation was introduced earlier this year as Mayor Bass brought a delegation of Palisades residents - including renters and townhome, condo, and mobile home owners - to Sacramento to advocate for a number of reforms and protections for wildfire survivors:

• AB 1847 (Harabedian): Extends the period of mortgage forbearance by an additional two years for Los Angeles wildfire survivors who are struggling to make timely mortgage payments.

• AB 1842 (Harabedian): Establishes a clear, uniform statewide forbearance process when the Governor or federal government declares a state of emergency.

• AB 1642 (Harabedian): Requires the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to adopt emergency regulations specifying investigation, environmental testing, and clearance standards to guide the removal of lead and asbestos inside and outside of structures in residential areas.